Signalment and clinical features of diskospondylitis in dogs: 513 cases (1980-2001).
OBJECTIVE
To determine signalment, clinical features of the disease, and treatment in dogs with diskospondylitis.


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
513 dogs with diskospondylitis (cases) and 236,109 canine hospital accessions (controls) from 12 veterinary teaching hospitals.


METHODS
Information retrieved from the medical records of 123 dogs with diskospondylitis at the Louisiana State University veterinary teaching hospital between 1980 and 2001 included sex, age, breed, primary complaint, neurologic status, location of lesions, causative organism, treatment, and outcome. The signalment of 390 additional cases from 11 other veterinary teaching hospitals was accessed from the Veterinary Medical Database. Comparisons were made with controls from the same time periods.


RESULTS
Male dogs were twice as likely as female dogs to be affected (odds ratio [OR], 2.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.7 to 2.4). Dogs were significantly more likely to be affected as age increased. Purebred dogs, especially Great Danes, were more likely than mixed-breed dogs to be affected (OR, 73; CI, 4.3 to 12.6). For dogs from Louisiana State University, Staphylococcus spp, Brucella spp, Streptococcus spp, and Escherichia coli were isolated most often; multiple organisms were detected via microbial culture in 11 dogs. The mean duration of treatment was 53.7 weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
Male dogs, older dogs, and Great Danes appeared more likely to be affected with diskospondylitis than female dogs, dogs < 1 year of age, and mixed-breed dogs, respectively. Long-term administration of antimicrobial drugs for treatment of diskospondylitis may be expected. Identification of the causative organism and early treatment are recommended.
Burkert
Blaine A
BA
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
Kerwin
Sharon C
SC
Hosgood
Giselle L
GL
Pechman
Robert D
RD
Fontenelle
Jennifer Ponti
JP
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D001947:Breeding; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012737:Sex Factors; D013045:Species Specificity; D013166:Spondylitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents