Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
German Shepherd dogs with sudden upper back disc herniation
By Mateo, Isidro et al.·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2019·From Hospital Clí, Spain·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Intervertebral T3-T4 Disc Extrusions in Two German Shepherd Dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Two German Shepherds were brought to the vet with sudden back problems caused by intervertebral disc extrusions in their upper spine. The dogs showed signs of pain and difficulty moving, and imaging tests confirmed the issue. Both dogs underwent a surgical procedure called hemilaminectomy to relieve pressure on the spinal cord. Thankfully, they both recovered well after the surgery and were able to return to their normal activities.
People also search for: German Shepherd back pain · dog disc extrusion surgery · intervertebral disc disease treatment
Abstract
Although intervertebral disc extrusions are extremely frequent in dogs, those affecting the cranial thoracic spine in large-breed dogs have not been reported. In this case report, the clinical, radiological, surgical, and histopathological findings in two German shepherd dogs with T3-T4 disc extrusions are reported. Clinical and imaging findings (acute onset and radiological evidence of lateralized disc material dispersed beyond the margins of the intervertebral disc space) allowed proper diagnosis of disc extrusion. Decompressive surgery via hemilaminectomy was performed in both patients with favorable outcomes. Intervertebral disc extrusions should be considered as a differential diagnosis of large-breed dogs with acute onset, upper-thoracic spinal cord disease. Imaging findings can aid in differentiating thoracic intervertebral disc extrusions from protrusions, thus leading to appropriate treatment.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30870609/