Spinal Spondylosis in Dogs

Many dogs become less active as they age.

Spinal spondylosis is known by many other names, including spondylosis, spondylosis deformans, spinal osteoarthritis and even simply "bone spurs." Canine spondylosis can restrict spinal column movement and is common in large canine breeds.

Causes

Currently, the exact cause of canine spondylosis is unknown. The condition may be due to genetics, trauma or various environmental factors that are specific to each breed of dog.

Symptoms

Symptoms of canine spinal spondylosis include a stiffness of the back, back pain, lameness, muscle atrophy and whining or yelping whenever the dog's back is touched. In rare cases, neurological problems may exist.

Diagnosis

To diagnose spinal spondylosis in a dog, the veterinarian may perform several tests. These may include an X-ray, a myelogram (a test for compression of the spine), force plate analysis (a measurement of weight tolerance) and joint fluid analysis (to differentiate between degenerative disease and infectious disease).

Treatment

Depending on the severity of the condition, the dog may receive corrective surgery, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, medication for pain, acupuncture and physical therapy.

Prognosis

For most dogs, spondylosis appears during old age. This leads to a good prognosis, because many dogs become less active as they age, which allows those that are affected by spondylosis to continue living a relatively good life.

References

• An Overview of Spondylosis in Dogs
• HelpMyHound: Spondylosis
• WebDVM: Spondylosis