Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog back pain and surgery for lumbosacral osteochondrosis
By Hanna, F Y·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2001·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Lumbosacral osteochondrosis: radiological features and surgical management in 34 dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 34 dogs, mostly German Shepherds, Boxers, and Rottweilers, showed signs of back pain and weakness in their hind legs due to a condition called lumbosacral osteochondrosis, which affects the lower spine. Most of these dogs were over 14 months old, and while some were treated with medication and rest, the majority underwent surgery. The surgical treatment was successful for about 86% of the dogs, leading to significant improvement in their symptoms. If your dog is showing signs of back pain or difficulty moving, it’s important to consult your veterinarian for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.
People also search for: dog back pain treatment · lumbosacral osteochondrosis in dogs · German Shepherd hind leg weakness · dog surgery for back problems
Abstract
Lumbosacral osteochondrosis has been diagnosed with increasing frequency over the past few years. Nevertheless, poor recognition of the condition continues to lead to frequent misdiagnosis. A study was therefore undertaken over a 12-year period (1986 to 1998) to describe the use of a variety of radiological studies to define the syndrome and the use of different surgical techniques for optimal treatment of the condition. Dogs with clinical signs of cauda equina neuropathy and radiological signs of lumbosacral osteochondrosis were older than 14 months (mean age 6.3 years). German shepherd dogs, boxers and rottweilers were heavily represented. Of the 34 dogs with osteochondrosis in this study, the lesion appeared to be related to the sacrum in 31 dogs (91 per cent) and the seventh lumbar vertebra in the remaining three dogs (9 per cent). Twenty-seven male and seven female dogs were affected (4:1). Out of the 34 dogs, six (18 per cent) were treated conservatively and the remaining 28 (82 per cent) were treated surgically. The outcome of surgical treatment was considered to be satisfactory in 24 (86 per cent) of these latter dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11440396/