Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Kyphoscoliosis linked to disc damage in young dogs
By Faller, Kiterie et al.·Published in Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)·2014·School of Veterinary Medicine, United Kingdom·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 We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above.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: The effect of kyphoscoliosis on intervertebral disc degeneration in dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 14 dogs with spinal deformities, specifically kyphoscoliosis, were found to have more severe degeneration in their intervertebral discs (the cushions between the vertebrae) compared to those without such deformities. Younger dogs, aged 1 to 4 years, showed particularly significant degeneration in the discs next to the malformation. In older dogs, degeneration was noted in all discs, likely due to normal aging. This suggests that congenital spinal issues can lead to earlier disc problems in dogs.
People also search for: dog back pain kyphoscoliosis · intervertebral disc degeneration in dogs · symptoms of spinal problems in dogs
Abstract
In people, abnormalities in vertebral column conformation, such as kyphoscoliosis, induce degenerative changes in adjacent intervertebral disc (IVD) structure and composition. It was hypothesised that canine IVDs adjacent to a vertebral malformation undergo early degeneration. In a blinded retrospective study, thoracic IVD degeneration was evaluated in 14 dogs on magnetic resonance images using Pfirrmann's grade. IVDs adjacent to a vertebral malformation had higher grades of degeneration than non-adjacent IVDs (P < 0.0001). There was an age-dependency, with dogs between 1 and 4 years showing higher grade of degeneration in adjacent than non-adjacent IVDs (P < 0.0001). Conversely, in older dogs, all IVDs - including the non-adjacents - showed degenerative signs, possibly due to normal aging. These results suggest that congenital vertebral malformation results in early degeneration of adjacent IVDs.
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/24745767/