About The Webinar
Degenerative intervertebral disc disease is a major cause of spinal pain and/or neurological deficits in dogs and also occurs in cats. Presentation may be acute or chronic and signs reflect the region of the spinal cord affected and severity of the injury. Hansen type 1 disc extrusions occur predominantly in small breed, chondrodystrophic dogs such as Dachshunds. Hansen type 2 disc protrusions can occur in any breed but older medium to large breed dogs present most frequently. Acute non-compressive nucleus pulposus extrusions affect non-degenerate hydrated discs in younger dogs and present peracutely without progression. The gold standard diagnostic technique is magnetic resonance imaging which allows detailed evaluation of the vertebral column, discs and neural structures. Conservative and surgical management strategies, post-operative care and rehabilitation will be discussed.