This 4.5 year old MN Eskimo Spitz dog was presented with chronic neck pain and lumbosacral pain. Previous episodes of tetraparesis(resolved); 1 week history of left cp deficits.
This 4.5 year old MN Eskimo Spitz dog was presented with chronic neck pain and lumbosacral pain. Previous episodes of tetraparesis(resolved); 1 week history of left cp deficits.
CT of the head and spine, plain and post contrast – The CT of the head including the brain is within normal limits.
The craniocervical transition is within normal limits. There is no evidence of cranicervial instability.
The intervertebral disc C3/C4 reveals a moderate protrusion, the ventral epidural space is occupied, there is mild dorsoventral flattening of the spinal cord, the dorsal epidural space is maintained. The disc space presents moderate narrowing, there is a mild Spondylosis deformans.
A subtle, non compressive rightsided protrusion of the L1/L2 disc is seen.
The lumbosacral junction is within normal limits. There is no evidence of lumbosacral or neuroforaminal stenosis. The nerve roots are thin and present bilateral symmetry.
The findings do not explain the clinical presentation unless there is dynamic compression which is unlikely in this breed.
Inflammatory, metabolic and degenerative neuroparenchymal disease cannot be ruled out based on this study. Hence the imaging study should be complemented by examination of CSF.
Also consider other neuromuscular disorders such as polyradiculoneuritis or neuromuscular dystrophy which require neuromuscular biopsy to obatin a diagnosis.
