July 18, 2024 – Who hasn’t had a twinge in the back after lifting something heavy, or experienced a sore neck after sleeping in an odd position?
Our dogs also can have neck and back pain, although the causes are often a bit different than in people. But they’re every bit as uncomfortable and can impact mobility and activity. Left untreated, permanent problems – including paralysis – can occur.
Back and neck pain in dogs can be subtle, and it’s important for owners to be able to recognize the signs of neck and back issues, and to know when to wait and when it’s an emergency. Some problems need only rest and pain medication to treat, but others are much more serious.
The Foundation has been supporting research in this area for several years, and we have a few active studies looking at different aspects of this problem in dogs.
Before we dive into our studies, let’s review a bit about the causes, diagnosis and treatment of some of the most common back and neck problems.
Spine Anatomy 101
Yup, we have to start with a bit about the spine anatomy. The good news is that the basic configuration of the spine is similar to people but there are a few differences.
The spine is made up of bones called vertebrae, and in between each vertebra is a soft disc that provides cushioning and allows for flexibility in the back. A good way to visualize these discs is as a jelly donut – there is a firmer outer layer and a softer inner layer. We’ll discuss more about these discs in the section on disc disease later in the article.
There are several “sections” to the spine:
• Cervical, or neck region
• Thoracic, which is the chest region – the ribs attach to these vertebrae
• Lumbar, which is the lower back region
• Sacral, which is near the pelvis
• Coccygeal, which are the bones of the tail
The spinal cord runs from the brain down the spinal column. Smaller nerves branch out from the spinal cord to areas all over the body, from internal organs to muscles.
There are different diseases which affect the bones of the spine, the discs between the vertebrae, and the nerves leaving the spinal cord. We’ll discuss a bit about some muscle diseases directly related to nerve function but this review won’t cover diseases of the muscles, bones, ligaments and tendons (commonly lumped together as musculoskeletal diseases).
Intervertebral Disc Disease
Most of us know someone who has had a “slipped disc”. This painful and common problem also affects lots of dogs, although there are important differences compared with the condition in people.
Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD, sometimes referred to as Intervertebral Disc Extrusion or IVDE) is a condition where a disc (or discs) between the vertebrae moves and starts to push on either the spinal cord, a nerve exiting the spinal cord or both. This pressure can be gradual, leading to signs over time, or signs can come on quickly.
As mentioned earlier, the signs of disc disease can vary but sometimes are very dramatic and are a true emergency.
Signs of IVDD include:
• Back pain (which can be hard to localize)
• Sudden inability to move rear legs
• Staggering, weakness in the rear legs
Breeds reported to be at higher risk of IVDD include:
• Dachshunds (reported to account for 40-75% of all cases)
• Toy and miniature poodles
• Pekingese
• Lhasa Apsos
• German shepherds
• Doberman pinschers
• Beagles
• Cocker spaniels
There are a few different ways IVDD is treated, and treatment plan depends a lot on history and clinical signs.
According to a recent study, an estimated 20,000 dogs suffer from a sudden disc extrusion causing paralysis. In many cases, this means surgery is needed to correct the problem and restore function.
For other dogs, a more conservative approach is possible, consisting of strict rest and pain medication.
Your veterinarian can help guide you toward a treatment with the highest likelihood of restoring function.
Cervical Spondylomyelopathy
Cervical spondylomyelopathy, also known as Wobbler’s or wobbler syndrome, is a disease of the neck. The disease is most common in large- and giant-breed dogs but any dog, of any size, can be affected.
There are many causes for this disease, but the basic problem is compression of the spinal cord or the nerves exiting the spinal cord.
Signs of cervical spondylomyelopathy include:
• Incoordination of legs
• Stumbling
• Weakness
• Neck pain (which can be subtle)
Almost all cases will require surgery to correct and stop disease progression, although some dogs with mild signs can be managed with physical therapy, pain medications and lifestyle alterations.
Degenerative Myelopathy
Degenerative myelopathy (DM) is a progressive disease that slowly causes paralysis of the limbs and can ultimately impair breathing and swallowing. Although not exactly the same, the disease resembles amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease) in people.
In dogs, a breakthrough in our understanding of this disease came when it was discovered that a mutation in a gene called SOD1 is a major risk factor for DM.
DM is more common in:
• Middle-aged dogs
• Some breeds (German shepherds, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Boxers, Rhodesian ridgebacks and Chesapeake Bay retrievers) appear to have a higher incidence – however, many different breeds of dogs have now been found to have the disease
Diagnosis of DM is made through a combination of neurologic assessment, blood tests and other assessments (sometimes to rule out diseases that are like DM).
Sadly, there are no ways to prevent or treat DM. Current treatments focus on physical therapy and supportive care.
