Thoracolumbar Intervertebral Disk Disease in Large, Nonchondrodystrophic Dogs: a Retrospective Study

Medical records of 62 large, nonchondrodystrophic dogs diagnosed with thoracolumbar intervertebral disk disease between March 1986 and February 1996 were reviewed. Fifty-seven (92%), primarily mixed-breed dogs (mean age, 6.6 years) had Hansen type I disease. Fifty-eight percent had acute onset. The interspace between the first (L1) and second (L2) lumbar vertebrae was affected most commonly. The outcomes of the 48 dogs available for follow-up after undergoing laminectomies were evaluated. Surgical success rate and mean time to walking for nonambulatory dogs with deep pain perception was 90% and seven weeks, respectively. Thirty-nine percent had residual deficits. Following surgery, 12% had recurrence of disk protrusion/extrusion at a different site.