Thoracolumbar disc disease in large dogs: a study of 99 cases

Abstract

The records of 99 dogs weighing over 20 kg with thoracolumbar disc disease were reviewed. Two types of disc disease were recognised: degenerative nuclear extrusion (n=63) and degenerative annular protrusion (n=36). Sixty-nine per cent of the affected discs were located between T12-T13 and L2-L3. Of the 63 dogs with degenerative nuclear extrusions, 35 were non-ambulatory and seven had no conscious pain perception at the time of presentation. Decompressive surgery was performed in 55 dogs, four dogs were managed non-surgically and three dogs were euthanased. A successful outcome was achieved in 49 (78 per cent) cases as assessed by the authors and in 53 (84 per cent) cases as assessed by the owners. Mean follow-up time was 11.7 months (range 1.5 to 48 months). Five dogs subsequently lost the ability to ambulate on their hindlimbs. Myelographic investigations in three of these dogs revealed a second thoracolumbar degenerative nuclear extrusion. Of the 36 dogs with degenerative annular protrusions, seven were non-ambulatory at the time of presentation. Fifteen cases had multiple protrusions. Twenty dogs were managed non-surgically, 12 surgically and four were euthanased. A successful outcome was achieved in eight (22 per cent) cases as assessed by the authors and in 19 (52 per cent) cases as assessed by the owners. Mean follow-up time was 9.2 months (range 1.5 to 30 months). The outcome of dogs with annular protrusions was significantly worse compared to the outcome of dogs with nuclear extrusions (P<0.001).

Prognostic Factors Associated with Recovery of Ambulation and Urinary Continence in Dogs with Acute Lumbosacral Spinal Cord Injury

“…Within 3 weeks, only 65% regained ambulation, and 55% regained both ambulation and continence. Large dogs previously have been reported as having a slightly lower recovery rate (78–85%) after decompressive surgery for thoracolumbar disk herniation 12, 20. This result may be affected by the 3‐week cutoff we used, because large dogs with intervertebral disk herniation previously have been shown to regain ambulation later than small dogs (a median of 4 weeks in 1 study12).…”

A Retrospective Study of Intervertebral Disc Herniation in Dogs in Japan: 297 Cases

“…The epidemiology of IVDH in dogs has been widely studied in the U.S.A., with studies investigating a variety of epidemiological factors including breed, sex, age, location of affected interspace, the time between onset of clinical signs to having a medical examination and the severity of the clinical signs. In particular, many reports have suggested that chondrodystrophoid dog breeds tend to suffer from IVDH, with a mean age at admission that differs significantly from other breeds [6,12,13,18,22]. Epidemiological data provide clinical veterinarians with an advantage prior to diagnosis or medical treatment of IVDH.…”

Using geographical information system for spatial evaluation of canine extruded disc herniation

“…However, there are reports indicating the presence of type I disc herniation in large-breed, nonchondrodystrophic breeds (Cudia and Duval, 1997;Macias et al, 2002) as well as the occurrence of type II disc herniation in small, chondrodysrophic breed dogs (Besalti et al, 2006;Levine et al, 2006). Extruded disc herniation (EDH) generally shows the expression of most dramatic neurologic deficits (Macias et al, 2002). Since the herniated material could result from any intervertebral disc spaces (except C1-C2 and sacrum), the vertebral canal might be considered a "destination", into which disc material from several sites arrive.…”

“…Type I disc herniation is described usually in chondrodystrophic dogs belonging to breeds, such as Pekingese, Dachshund and Beagle, among others (Goggin et al, 1970;Priester, 1976;Brisson et al, 2004), while type II disc herniation is particularly encountered in largebreed dogs, especially the German shepherd (Downes et al, 2009). However, there are reports indicating the presence of type I disc herniation in large-breed, nonchondrodystrophic breeds (Cudia and Duval, 1997;Macias et al, 2002) as well as the occurrence of type II disc herniation in small, chondrodysrophic breed dogs (Besalti et al, 2006;Levine et al, 2006). Extruded disc herniation (EDH) generally shows the expression of most dramatic neurologic deficits (Macias et al, 2002).…”