Degenerative Lumbosacral Stenosis
Degenerative lumbosacral stenosis (also known as cauda equina syndrome) is caused by a narrowing of the spinal canal in the lumbar and sacral region of the spine.
There are many causes of this condition, including arthritis, disc extrusion, trauma, bone malformations and more.
It is another disease that tends to be more common in middle-aged to older, large-breed dogs.
Clinical signs of the disease include:
• Back pain
• Reluctance to jump
• Occasional lameness in the rear legs
• Reluctance to exercise
• Difficulty rising
Treatment typically begins with pain management and occasionally surgery is recommended.
Fibrocartilaginous Embolism
Sometimes a small piece of cartilage from a disc can break off and get stuck in a blood vessel of the spine – similar to a stroke. Known as a fibrocartilaginous embolism (FCE), this sudden decrease in blood supply is often painful and can cause signs similar to a sudden IVDD. Some FCE occur during periods of exercise and activity but sometimes there is no history of a predisposing event.
Although on the surface FCE patients can look like they have an IVDD, there are some key differences. FCE differs from IVDD in some important ways, including:
• Breeds affected – FCE is more common in large or giant dogs with the exception of the miniature schnauzer, which is commonly reported to be predisposed to the condition
• Age – affects young to middle-aged adults
Surgery is not indicated in cases of FCE and long-term prognosis is very good, with 85% of dogs recovering in a few weeks. Up to 50% of patients might have some long-term neurologic abnormalities but there were few serious long-term effects. One note, though – a large percentage of dogs were euthanized early after the diagnosis, so these results might be slightly misleading.
Vertebral and Spinal Malformation
As French bulldogs, English bulldogs and pugs (and breeds referred to as brachycephalic breeds) surge in popularity, neurologists report increased incidence of abnormally shaped vertebra and spinal abnormalities, with multiple subtypes falling under these general heading. These conditions can lead to neurologic problems in some dogs.
Data suggests that the incidence of abnormally shaped vertebra is quite high in brachycephalic dogs, but many dogs never show any problems and live normal lives. If problems are going to occur, signs usually begin before a dog is one year old.
Clinical signs include:
• Staggering
• Progressive incoordination of the rear legs
• Weakness and paralysis of the rear legs
Pain is rare in cases of vertebral malformation, although some dogs can be hypersensitive to touch.
Treatment can vary depending on the severity of signs and the type of problem. In some cases, surgery can help. In almost all cases, affected dogs need supportive care, including bladder care, carts or other assistance.
Discospondylitis
Discospondylitis is an infection of the discs between the vertebra and includes the bones of the vertebra. This serious infection is usually caused by bacteria spread in the bloodstream although trauma, previous surgery, and migrating foreign bodies (and some other rare causes) can lead to discospondylitis.
The disease most commonly affects:
• Middle-aged dogs
• Male dogs (both neutered and intact)
• Historically, large-breed dogs, but a recent study suggests a wider incidence
• German shepherds and Doberman pinschers are at higher risk in multiple studies
Clinical signs include:
• Pain – often over the affected vertebra but can be hard to pinpoint
• Anorexia
• Lethargy
• Weakness in the rear legs
• Staggering
• Partial paralysis
Diagnosis can be tricky and involves multiple tests including X-rays, CT scans, MRI, and tissue culture.
Long-term treatment with antibiotics is the primary treatment of choice and sometimes surgery is needed to remove areas of infection.
For many dogs diagnosed early and treated aggressively, the prognosis is very good. For dogs with more complicated infections, those with concurrent disease and those needing surgery, the prognosis is poor.
Key Takeaways
• Any staggering, weakness, or incoordination should be reported to your veterinary care team
• Sudden sensitivity around the head, neck and back could signal a developing neck or back problem
• Any sudden loss of mobility in the hind legs is an emergency!
• Not all progressive rear leg weakness is due to arthritis – talk to your veterinary care team if you note this, even if your dog has a past history of arthritis
• The earlier many neck and back problems are diagnosed, the more treatment options are available!
How We've Helped
The Foundation has been helping researchers study neck and back problems in dogs for decades. Our funded research has explored every disease listed above, from the best ways to support dogs recovering from IVDD to new diagnostic tests for degenerative myelopathy.
Some of the exciting research currently in progress includes:
• The use of shock-wave therapy to treat on lower back pain
• The impact of physical therapy in the treatment of cervical spondylomyelopathy
• Developing a rapid point-of-care test to prognostic test for spinal injury
Although we know a lot more about back and neck problems in dogs, there is still so much we don’t know or don’t understand.
Science to Save Animals Starts with YOU!
Innovative animal health research takes vision as well as financial investment. That’s why Morris Animal Foundation, with the generous support of our donors, continues to fund this important work to change the odds for animals suffering from diseases and painful health conditions. DONATE TODAY and support critical science to save the animals you love!
