Degenerative Disc Disease

Degenerative Disc Disease by Leanne Gossett

In between each vertebrae in a dog's backbone is a flexable, cushion-like disc. This disc is composed of a tough outer envelope (annulus) and contains a soft, jelly-like mass (nucleus). As a result of aging or premature disc degeneration ; the disc can experience a degree of dehydration. Dehydration of the disc results in a loss of elasticity. The nucleus of the disc can thicken causing the disc to become fibrous and eventually to calcify. These changes within the disc are generally present, in varying degrees, in old dogs of all breeds. In dog breeds with skelatal disproportions (heads too large, legs too short) the predisposition toward premature disc degeneration than "normally proportioned" dog breeds.
Disc disease problems develope when a portion or all of the disc is displaced from its normal position and protrudes into the spinal canal. The protrusion into the spinal canal can cause inflammation and/or compression of the spinal cord. Ocassionally these conditions are accompanied by bleeding from the blood vessels in the tissues surrounding the spinal cord. Disc protrusion can occur in numerous forms ; bulging of the annulus, or an extrusion of the nucleus of the disc through the annulus, or even complete displacement of the entire disc.
Protrusion of a degenerating disc can occur slowly over a long period of time, or protrusion can be rapid. The protrusion can be a result of trauma or have no apparent cause.
The location and extent of the disc degeneration will determine the symptoms exhibited by the dog. With rapid diagnosis and treatment, the odds of recovery improve.

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