What is a disc, and what is its purpose?
The spinal cord is encased in a bony canal with discs in between that allow movement. These discs are rubber-like cushions between the vertebrae.
What does it mean for a disc to rupture, and how does it happen?
The disc is composed of two parts. The outer covering is much like a thick shell. It is comprised of tough fibres that protect and contain the central part. It is thinnest at the top; this thin area is located just below the spinal cord. The central part of the disc has the consistency of thick tooth paste; it is much softer than the outer part.
When the outer shell degenerates, it allows the central part of the disc to escape. This is called a disc rupture or “slipped” ruptured disc. Since the shell is thinnest near the spinal cord, disc material that escapes almost always goes upward, putting pressure on the cord. Because the spinal cord is encased within its bony canal, it cannot move away from the pressure and it becomes pinched.
Degenerative disc disease causes spontaneous degeneration of the outer part of the disc, resulting in escape of the central part. It is not related to injury, although trauma can cause discs to rupture. It is also not related to age. Most dogs with degenerative disc disease are 3-7 years old and will present for no known reason. Certain breeds, notably the Dachshund, Poodle, Pekinese, Lhaso Apso, and Cocker Spaniel have a high incidence of disc disease. Other breeds, such as the German Shepherd and Doberman also have disc disease but with a lower incidence.
Most owners report that a disc rupture occurred following traumatic event, such as a relatively small jump or fall. Although this act is frequently blamed for the disc rupture, if the disc had not already been degenerating, the rupture is unlikely to have occurred.
How does a slipped disc affect the spinal cord?
The spinal cord is rather like a telephone cable that is carrying thousands of tiny wires. When it is crushed, transmission of information through the wires is stopped. When the disc degenerates and ruptures, a similar event occurs. The central part is forced upward, putting pressure on the spinal cord and/or the nerves that leave the spinal cord over the discs (i.e. spinal nerves). Pressure on the spinal nerves results in pain and/or loss of information transmission. This results in paralysis or partial paralysis.
Most disc ruptures occur in the middle to lower part of the back. However, they may also occur in the neck. The former often causes paralysis without severe pain; the latter often causes severe pain without paralysis.
How fast do discs degenerate and rupture?
Disc degeneration usually occurs relatively slowly, i.e. over several days or weeks. The dog usually experiences pain and becomes reluctant to move. It may lie around for a few days allowing the body to resolve the problem, often without the owner being aware that a problem existed. However, discs may also rupture very acutely. Some dogs will go from normal walking to total paralysis in less than one hour.
How is a slipped disc diagnosed?
Any dog that presents with spinal pain, paralysis and/or wobbly walking will be considered as a slipped disc case particularly if it’s one of the predisposed breeds. Whilst x-rays may be considered, advanced imaging is now considered the best option for rapidly diagnosing these cases. This involves a general anaesthetic and either a C.T. scan or M.R.I. Sometimes dye is injected into the spinal cord to outline it and see where the issue is.
Alternative diagnosis should be considered including a blood clot or a tumour. Both of these problems are quite rare.
Are all disc ruptures treated with surgery?
Not necessarily. Treatment is based on the stage of the disease. Stage I disc disease produces mild pain and is usually self-correcting in a few days. Stage II disc disease causes moderate to severe pain in the neck or lumbar (lower back) area. Stage III disc disease causes partial paralysis (paresis) and results in the dog walking in staggering or uncoordinated movements. Stage IV disc disease causes paralysis but the ability to feel is present. Stage V disc disease causes paralysis and loss of feeling. These stages tend to overlap in some dogs, and dogs may move from one stage to another over a period of hours to days.
Dogs with Stage II and III disease may be treated with strict cage rest and pain relief. Surgery may be considered if the pain or lack of coordinated movements persists after 4-7 days of treatment or if the neurological status declines from one day to the next. It is important that the dog does not receive pain relief unless total confinement to a crate or cage is enforced. If the pain sensation is taken away completely, the dog is more likely to progress to total rupture of the disc and total paralysis. The length of confinement will depend upon several factors.
