Taking care of a spinal patient

摘要

Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is a common presentation of neurological dysfunction in dogs. Degenerative changes within the intervertebral discs lead to the extrusion or protrusion of intervertebral disc material causing spinal cord compression (myelopathy) and or nerve root entrapment (radiculopathy). Severity of clinical signs and prognosis depends on the onset of clinical signs, the type of herniation involved, duration of clinical signs before intervention, and the area of the spinal cord affected. The patient, a four year old, 6.5kg male lhasa apso experienced acute discomfort when out exercising. He rapidly became ataxic and progressively unable to walk. On presentation the patient was non-ambulatory and paraplegic.