Cervical Spinal Disease—Cervical Vertebral Instability

Who is usually affected?
-Middle aged dogs and older
-Most commonly seen in Doberman Pinschers and Great Danes

What is happening?
-Remodeling occurs in the bones of the spinal column and its supporting structures (intervertebral discs and ligaments) near the base of the neck
-Altered structures and improperly aligned vertebrae place pressure on the spinal cord during motion
-This pressure causes swelling, pain, and sometimes dysfunction of nerves

Clinical signs you might notice in your pet
-Reluctance to raise the head or move it side-to-side
-Abnormal neck posture, most often the neck is held parallel to the ground
-Weakness and/or incoordination of the hind or front legs causing an awkward walk
-In severe cases, inability to stand or walk

*SEVERE PAIN OR LIMB WEAKNESS IS AN EMERGENCY CONDITION. TAKE YOUR ANIMAL IMMEDIATELY TO THE CLOSEST A VETERINARIAN EMERGENCY CLINIC*

Postoperative stabilization radiograph Click to enlarge

Diagnosis
-Careful neurological examination to assess the patient for pain and loss of nerve function
-X-rays are used to examine the bones of the spine, this is usually combined with a special x-ray study using a contrast liquid (myelogram) to examine the spinal cord
-In some cases, CT or MRI scanning may be appropriate

Surgical treatment
-Correction of vertebral positioning, placement of bone graft to encourage vertebral body fusion, and application of devices to maintain this position (cervical distraction and stabilization)
-Devices are most commonly spacers of bone cement or internal braces constructed from screws and bone cement

Special postoperative care
-Patient activity is limited to short harness walks for 4-8 weeks
-Assistance with urination may be necessary in some cases, this usually involves the application of pressure to the abdomen to aid with bladder emptying
-Physical therapy will likely be prescribed for pets that are unable to move their legs appropriately

Expected results with surgery
-Neck pain relief
-A return to normal walking is very likely (90%) if the patient was able to feel his/her legs prior to surgery
-Maximal recovery may take weeks to months to occur because nervous tissue heals slowly in comparison to most other tissues in the body