title: The lumbosacral junction in working german shepherd dogs -- neurological and radiological evaluation.
abstract: The clinical and radiological incidence of lumbosacral (LS) disease was studied on 57 German Shepherd dogs (GSDs) used in active service. The study included a clinical history, a neurological examination, and plain radiographs of the caudal lumbar vertebrae. The neurological examinations revealed lower back pain and/or neural deficits in 21 dogs, of which 14 had a history of pain or pelvic gait abnormalities. Radiographic findings were spondylosis at L7-S1, degeneration of L7-S1 disc, LS malalignment, transitional LS vertebrae and/or primary spinal canal stenosis in 15 dogs with neurological abnormalities and/or back pain and in 18 dogs with no clinical signs. No correlation between the neurological and the radiographic findings were found. This study demonstrates that even prominent radiographic LS abnormalities are of minimal value in the evaluation of LS disease in the GSD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animals, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterhurerstrasse 260, CH 8057 Zurich, Switzerland. gscharf@vetclinics.unizh.ch
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scharf
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Steffen
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Grünenfelder
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Flückiger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D015994:Incidence; D007794:Lameness, Animal / Q000209:etiology; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010375:Pedigree; D011859:Radiography; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology