Diskospondylitis in dogs

Abstract

During a 3-year period, diskospondylitis was diagnosed in 32 dogs. The condition affected primarily large dogs, with males outnumbering females by approximately 2:1. Diagnosis was made principally by evaluation of radiographs, wherein various degrees of vertebral lysis, sclerosis, and spondylosis were seen. Evaluation of titers for Brucella canis and bacterial cultures of blood, urine, and bone were used to identify the causative organism(s). Six of 24 dogs were seropositive for B canis, 21 of 26 dogs were blood culture-positive, 10 of 23 dogs were urine culture-positive, and 9 of 11 dogs were bone culture-positive. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common organism identified by cultures of blood, urine, and bone. Antibiotic therapy alone and in combination with vertebral curettage was used to treat dogs with minimal neurologic dysfunction. Dogs with severe neurologic deficits were treated with curettage, hemilaminectomy, vertebral immobilization, and antibiotics. Follow-up information was available for 29 dogs. Twenty dogs were clinically normal after treatment. Five dogs were euthanatized because of the severity of neurologic dysfunction; three of these dogs were not treated, and two deteriorated despite treatment. Three dogs died while hospitalized, and one dog died after discharge.