Discospondylitis is caused by a bacterial infection located in the spine, with Staphylococcus aureus being the most common cause of disc spondylitis.

【Basic information】

Family: Nervous system diseases

Symptoms: depression, fever, anorexia, weight loss

【Cause】

Bacteria infected in other parts of the body travel through the bloodstream and reach the spine. Endocarditis, lower urinary tract infection or pyoderma often precedes disc spondylitis.

【Main Symptoms】

Discospondylitis mainly affects large dogs of medium age, often working dogs. Sick dogs often have allergies and symptoms of systemic disease, including depression, fever, anorexia and weight loss.

【Diagnostic criteria】

Diagnosis is difficult because clinical symptoms are often nonspecific. This disease should be suspected when a large dog has an unexplained fever. X-rays can be used for diagnosis. X-rays will show intervertebral disc space stenosis, accompanied by varying degrees of dissolution, sclerosis, and spondyloarthrosis of adjacent vertebral endplates.

【Treatment method】

Dogs with pain but no paresis can be treated with antibiotics for 4-6 weeks. Cephalosporins such as cephalexin, 20 mg/kg, 3 times a day, or fluoroquinolones can also be used for treatment.