Dogs with Stage IV disease should have surgery, although a small percentage will recover without it. Dogs with Stage V disease should have surgery, and the sooner that surgery is done, the better the prognosis. If possible, these dogs should be operated on within the first 24 hours of the onset of paralysis.
What is the purpose of surgery?
The goal of surgery is to remove pressure from the spinal cord. If the disc rupture occurs in the lower back, a window is made in the side of the vertebral bone to expose the spinal cord. This window allows removal of disc material and relieves pressure from the cord. If the disc rupture occurs in the neck, a window is made in the bone exposing the spinal cord. This may be done either from the top or the bottom, depending on the situation and the veterinary surgeon’s preference. This surgery is completed by specialist surgeons.
Recovery from surgery and the ability to walk may take time post-operatively. Your dog will be hospitalised for at least a few days and their ability to pass urine and faeces will be closely monitored as the ability to do both of these may be affected by the paralysis. Recovery is dependent on four factors: whether permanent damage was done before surgery, if the surgery has relieved all the pressure quickly enough, physical therapy performed at home, and the motivation of your dog. You will be instructed on ways to achieve the last two.
What is the success rate for treating disc disease with and without surgery?
Stage | Recovery
without surgery |
Recovery
with surgery
|
I: up to 1 week | 80-90% | 90-95% |
II: past 1 week | 60-70% | 90-95% |
III | 30-40% | 85-95% |
IV: up to 3 days | < 25% | 85-95% |
IV: past 3 days | < 20% | 60-70% |
V: up to 24 hours | < 5% | 50% |
V: past 24 hours | < 5% | <20% |
Can my dog slip a disc again?
The answer is yes. However, more than 95% of degenerated discs will heal without surgery. So the chance of your dog needing surgery a second time is less than 5%.
Other causes of spinal pain or paralysis
1. Spinal Shock.
This is a temporary loss of spinal function that is generally associated with trauma. It occurs suddenly and is somewhat like a concussion of the brain. It may leave permanent damage, or full recovery may occur. Recovery from spinal shock generally occurs within a few hours to a few days.
2. Fibrocartilaginous Embolism.
In this condition, a small amount of disc material ruptures and gets into one of the blood vessels leading to the spinal cord. As the vessel narrows, the disc material obstructs it, depriving a certain segment of the spinal cord of its blood supply. Without proper blood supply, that segment of the spinal cord dies, resulting in paralysis. Surgery will not help these dogs because there is no pressure on the spinal cord. Often, paralysis involves only one rear leg, or one rear leg is more severely affected than the other. Complete recovery may occur in a few days to weeks, or there may be permanent damage to a portion of the spinal cord. Diagnosis of fibrocartilaginous embolism is based on the correct clinical signs and a normal myelogram. Confirmation requires a biopsy of the spinal cord so the diagnosis is confirmed only with an autopsy.
3. Degenerative Myelopathy
This condition means that the spinal cord is slowly dying. It results in progressive paralysis that begins with the dog dragging its rear feet as it walks. This is called “knuckling over” and results in the toe nails of the rear feet being worn because they drag the ground with each step. It progresses to weakness of the rear legs, then paralysis. It generally takes several weeks before paralysis occurs, and it generally occurs in large breeds of dogs, especially German Shepherd dogs. Indeed, it is often known as German Shepherd Dog, or Alsatian Disease. There is no successful treatment and ultimately paralysis can include loss of urine and bowel control, and although no pain appears to be involved, euthanasia has to be considered.
Diagnosis of degenerative myelopathy is based on the correct clinical signs, especially in large breeds of dogs, and a normal myelogram. Confirmation requires a biopsy of the spinal chord so the diagnosis is confirmed only with an autopsy.
A normal myelogram in a dog with slowly progressive paralysis is very frustrating because the two most likely diseases (numbers 2 and 3) cannot be confirmed without an autopsy.