Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Lumbosacral vertebra problem raises risk of nerve pain in dogs
By Flückiger, Mark A et al.·Published in Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association·2006·Department of Small Animal Clinics·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: A lumbosacral transitional vertebra in the dog predisposes to cauda equina syndrome.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that dogs with a specific spinal condition called a lumbosacral transitional vertebra (LTV) are more likely to develop cauda equina syndrome (CES), which can cause symptoms like difficulty walking or pain in the back end. In particular, German Shepherds and male dogs were at a higher risk. The research showed that dogs with an LTV could develop CES 1-2 years earlier than those without this condition. If your dog is showing signs of back pain or mobility issues, it’s important to consult your veterinarian for an evaluation.
People also search for: dog back pain German Shepherd · cauda equina syndrome treatment · lumbosacral transitional vertebra in dogs
Abstract
The association between the occurrence of a lumbosacral transitional vertebra (LTV) and the cauda equina syndrome (CES) in dogs was investigated. In 4000 control dogs without signs of CES, 3.5% had an LTV, while in 92 dogs with CES, 16.3% had an LTV. The lesion causing CES always occurred between the last true lumbar vertebra and the LTV. Dogs with an LTV were eight times more likely to develop CES than dogs without an LTV. German Shepherd dogs were eight times more likely to develop CES compared with other breeds. Male dogs were twice as likely to develop CES than females. Dogs with an LTV develop CES 1-2 years earlier than dogs without an LTV.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16429983/