Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cockapoo with lower back fluid sac causing nerve issues
By Poacher, Joe & Freeman, Paul·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2026·The Queen's Veterinary School Hospital, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Caudal lumbar subarachnoid diverticulum in a Cockapoo.
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old Cockapoo was brought in for back pain and difficulty walking, which turned out to be caused by a subarachnoid diverticulum (a fluid-filled sac) in the spine. An MRI showed the problem, and surgery was performed to relieve the pressure on the spinal cord. After the surgery, the dog fully recovered and returned to normal activity.
People also search for: Cockapoo back pain · dog spinal surgery recovery · what is a subarachnoid diverticulum in dogs
Abstract
We describe a Cockapoo with a subarachnoid diverticulum (Type III), at the level of L6-7. Magnetic resonance imaging identified a circumferential dilatation of the dural sac, extending from the cranial endplate of L6 to the midbody of L7, containing T2-weighted hyperintense and T1-weighted hypointense material that suppressed on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequences, consistent with cerebrospinal fluid. An exploratory dorsal laminectomy confirmed a subarachnoid diverticulum (Type III), and a durotomy was performed. After surgical decompression, full clinical resolution was observed. This case had a clinical presentation that mimicked an intervertebral disc extrusion.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41742578/