Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Gas trapped in spinal canal causing leg weakness in two dogs
By Kimura, Shintaro et al.·Published in The Journal of veterinary medical science·2020·The United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Japan·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Encapsulated gas accumulation in the spinal canal: Pneumorrhachis in two dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 17-year-old mongrel and a 12-year-old Shiba Inu were both brought in for problems with coordination and weakness in their back legs. The vets found gas trapped in the spinal canal, likely due to a herniated disc, which was causing these symptoms. To relieve the pressure on the spinal cord, they performed surgery to remove the gas and any affected tissue. After the surgery, both dogs showed improvement and their symptoms resolved without any complications.
People also search for: dog ataxia treatment · Shiba Inu back leg weakness · gas in dog spine surgery
Abstract
A 17-year-old mongrel dog and 12-year-old Shiba Inu dog presented with ataxia and paresis of the pelvic limbs, respectively. Gas accumulation within the spinal canal adjacent to the herniated disc was suspected in both cases. Since the gas remained accumulated for a prolonged period, hemilaminectomy was performed to decompress the spinal cord. The bulged external lamina of the dura matter was removed and histopathologically examined. Granulomatous inflammation and hyperplasia of fibrous connective tissues was noted, suggesting that the gas was encapsulated and the fibrous nodules made reabsorption difficult. Clinical signs resolved post-surgery. This is the first report describing histopathological features of pneumorrhachis in dogs. The accumulated gas was successfully removed by surgery. Postoperative course remained uneventful in both cases.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32779622/