Information On Intervertebral Disc Disease
- Date: 2008-10-04 - Word Count: 351
Share This!
Intervertebral disk (IVD) disease in the dog is a common clinical disorder manifested by pain, ataxia, paresis, motor paralysis, or sensor motor paralysis. It occurs most often in the chondrodystrophoid dogs but also affects the nonchondrodystrophoid breeds. It commonly occurs in sure breeds of dogs called chondrodystrophoid breeds, such as Dachshund, Pekingese, French bulldog, Beagle, Basset Hound, American Cocker spaniel, Shih Tzu, Lhasa apso, and Welsh corgi. Intervertebral discs act as cushions between the vertebrae and function as the shock absorbers of the spine.
The spine is composed of a series of vertebrae. The spinal cord is defended within a bony spinal canal formed by overlapping vertebrae. Intervertebral discs are sited between each vertebra from the head to the tail. They permit for flexibility of the spine. A normal intervertebral disc has two different components a fibrous outer casing (annulus fibrosis), and an inner gelatinous center (nucleus pulposus). The nucleus pulposus is normally 80% water, and has shock absorbing properties. A normal disc has two regions: a resilient gelatinous nucleus in the center and an outer fibrous ring that encircles the nucleus.
Treatment depends on several factors, including the extent and duration of clinical signs, and the findings on neurologic and radiographic examination. There are basically two treatment options for a dog suffering from disc disease. Traditional treatment consists of strict immobilization (cage rest) and sometimes additional medical treatment for inflammation and pain (corticosteroids). Surgical treatment provides decompression of the spinal cord. The surgery is performed to remove extruded disk material from around the spinal cord, relieving the compression and giving the spinal cord the best chance at healing.
Physical therapy is particularly supportive to sustain joint flexibility and blood circulation to the hind legs in patients with longer recovery periods after surgery. Medical treatment may be successful when there is only mild to moderate pain, and no weakness or paralysis. Medical, or conservative, treatment consists of anti-inflammatory medication in combination with strict cage rest. Physical therapy should be begun as soon as the patient can tolerate it. Range of motion exercises, tail walking, swimming, and whirlpool baths are superb physical therapy.
The spine is composed of a series of vertebrae. The spinal cord is defended within a bony spinal canal formed by overlapping vertebrae. Intervertebral discs are sited between each vertebra from the head to the tail. They permit for flexibility of the spine. A normal intervertebral disc has two different components a fibrous outer casing (annulus fibrosis), and an inner gelatinous center (nucleus pulposus). The nucleus pulposus is normally 80% water, and has shock absorbing properties. A normal disc has two regions: a resilient gelatinous nucleus in the center and an outer fibrous ring that encircles the nucleus.
Treatment depends on several factors, including the extent and duration of clinical signs, and the findings on neurologic and radiographic examination. There are basically two treatment options for a dog suffering from disc disease. Traditional treatment consists of strict immobilization (cage rest) and sometimes additional medical treatment for inflammation and pain (corticosteroids). Surgical treatment provides decompression of the spinal cord. The surgery is performed to remove extruded disk material from around the spinal cord, relieving the compression and giving the spinal cord the best chance at healing.
Physical therapy is particularly supportive to sustain joint flexibility and blood circulation to the hind legs in patients with longer recovery periods after surgery. Medical treatment may be successful when there is only mild to moderate pain, and no weakness or paralysis. Medical, or conservative, treatment consists of anti-inflammatory medication in combination with strict cage rest. Physical therapy should be begun as soon as the patient can tolerate it. Range of motion exercises, tail walking, swimming, and whirlpool baths are superb physical therapy.
Related Tags: intervertebral disc disease information, ntervertebral disc disease treatment methods, get rid of ntervertebral disc disease
Juliet Cohen writes articles for skin care tips. She also writes articles for haircut styles and beauty tips. Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
Recent articles in this category:
- Jaundice - Causes & Treatment
he word jaundice comes from the French word for 'yellow' which is 'jaune.' It describes the yellowi - Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome(pcos) Treatment in India: With International Medical Care
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome(PCOS) treatment in India is available at a comparative cost due to the - Tips For Lowering Cholesterol Naturally
Part of any healthy lifestyle is maintaining normal cholesterol levels. Far to many people suffer fr - Do You Understand A Child With Down Syndrome?
Cathy Morgan, a mother of a child with Down syndrome, recalls when she received the initial diagnosi - If You Think Therapy for Stuttering is the Answer, Read This!
Are You Thinking About Taking Up Therapy For Stuttering?Are you thinking about taking up therapy fo - Causes Of Cold Sores - Stop Repeated Cold Sore Attacks
What are the causes of cold sores? This article will tell you quickly. You will learn the main reaso - Early Detection for Kidney Cancer
Kidney cancer is cancer that shapes in tissues of the kidneys. Similar to other vital organs in the - What Do You Know About Kidney Disease
Kidney disease is a main health obstruction in America, causing problems some eight million America - Kidney Failure and Its Treatment
Kidney failure also called as renal failure. Kidney failure is a critical disease which can have a - Cholesterol High Foods and Heart Disease
If there is one word that is associated with potentially life threatening health issues it is chole
Most viewed articles in this category:
- How to Cure Candida with Acidophilus
If you are having Candida, you need to know about acidophilus as it might help you with your conditi - The Symptoms Of Anorexia And Bulimia Nervosa
One of the most notable symptoms of anorexia and bulimia is the fast and excessive loss of weight. T - Self Care Tips For People With Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's disease can be overwhelming for many people who have it. Not only must patients face the - Common Wart Removal Doctor
Most common wart removal doctor or dermatologists are not only dealing with common warts but also wa - Crohn's Disease and You
If you have recently been diagnosed with Crohn's disease or another Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) - Codliver Oil to Remove Skin Moles and Warts
The use of codliver oil to remove skin moles and warts is noted however this is less popular as comp - Early Warning Signs of Parkinson's Disease - What To Look For
Parkinson's disease develops when the neurons of the substantia nigra in the brain become progressiv - Leaky Gut Syndrome, Celiac Disease, Crohn's Disease, and Colitis Linked to Altered Gut Permeability
Leaky gut syndrome:Leaky gut syndrome is a term often used in complementary or alternative medicine - Acid Reflux Disease Diet
Acid Reflux is becoming a common problem these days due to the changing life styles and poor eating - Viral Infection Headache From Meningitis
A viral infection headache can come from different types of viruses. The concern about having such
