The patient is a 9 year old FS Labrador Retriever dog with a history of neck pain for the past 6 months. Given rimadyl. Unable to move neck. R/O discospondylitis.
The patient is a 9 year old FS Labrador Retriever dog with a history of neck pain for the past 6 months. Given rimadyl. Unable to move neck. R/O discospondylitis.
CT of the cervical spine – There were punched out osteolytic lesions within the neighboring vertebral endplates
surrounded by a sclerotic margin as well as a moderate amount of irregular new bone
emerging from the affected endplates level with C4/5, C5/6 and C6/7 within the
cervical spine as well as level with from T1 to T4 within the cranial thoracic spine. The
spine was not imaged caudal to T4. The respective disc spaces were narrow, the
intervertebral discs presented moderate protrusion occupying the ventral epidural space
and causing mild to moderate compressive myelopathy.
The affected disc spaces revealed varying stages of chronicity with the most recent
changes being apparent at C4/5 and T1/2.
The disc space C7/T1 was narrow with mild disc protrusion and spondylosis.
Severe osteoarthrosis of the left and mild osteoarthrosis of the right shoulder joint were
noted. Moreover on the left side signs of chronic biceps tendinopathy were noted.
There is a mild chronic intervertebral disc protrusion with mild compressive myelopathy level with C7/T1.
At this point no signs of biomechanical instability are noted.
For further workup ultrasound of the abdomen to search for a potential focus of
infection is recommended. Obtain urine and blood samples for bacterial culture.
Sampling the discal lesions directly under CT- or ultrasound guidance may be
considered here.
Culture not only for bacteria (incl. Brucella) and fungi but also screen for leishmaniasis
in case the dog was in an endemic area.
Radiographs or CT of the entire spine may be considered to screen for further foci of
infection.