Intervertebral disc disease type II in a 10 year old Chinese Crested dog

Abstract

This case study highlights a 10 year old, male castrated, Chinese Crested dog, who presented to Cornell University Hospital for Animals (CUHA) Neurology Service for tetraplegia of three week duration. Neurologic deficits localized the lesion to his cervical spine and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed intervertebral disc protrusions at C2-C3, C3-C4, and C6-C7. The patient was diagnosed with intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) Type II and dorsal laminectomies were performed at the levels of C2-C3, C3-C4, and C4-C5. The patient was still tetraplegic at the time of discharge and started in a formal rehabilitation program three weeks post-operatively. On the six weeks post-operative recheck, the patient was ambulatory with some ataxia but expected to continue improvement with time and continued physical rehabilitation. The pathophysiology of IVDD, as well as the patient’s history, physical exam findings, neurological exam findings, diagnostics, treatments, and physical rehabilitation will be discussed.