Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with lumbar discospondylitis and spinal infection
By Brocal, Josep et al.·Published in Open veterinary journal·2019·WEAR REFERRALS Veterinary Hospital, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Diagnosis and management of lumbarspp. discospondylitis using intraoperative cytology and external stabilization in a dog with disseminated infection.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 1.5-year-old female pug was brought in for a right head tilt and trouble walking that had been getting worse over six weeks. The vet found signs of a serious infection in her spine and skull, which was linked to a fungal infection called disseminated aspergillosis. After surgery to stabilize her spine with an external fixator, she was treated with an antifungal medication called voriconazole. Unfortunately, the dog passed away three months later, despite the surgery being successful in stabilizing her condition.
People also search for: pug head tilt treatment · dog spinal infection symptoms · antifungal treatment for dogs
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Discospondylitis is an infection of the intervertebral disc and adjacent vertebral endplates. The infectious agent is most commonly a bacterial organism and fungal causes are uncommon. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 1.5-year-old female entire pug was referred with a 6-week history of right head tilt and progressive non-ambulatory paraparesis. On neurological examination, right facial paralysis and mid and caudal lumbar pain were also detected. Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography of the head and spine were performed 3 weeks apart. Findings were consistent with osteolysis of the petrous temporal bone and L2-L3 and L5-L6 vertebral subluxation caused by discospondylitis and osteomyelitis. Disseminated aspergillosis was diagnosed following biopsy and stabilization using an external skeletal spinal fixator. Voriconazol was administered as a medical treatment after surgery. The dog died 3 months later without failure of the construct. CONCLUSION: To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report using an external fixator for fungal lumbar discospondylitis. The use of an external skeletal spinal fixator should be considered when choosing the surgical technique.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31998610/