Disc degeneration or disc herniation into the spinal canal causes the most common neurological syndrome in dogs. This disease is especially common in dogs with chondrodystrophies, and clinical manifestations include spinal cord-related pain, ataxia, partial paralysis, and even paralysis or myelomalacia.

【Basic information】

Family: Locomotor system diseases

Symptoms: meningeal inflammation, nerve root compression, back pain, paresis

【Cause】

The cause of intervertebral disc degeneration is unclear. As age increases, the intervertebral disc center-nucleus pulposus urban area becomes less stainable to safranin-O dye, and the surface proteoglycan content decreases. The outer layer of the intervertebral disc, the annulus fibrosus, develops fissures or fissures, and the nucleus pulposus protrudes through these fissures. Aging causes the nucleus pulposus to bulge into the spinal canal and compress the spinal cord.

【Main Symptoms】

Intervertebral disc herniation often occurs on the side, back and ventral side. Lateral disc herniations occasionally cause clinical symptoms, but most dorsal disc herniations cause obvious clinical symptoms, manifesting as inflammation of the meninges and compression of nerve roots or spinal cord. Common clinical symptoms include back pain, inability to move, paresis and upper non-motor neuron syndrome. Lower motor neuron disease can cause bladder flaccidity and urinary incontinence.

【Diagnostic criteria】

Diagnosis can be made through medical history and clinical examination. Neurological examination and imaging examination can localize the injury site. Imaging findings include stenosis, extrusion, collapse of the intervertebral space and articular surfaces, foraminal stenosis, and calcified material in the spinal canal. When determining spinal cord injury, especially multiple-site injuries, myelography is required.

【Treatment method】

Conservative treatment relies on forcing the animal to rest to relieve inflammation and stabilize the herniated disc through fibrosis. Measures include limiting animal movement, reducing animal weight, and judicious use of analgesics and other medications. While restricting animal movement, anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants can also be used judiciously. Exacerbation of clinical signs due to excessive exercise is common in dogs treated with medication alone.