Small Animal Review: June 2023

Sakaguchi et al (2023) report the results of a retrospective cohort study which aimed to assess whether the volume of disc material extruded is related to the severity of neurological signs in cases of type I thoracolumbar disc herniation. The study included 70 small breed dogs with type I thoraco-lumbar intervertebral disc herniation. The volume and height of the extruded disc material and the severity of the cord compression were assessed using computed tomography myelography, with the disc immediately cranial to the affected disc used for comparison.

The volume of the affected disc was larger than the control, and there was a weak association between the extruded volume and the neurological severity. The authors conclude that herniated discs have a greater volume than controls and that there is some association between volume and neurological grade.

Spinal disease can be associated with signs of pain in the absence of neurological signs, but pain can be manifested in different ways. Olender et al (2023) performed a retrospective study to report on dogs with cervical muscle jerks related to cervical pain or spinal disease. This study included 20 dogs with a history of bilateral jerks and cervical pain or myelopathy. All dogs had histories taken, clinical and neurological examinations and computed tomography studies performed, and all dogs had follow-up information available. All dogs were treated as indicated by the diagnosis. Of the 20 dogs in the study, 13 were French Bulldogs.