While not limited to small breeds of dogs, there is a much higher incidence of disc disease among Dachshunds, Lhasa Apsos, Poodles, Beagles, and Pekingese dogs. This is primarily due to genetic factors. The spine of all dogs, cats and humans is made up of several boney vertebral bodies separated by spongy disks. The spinal cord runs through a canal inside the vertebral bodies. The disks themselves had a gelatinous center and a fibrous outer layer. The outer layer of the discs of these susceptible breeds weaken prematurely and this can lead to disk rupture whereby the viscous inner disk material puts pressure on the spinal cord leading to neurological damage. A mild disc rupture may merely cause your pet some back pain and discomfort. Unfortunately, a severe disc rupture can result in complete paralysis with urinary incontinence, and no hope of recovery. The chance of your dog's recovering from an episode of disc disease depends on many things. Your pet's overall health, the number of previous episodes of back pain, the part of the spinal cord that is damaged, and the length of time that has ensued between the onset of paralysis and your pets receiving veterinary care all play a role in the final outcome. However, the best indication of possible return to normal function is your dog's neurologic status at the time of presentation. Some animals with minimal neurologic dysfunction may improve with medical management alone. However when an animal has more pronounced neurological deficits, laminectomy surgery is indicated. This procedures should be done as soon as possible after your pet becomes paralyzed to maximize the chances for recovery. However, in order for surgery to be performed properly, a myelogram must be done to locate the ruptured disk. A dye is injected around the spinal cord and x-rays are taken to visualize the location of disc rupture. Laminectomy involves creating a window in the vertebral body and removing the inciting disk material. This prevents any further damage to the spinal cord. Then, as the swelling gradually goes out of the spinal cord, some nerve function should return. Following this, the remaining accessible discs of the back are approached and fenestrated, i.e. a window is cut in the outer disc ring and the inner contents are removed. This is done to help prevent future disk ruptures in the thoracolumar area. There is a remote possibility that your pet's neurologic status may be worsened by a myelogram and surgery. This chance is small however, and the potential benefits outweigh any risks involved. These setbacks are generally not permanent, but can prolong the postoperative rehabilitation time and provide an added source of stress for the you, your pet, and your pet’s doctor. It is important to realize that recovery will not happen overnight. It takes a minimum of six weeks to determine the final outcome of surgery. Some animals significantly improve in a much shorter time period. This means your paralyzed, incontinent pet will require good nursing care for the period before he/she is able to walk and control her/his urination. One must realize that when dealing with a spinal cord injury, even with the best medical and surgical management it's possible that your pet may never recover function in its limbs. The pet that remains permanently paralyzed and incontinent can become a burden to its family, for obvious reasons. However, with good nursing care and the use of K-9 carts, these pets can live happy, healthy lives. Again, where your pet falls in this spectrum of disease can best be determined after a thorough history and neurologic exam have been taken. Only then can an approximate chance for recovery be given, allowing you to make an informed decision on what should be done. If you have any questions or problems during your pet's rehabilitation, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are here 24 hours a day, & 7 days a week to help you and your special pet. Thank you for letting CM Surgical Specialty Group take care of you and your pet! |
| Thoracolumbar Disk Disease |