Necrotizing myelopathy secondary to embolization of herniated intervertebral disk material in the dog.
Seven dogs (3 Great Danes, 2 German Shepherd Dogs, 1 Weimaraner, and 1 Boxer) ranging in age from 1 1/2 to 9 years were examined because of acute neurologic signs involving the limbs. All dogs were nonambulatory--3 tetraparetic and 4 paraparetic. In each case, treatment was unsuccessful or not advised, and each dog was euthanatized. Necropsy revealed hemorrhagic infarcts of the gray and white matter as a result of fibrocartilaginous embolization in leptomeningeal and parenchymal vessels of the spinal cord. The emboli were derived from disk material herniated into the vertebral venous sinuses.
D000818:Animals; D002356:Cartilage; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D004617:Embolism / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*