Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Imaging shows tail pain from disc herniation in 7-year-old dogs
By Lawson, Caitlin M et al.·Published in Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association·2011·Animal Surgical & Emergency Center, United States·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 We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above.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: Imaging findings in dogs with caudal intervertebral disc herniation.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Four 7-year-old dogs, including a Beagle and a Bassett hound, were brought in for tail pain and abnormal tail positions. Some of them also showed pain when defecating. X-rays and MRIs revealed herniated discs in their lower back, which were pressing on nearby nerves. Treatment options typically include pain management and possibly surgery, depending on the severity of the herniation. These dogs can recover with appropriate care, so if your pet shows similar symptoms, it's important to consult your veterinarian.
People also search for: dog tail pain treatment · Beagle tail problems · intervertebral disc herniation in dogs · dog pain during defecation · signs of back pain in dogs
Abstract
The radiographic and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings for four dogs with herniation of the Cd1-Cd2 intervertebral disc are described. All dogs were 7 years of age at the time of presentation, with one neutered male and three neutered females. Breeds included one Beagle, one Bassett hound, and two large, mixed breed dogs. All dogs had tail pain on manipulation, two had pain during defecation, and two maintained an abnormal tail position. Three dogs had radiographs in which mineralization within the disc space was apparent. Two of these dogs also had mineralization within the vertebral canal. Three dogs underwent MRI, which was characterized by varying degrees of disc herniation and nerve root compression at Cd1-Cd2. Mobility may be a factor predisposing to disc herniation in the cranial aspect of the caudal spine. We documented that caudal disc herniation does occur occasionally in dogs and that radiography and MRI may be used to identify this disease. Caudal intervertebral disc herniation should be considered as a differential for dogs with caudal vertebral pain, pain with tail manipulation, pain during defecation, or abnormal tail carriage.
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/21689201/