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Peer-reviewed veterinary case report

Young German Shepherd dog with spinal bone tumor causing hind leg

By Santen, D R et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·1991·Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery·View original on PubMed

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Original publication title: Thoracolumbar vertebral osteochondroma in a young dog.

Species:
dog

Plain-English summary

A 7-month-old female German Shepherd was brought in because she was having trouble using her back legs. X-rays showed a calcified mass on her spine that was pressing on her spinal cord, which was causing her weakness. The vet performed surgery to remove the mass, and the dog started to regain her normal movement. Unfortunately, four weeks later, she had a serious setback after rolling onto her back, and a fracture in her spine was found. Sadly, the owners decided to euthanize her due to her condition.

People also search for: dog back leg weakness · German Shepherd spinal surgery · dog euthanasia decision

Abstract

Osteosarcoma was diagnosed in a 7-month-old female German Shepherd Dog with hind limb paresis. Radiography revealed a circumscribed calcified mass in the dorsal vertebral lamina at T13-L1 resulting in extradural compression of the spinal cord. Surgical excision of the mass resulted in gradual return to normal neurologic function. Four weeks after surgery, the dog became severely atactic after rolling onto its back. A chip fracture of T13 was identified, and the dog was euthanatized at the owners' request.

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Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1748611/