Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
CT scans help diagnose sudden back paralysis in short-legged dogs
By Bibevski, Jennifer Deck et al.·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2013·T.A.) and Department of Veterinary Radiology, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: A prospective evaluation of CT in acutely paraparetic chondrodystrophic dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of chondrodystrophic dogs, which are breeds prone to back problems, were brought in with sudden weakness in their back legs due to intervertebral disc disease (IVDD). The veterinarians used a CT scan to identify the specific disc issues causing the weakness. Out of 69 dogs, the CT scan successfully detected the problem in 63 cases, allowing for targeted surgical treatment. After surgery, 60 of the dogs showed improvement in their ability to walk within two weeks. This study shows that CT scans can effectively help diagnose and treat back issues in these breeds.
People also search for: dog back leg weakness treatment · chondrodystrophic dog IVDD symptoms · CT scan for dog back problems
Abstract
The clinical usefulness of computed tomography (CT) as a sole diagnostic modality in identifying disc lesion(s) in chondrodystrophic breeds presenting with acute signs of intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is incompletely characterized. CT was used prospectively to determine the validity of this tool. Neurologic examinations and CT scans were performed on all dogs at presentation. Surgical decompression was based on those findings. Clinical follow-up examinations were performed on days 1 and 14 postsurgically. CT detected a lesion consistent with clinical findings in 63 of 69 cases (91%). All 63 dogs with Hansen type I IVDD lesions were identified on CT alone. The surgeon and radiologist agreed on lesion level in 72 of 78 lesions (92%) and lateralization in 71 of 78 lesions (91%). Improvement in neurologic grade was documented in 60 of 69 dogs (87%) by 14 days. CT imaging can be used as a single imaging modality in chondrodystrophic dogs presenting with acute paresis. CT used in this manner is a reliable and noninvasive tool for detecting spinal compression secondary to IVDD in chondrodystrophic dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24051258/