Intervertebral Disc Disease

Associated Terms:

Herniated Disc, Ruptured Intervertebral Disc, IVDD, Cervical Disc Disease, Thoracolumbar Disc Disease, Slipped Disc, Disc Extrusion, Hemilaminectomy, Nerve Root Signature

The term "ACVS Diplomate" refers to a veterinarian who has been board certified in veterinary surgery. Only veterinarians who have successfully completed the certification requirements of the ACVS are Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and have earned the right to be called specialists in veterinary surgery.

Your ACVS board-certified veterinary surgeon completed a three-year residency program, met specific training and caseload requirements, performed research and had research published. This process was supervised by ACVS Diplomates, ensuring consistency in training and adherence to high standards. After completing the residency program, the individual passed a rigorous examination. Only then did your veterinary surgeon earn the title of ACVS Diplomate.

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Overview:

The intervertebral discs (the cushion in the space between the bones of the spine) have conditions and forces that can make them swell or rupture over time. This rupture leads to two types of damage to the spinal cord, compression and concussion. The extent of the damage and nerve cells loss is determined by:

Type of force
Degree of force applied to the spinal cord
Length of time that the force was applied

Relatively minor spinal cord damage can lead to loss of coordination and a "drunken sailor" type of walk. Damage that is more significant leads to loss of walking or inability to move the legs voluntarily. Severe damage can lead to entire loss of pain sensation. This can carry a very poor prognosis for recovery depending on the duration that pain perception has been lost.

Chondrodystrophoid breed dogs (Dachshund, Pekinese, Beagle, Lhasa Apso, etc.) account for the vast majority of all disc ruptures, with the Dachshund accounting for 45-70% of all cases. In these dogs, average onset of clinical signs is between 3–6 years of age, although x-rays can show the presence of disc calcification by 2 years of age. Nonchondrodystrophoid dogs (Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherd Dogs, etc.) usually present between 5 and 12 years of age. Thoracolumbar (back region) discs account for 65% of all disc ruptures, while cervical (neck region) account for up to 18% of presenting cases.

Signs and Symptoms:

Disc rupture presents with different degrees of pain; however, when nerve damage starts to develop and progress, it follows a predictable pattern:

Back or neck pain, possibly refusing to walk around the room.
“Drunken sailor” walk or wobbly in the hind end, hind feet will often cross as the pet steps.
Complete loss of hind limb motor function. Usually at the same time, the pet loses the ability to urinate and the ability to void (empty) their bladder completely.
Pain perception is lost, which is a sign of severe cord injury that can carry a guarded to poor prognosis.

Classification of disc ruptures is generally grouped into large regions. The following groupings are described:

cervical vertebral 1–5 (C1–C5)
cervical vertebrae 6 through thoracic vertebrae 2 (C6–T2)
thoracic vertebrae 3 to lumbar vertebrae 3 (T3–L3)
lumbar vertebrae 4 through the sacrum (L4–S3).

This grouping is called neurolocalization, which allows an ACVS board-certified surgeon to begin to plan which diagnostic tests and potential surgeries will be offered. Intervertebral disc rupture is generally thought to be a true surgical emergency and prognosis varies significantly with degree of function remaining when the pet is evaluated and surgically treated.

Diagnostics:

Most primary care veterinarians may suggest initial health screening, as well as any of the imaging techniques listed:

Blood work: complete blood count (CBC), serum chemistry, and a urinalysis
X-rays of the spine or chest
Myelogram, which is an x-ray series where a needle injects dye around the spinal cord to highlight any compression (Figure 1)
CT scan instead of or after the myelogram
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study in addition or instead of a CT scan
Spinal tap at the same time as the imaging

Your veterinary surgeon will determine the most appropriate tests, which may vary.

Treatment:

Conservative treatment with cage rest, confinement, and pain medications is often only offered to patients that have recently begun their first episode and the neurologic deficits are mild. Further consultation with your veterinarian may result in a referral to a veterinary surgeon to fully explore your options.

Multiple diverse surgical procedures and approaches exist, varying on the veterinary surgeon and the location of the disc. The choice of exactly which procedure to perform is made by the veterinary surgeon based on his or her experience and preferences. Surgical decompression of the spine by removal of the bone over the spinal canal is nearly always recommended (Figure 2).

Aftercare and Outcome:

Most pets are discharged 3–7 days after surgery. They are usually returned for recheck and removal of skin sutures or staples (if present). Pain can be well controlled with owner-administered medications.

Postoperative recovery following surgery may include:

Bladder expression 3–4 times daily (if necessary)
Physical rehabilitation for muscle strength and flexibility
Exercise restriction to “bed rest” for at least 4 weeks

Life style changes may include weight loss, switching to a body harness instead of neck lead, and minimizing jumping off furniture.

Postoperative complications can include:

Myelogram could precipitate seizures in the first 24 hours after the procedure
Incisional infection
Many patients have another disc herniated later in life
Continued wobbly walk or dragging hind toes when walking

Prognosis varies significantly with the degree of injury and the location of the injury. Most disc ruptures that present in dogs, still walking, have an excellent chance to return to walking. However, if the pet has lost the ability to sense pain in their legs before surgery is performed, they may never walk again.

Left untreated, disc rupture can lead to permanent loss of the ability to walk. Most dogs that reach this point will also lose control of their urinary bladder and are at risk for chronic urinary tract infections and urine scald. Additionally, without motor function, patients cannot turn themselves, and may develop bedsores and wounds.

Content Theme:

Animal Owners

Also known as:

Intervertebral Disc Disease

Herniated Disc

Ruptured Intervertebral Disc

IVDD

Cervical Disc Disease

Thoracolumbar Disc Disease

Slipped Disc

Disc Extrusion

Hemilaminectomy

Nerve Root Signature

This Animal Health Topic was written by and reviewed by Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. Any opinions stated in this article are not necessarily the official position of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons.

The American College of Veterinary Surgeons recommends contacting an ACVS board-certified veterinary surgeon or your general veterinarian for more information about this topic.

To find an ACVS Diplomate, visit www.acvs.org/find-a-surgeon.

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