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Upper thoracic disc disease (T1-T9) in large-breed dogs
Kendra Hearon1, Jason M Berg, Jennifer J Bonczynski
1Surgery Department, Yonkers, NY; and Oncology Department, Katonah Bedford Veterinary Center, Bedford Hills, NY (P.B.).
Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association
|January 22, 2014
Summary
Large-breed dogs can develop intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) in the upper thoracic spine (T1-T9). German Shepherds are particularly susceptible to this condition, often experiencing multiple IVDD regions.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Neurology
- Canine Orthopedics
Background:
- Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is a common spinal condition in dogs.
- Small-breed dogs are typically more affected by IVDD, often in the thoracolumbar region.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify large-breed dogs with intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) affecting the upper thoracic spine (thoracic vertebrae 1-9).
- To characterize the epidemiological and clinical features of upper thoracic IVDD in large-breed dogs.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of medical records for dogs diagnosed with IVDD via MRI between February 2008 and September 2011.
- Analysis of signalment, lesion location, and breed distribution.
Main Results:
- Out of 723 dogs with IVDD, 21 (10.7%) large-breed dogs had lesions in the T1-T9 region; no small-breed dogs had lesions in this specific area.
- The most frequent sites for upper thoracic lesions were T2-T3 (33.3%) and T4-T5 (25.9%).
- German Shepherd Dogs constituted the majority (52.4%) of large-breed dogs with T1-T9 IVDD, with larger, older dogs being more prone to these lesions and multiple IVDD regions.
Conclusions:
- Upper thoracic IVDD (T1-T9) is a distinct entity primarily affecting large-breed dogs, notably German Shepherds.
- Dogs with T1-T9 IVDD have a high likelihood of concurrent IVDD in other spinal regions.
- Diagnostic imaging of the entire spine is recommended for large-breed dogs presenting with T3-L3 myelopathy to rule out concurrent upper thoracic lesions.
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