title: A retrospective study of intervertebral disc herniation in dogs in Japan: 297 cases.
abstract: We investigated the epidemiological characteristics of intervertebral disc herniation (IVDH) in Japan in a large population using a retrospective study. The sample population was dogs (n=297) with IVDH in Japan. Medical records were reviewed for breed, sex, age, affected interspace and neurological severity. The dogs were comprised of 132 cases of cervical IVDH (C-IVDH) and 165 cases of thoracolumbar IVDH (TL-IVDH). In Japan, the Dachshund, Beagle and Shih Tzu tended to suffer from both C-IVDH and TL-IVDH. The Shiba Inu, a characteristic Japanese dog breed, suffered from both C-IVDH and TL-IVDH, although there was little data relating to the whole breed. Male dogs tended to suffer from C-IVDH and TL-IVDH at a rate almost twice that of females in Japan. Among the three predominant dog breeds, the Dachshund, Beagle and Shih Tzu, the Dachshund tended to suffer from both C-IVDH and TL-IVDH at an earlier age than the Beagle, and the Beagle tended to suffer from both C-IVDH and TL-IVDH earlier than the Shih Tzu. Among the three predominant breeds, the Shih Tzu, in particular, tended to suffer from both C-IVDH and TL-IVDH at multiple sites. Our data from Japan were in partial agreement with previous data from the U.S.A., and epidemiological characteristics of IVDH peculiar to Japan were also identified.
authors.affiliation: Division of Veterinary Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, 1-7-1 Kyonancho, Musashino-shi, Tokyo, Japan. hisanori.itoh@gmail.com
authors.forename: Hisanori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Itoh
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.forename: Natsuko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yoshimi
authors.forename: Yasuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Harada
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nezu
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yogo
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ochi
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: Hiromitsu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Orima
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tagawa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies