Incidence of lumbar spondylosis deformans in dogs

Abstract

Spondylosis deformans (SD) is a degenerative disease of not well known etiology [1, 2]. It is associated with a new bone formation on cranio-ventral and caudo-ventral aspects of the vertebral bodies [1]. Osteophytes vary from small spurs till big branches that connect two vertebral bodies [2]. By the appearance the disease is divided into three stages [1]. According to the research literature, the incidence is increasing with the age. Mostly there are no clinical signs, but in severe cases they could be: stiffness in the back, lameness, changes in the gait, pain and decreased activity [2, 4]. In rare cases osteophytes could compress spinal nerve roots [3]. Despite the fact that there is a correlation between SD and diseases of intervertebral disks, SD can be found while the disks are healthy [2]. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of SD for random dogs brought for an x-ray examination to the Dr. L. Kriaučeliūnas SmallC. A retrospective study was carried out for 56 dogs which had undergone an x-ray examination of an abdomen or lumbar spine at a period of 01.01.2016 – 29.02.2016. Records about age, gender and weight were collected from computer files on case histories. According to the results, a high incidence (35.71 %) of SD was diagnosed for random dogs that were examined due to other complaints. Male dogs and bitches were equally affected by the disease. SD was diagnosed from 2.5 years of age. Average age of dogs with SD is significantly higher than average age of dogs without the disease. SD was more often diagnosed for: German shepherds, Pugs, French bulldogs, and localizations were: L1-L2, L2-L3, L3-L4, L4-L5.