Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with hind leg pain and gas in spine causing cauda equina syndrome
By Schwarz, T et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2000·Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Vacuum disk and facet phenomenon in a dog with cauda equina syndrome.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 7-year-old male Rottweiler was brought to the vet because he had been limping on both back legs for 18 months and showed signs of pain when getting up. After a CT scan, the vet found gas bubbles in his spine, indicating degenerative disk disease, which can cause pain and mobility issues. This condition is known as the vacuum disk phenomenon and is more easily seen with a CT scan than regular X-rays. Treatment options may include pain management and physical therapy to help improve his mobility and comfort.
People also search for: dog limping back legs · Rottweiler degenerative disk disease treatment · dog pain when rising
Abstract
A 7-year-old castrated male Rottweiler was evaluated for an 18-month history of bilateral hind limb lameness, signs of pain on rising, and mild ataxia. A gas-filled lumbosacral disk space (vacuum disk phenomenon) was revealed by use of computed tomography. Additional smaller gas bubbles were in the periphery of the disk and between the degenerated L5-L6 dorsal articular facets (vacuum facet phenomenon). Vacuum disk and facet phenomena have been described in humans with degenerative disk and vertebral articular facet joint disease; gas attracted from surrounding tissues accumulates within clefts of the degenerated disk or in unstable facet joints. Vacuum disk phenomenon has been reported in dogs and indicates degenerative disk disease. The phenomenon is more commonly observed by use of computed tomography, compared with conventional radiography, and can be elicited by hyperextension of the vertebral column.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10997157/