Canine models of spine disorders

Area of Science:

• Comparative medicine
• Translational research
• Veterinary neurology

Background:

• Spine disorders, including neck and low back pain, significantly impact human health and quality of life.
• Canine spinal disorders share striking similarities in pathogenesis, clinical signs, and treatment with human conditions.
• Historically, various animal models have been used for spine disorder research, each with limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline similarities between canine and human spine disorders.
• To describe relevant canine models for spine disorder research.
• To highlight the utility of canine models in advancing translational research for intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD).

Main Methods:

• A scoping review of peer-reviewed manuscripts from PubMed and Google Scholar.
• Searches utilized keywords such as "intervertebral disc," "canine," "histopathology," and "biomarkers."
• Inclusion criteria focused on studies detailing canine models and mechanisms of spine disorders, particularly IVDD.

Main Results:

• Dogs exhibit significant anatomical, physiological, histological, and molecular parallels with human spinal disorders.
• Spontaneously occurring canine spine conditions provide highly translatable data, overcoming limitations of other preclinical models.
• Canine models are effective for studying disease mechanisms, diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, and treatment of IVDD.

Conclusions:

• Canine models, both spontaneous and induced, are valuable for advancing translational research in human spine disorders.
• The shared characteristics between canine and human spinal conditions underscore the utility of dogs in preclinical studies.
• Addressing potential limitations enhances the effectiveness of canine models for improving both human and veterinary healthcare.