The Dog as an Animal Model for Intervertebral Disc Degeneration? (original) (raw)

Intervertebral disc degeneration in the dog. Part 2: Chondrodystrophic and non-chondrodystrophic breeds

The Veterinary Journal, 2013

Dogs can be grouped into two distinct types of breed based on the predisposition to chondrodystrophy, namely, non-chondrodystrophic (NCD) and chondrodystrophic (CD). In addition to a different process of endochondral ossification, NCD and CD breeds have different characteristics of intravertebral disc (IVD) degeneration and IVD degenerative diseases. The anatomy, physiology, histopathology, and biochemical and biomechanical characteristics of the healthy and degenerated IVD are discussed in the first part of this two-part review. This second part describes the similarities and differences in the histopathological and biochemical characteristics of IVD degeneration in CD and NCD canine breeds and discusses relevant aetiological factors of IVD degeneration.

Intervertebral disc disease in dogs – Part 1: A new histological grading scheme for classification of intervertebral disc degeneration in dogs

The Veterinary Journal, 2013

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is common in dogs and can lead to serious disorders. Current treatments can relieve clinical signs of disease, but do not restore IVD function. The development of regenerative strategies for IVD dysfunction requires detailed knowledge of the pathogenesis of IVD degeneration and its underlying mechanisms. Histological examination of IVDs at different stages of degeneration might provide this knowledge, but as there is currently no histological grading scheme for canine IVD degeneration, the aim of this study, which is the first of a two-part series, was to design and validate an appropriate scheme.

Intervertebral disc degeneration in the dog. Part 1: Anatomy and physiology of the intervertebral disc and characteristics of intervertebral disc degeneration

The Veterinary Journal, 2013

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is common in dogs and can give rise to a number of diseases, such as IVD herniation, cervical spondylomyelopathy, and degenerative lumbosacral stenosis. Although there have been many reports and reviews on the clinical aspects of canine IVD disease, few reports have discussed and reviewed the process of IVD degeneration. In this first part of a two-part review, the anatomy, physiology, histopathology, and biochemical and biomechanical characteristics of the healthy and degenerated IVD are described. In Part 2, the aspects of IVD degeneration in chondrodystrophic and nonchondrodystrophic dog breeds are discussed in depth.

The Myth of Fibroid Degeneration in the Canine Intervertebral Disc: A Histopathological Comparison of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration in Chondrodystrophic and Nonchondrodystrophic Dogs

Veterinary Pathology

Since the seminal work by Hans-Jörgen Hansen in 1952, it has been assumed that intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration in chondrodystrophic (CD) dogs involves chondroid metaplasia of the nucleus pulposus, whereas in nonchondrodystrophic (NCD) dogs, fibrous metaplasia occurs. However, more recent studies suggest that IVD degeneration in NCD and CD dogs is more similar than originally thought. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the histopathology of IVD degeneration in CD and NCD dogs. IVDs with various grades of degeneration (Thompson grade I–III, n = 7 per grade) from both CD and NCD dogs were used (14 CD and 18 NCD dogs, 42 IVDs in total). Sections were scored according to a histological scoring scheme for canine IVD degeneration, including evaluation of the presence of fibrocyte-like cells in the nucleus pulposus. In CD dogs, the macroscopically non-degenerated nucleus pulposus contained mainly chondrocyte-like cells, whereas the non-degenerated nucleus pulposus of NCD...

Incidence of intervertebral disk degeneration–related diseases and associated mortality rates in dogs

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2012

C ommon diseases related to IVD degeneration in dogs include DLSS, CSM, and Hansen type I and II IVD herniation. 1,2 The lifetime prevalence of IVD herniation in dogs (ie, the proportion that will develop IVD herniation at some point during their lifetime) has been conservatively estimated at 2%. 3,4 Intervertebral disk degeneration-related diseases are generally more common in chondrodystrophic breeds than in nonchondrodystrophic breeds and in older dogs than in younger dogs. 5-7 Degeneration of the IVD is generally considered to be multifactorial, 7,8 but a genetic influence has been reported in some breeds. 9-11 Intervertebral disk degeneration is not synonymous with IVD disease. Although IVDs that cause clinical signs are typically degenerated, IVD degeneration can also be a common incidental finding. Some countries have introduced radiographic screening programs in an effort to reduce the occur-

Intervertebral disc disease in dogs – Part 2: Comparison of clinical, magnetic resonance imaging, and histological findings in 74 surgically treated dogs

The Veterinary Journal, 2013

The relationship between intervertebral disc (IVD) disease and IVD degeneration remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to compare the clinical severity of IVD herniation (IVDH), determined with a neurological grading system, with findings of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histology using grading systems for IVD degeneration in chondrodystrophic (CD; n = 37) and non-chondrodystrophic (NCD; n = 37) dogs. This study is the second part of a two-part investigation, where the first part involved the development and validation of a histological grading scheme for classification of canine IVD degeneration.

Intervertebral Disk Degeneration in Dogs: Consequences, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Future Directions

Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine

Evidence of intervertebral disk degeneration (IVDD) is extremely common in dogs, and its prevalence increases with age. It has many important consequences because degeneration of the intervertebral disks often is a prelude to disk herniation, which can injure the spinal cord, spinal nerves, or both. This review summarizes the advances in diagnosis and treatment of IVDD that have been made since the 1950s when the first detailed description of the degenerative changes was published. It also discusses new approaches to treatment of the associated spinal cord injury and new methods by which to classify injury severity that are currently under development.

Intervertebral disc disease in Dachshunds radiographically screened for intervertebral disc calcifications

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica, 2014

Background: Intervertebral disc disease (IDD) is a very common neurological disease, Dachshunds being the breed most often affected. In this breed, IDD has a hereditary background and is associated with intervertebral disc calcification (IDC), an indicator of severe intervertebral disc degeneration. In Finland, spinal radiography is used, when screening for IDC before breeding Dachshunds. We evaluated the association between IDC and IDD in Finnish Dachshunds radiographically screened for IDC. A questionnaire was sent to owners of 193 radiographically screened Dachshunds aged at least ten years. Clinical signs indicative of IDD were compared with IDC grade (grade 0 = no calcifications, grade 1 = 1 -2 calcifications, grade 2 = 3 -4 calcifications and grade 3 = 5 or more calcifications) and with age at the time of the radiographic examination. The diagnosis of IDD was confirmed by a veterinarian. Results: IDD was common in the study population with 31% of dogs being affected. IDD and IDC were clearly connected (P < 0.001); IDD was rare in dogs with no calcifications (grade 0) and common in dogs with severe IDC (grade 3). The IDC grade was strongly positively associated with frequency of back pain periods (P < 0.001), and dogs with IDC grade 3 had frequent periods of pain. Reluctance to jump onto a sofa had a strong positive association with back pain. No association existed between age of the dog at the time of the radiographic examination and clinical signs indicative of IDD.