LATERAL AND FORAMINAL DISK EXTRUSION IN DOGS

Intervertebral disk extrusion can cause back, neck, or limb pain in do gs. The disks often extrude dorsally, thus damaging the spinal cord an d producing paresis and pain. Sometimes, however, disk material is ext ruded laterally or into the intervertebral foramen. Pain is a predomin ant feature of such cases. Extrusion in or around the cervical or lumb ar intumescence often produces non-weight-bearing lameness that may be misinterpreted as evidence of orthopedic disease. Radiography, myelog raphy, and electromyography are often used for diagnosis. Magnetic res onance imaging, computed tomography, and diskography may also be usefu l. Pain seldom remits before the offending disk material is surgically removed and the nerve freed from entrapment. A dorsolateral approach is used, as for a hemilaminectomy. A small hemilaminectomy or foramino tomy over the offending intervertebral disk space may be advantageous. After successful surgery, dramatic improvement is often noted within 2 to 4 days.