Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Severe breathing and heart problems from neck disk herniation in two
By Kube, Stephanie et al.·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2003·Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, 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 We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above.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: Severe respiratory compromise secondary to cervical disk herniation in two dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Two dogs experienced sudden weakness in all four legs, trouble breathing, and a slow heart rate due to herniated disks in their necks. A vet found that one dog had a disk issue between the second and third cervical vertebrae, while the other had a problem between the third and fourth. After surgery to fix the disks, both dogs' breathing and heart rates returned to normal. This case highlights the importance of addressing neck problems in dogs, as they can lead to serious respiratory and heart issues, but prompt treatment can lead to a good recovery.
People also search for: dog weakness in legs · dog breathing problems · cervical disk herniation treatment · dog heart rate issues · dog neck surgery recovery
Abstract
Two dogs presented with acute tetraparesis, hypoventilation, and bradycardia with a second-degree atrioventricular heart block. Neurological examination localized both lesions to the cervical spine. Diagnostic imaging revealed a ventral extradural compression at the second to third cervical (C(2)-C(3)) region in one dog and at the third to fourth cervical (C(3)-C(4)) region in the other. Following surgical correction of the extruded disk, the hypoventilation and bradycardia resolved. Cervical disk extrusions are a common cause of acute tetraparesis in the dog. This report shows that respiratory and cardiac complications may occur concurrently. The authors recommend screening dogs with cervical myelopathies for respiratory and cardiac dysfunctions and treating appropriately. Prompt surgical intervention and supportive care can improve the prognosis.
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/14736713/