Intervertebral Disc Disease: Management of Type I Disc Herniation part I

Type I Intervertebral Disc Disease is most common in chondrodystrophic dogs.

When a dog experiences acute Type I disc disease (extrusion of the nucleus) in the thoracolumbar spine, a range of clinical signs may be seen. With mild disease, back pain and ataxia can be seen; conscious proprioceptive deficits in the rear limbs may be evident on a neurologic examination. In more severe cases, complete paralysis (lack of voluntary motor function) and even loss of deep pain sensation may occur.

When is it appropriate to recommend surgery, and when is medical management likely to resolve the problem? Surgery is usually indicated in a patient that is unable to support his weight and ambulate. At this point, the prognosis for recovery without surgery is guarded. In dogs that are paraplegic, surgery may be indicated on an emergency basis. In a patient that has back pain and/or ataxia, but is still able to support weight, medical management is often successful. Medical management for acute disc extrusion requires crate confinement for 3-4 weeks. NSAID's or low-dose steroid therapy may be prescribed, and even additional analgesics may be used, such as torbutrol. If a patient does not improve with cage confinement or if their clinical signs worsen, then referral for a myelogram and possible surgery is important. If you have a patient that you would like to discuss with a surgeon, please don't hesitate to call us.

View/download this topic in our newsletter, Cutting Edge, Winter 2007.