Cauda equina syndrome or lumbosacral stenosis in dogs, consists of an arthritic or secondary degenerative disorder caused by various causes, in which the lumbosacral joint narrows, causing compression of the nerve roots of the cauda equina zone of the spinal cord. Due to its degenerative nature, it is most commonly seen in older dogs, although it is not exclusive.
It is important to diagnose it as soon as possible and pay attention to signs indicative of the process such as refusal to take long walks, jumps, back pain or limping, since when the disease progresses it can cause urinary and fecal incontinence, it may be too late to save our dog. Continue reading this article on our site to learn more about cauda equina in dogs, its symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.
What is cauda equina in dogs?
Cauda equina, also called cauda equina or lumbosacral stenosis, consists of a degenerative process that affects the lumbosacral joint, between the last lumbar vertebra (L7) and the sacrum, in the area of the beginning of the dog's tail. In this area, the spinal cord changes from being oblong to a sort of broom or horsetail branching, extending through the sacrum.
The degenerative process causes instability in the area with narrowing and compression of the nerve roots, which causes great pain to the dog, as well as difficulty in movement, it can also lead to a herniated disc. The affected nerves are those that transmit and receive information from some nearby organs and from the dog's hind legs.
Causes of cauda equina in dogs
The origin of the canine cauda equina is very diverse, although it is usually a consequence of osteoarthritis due to the degenerative process typical of the passage of time. years, it can also appear as a consequence of the following causes:
- Vertebral dislocation.
- Spinal infection.
- Vertebral tumor.
- Nerve tumor.
- Injuries in the area.
- Vertebral fracture.
- Congenital anomalies (spina bifida, hemivertebrae).
- Spondylosis.
- Hip dysplasia.
- Hernia of the last intervertebral disc.
Genetic predisposition of cauda equina
Cauda equina is more frequent in older dogs as it is an arthritic-degenerative type process, and in medium to large breeds. large, like:
- German shepherd.
- Rottweiler.
- Labrador retriever.
- Golden retriever.
- Dogo.
- Boxer.
However, smaller breed dogs (such as bulldogs or dachshunds) and any dog at any age can also get it.
Symptoms of cauda equina in dogs
The symptoms that a dog with cauda equina presents can be very broad, in addition to presenting non-specific clinical signs, such as intolerance or reduction of exercise, apathy, refusal to take long walks, nervousness or aggressiveness, they usually present the following orthopedic-traumatological clinical signs:
- Lower back pain (low back pain).
- Unilateral or bilateral intermittent lameness (claudication).
- Pain while walking.
- Male males avoid "lifting the leg" when they urinate.
- They refuse to wag their tails strongly.
- Weakness or paralysis of the tail and pelvic area.
- Muscular atrophy.
- Difficulty getting up when lying down.
- Altered hind leg reflexes.
- Urinary incontinence.
- Fecal incontinence.
- They drag their nails when they walk.
Diagnosis of cauda equina in dogs
Diagnosing cauda equina in dogs can be challenging. To begin with, most of the dogs that suffer from this disease are older dogs and the caregivers attribute it to age-related osteoarthritis, which is not really manifest until when the disease is so developed that there is a lot of pain and even urinary and fecal incontinence.
For all these reasons, it is essential to go to the vet as soon as our dog shows any symptoms of discomfort, since there are many diseases that have similar symptoms, and early diagnosis can make a difference.
Canine cauda equina treatment
The treatment of canine cauda equina will vary according to its severity and whether or not functionality can be restored to the animal, so that therapy can be medical, surgical or palliative.
Medical treatment of cauda equina in dogs
In order to control the progression and solve some origins of canine cauda equina, the following medical therapy will be used:
- Anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs to relieve the inflammatory and painful process.
- Chondroprotectors and group B vitamins to control the progression of primary or secondary osteoarthritis.
- Antibiotics if the cauda equina is a consequence of an infectious process.
- Chemotherapy if the origin is tumor.
- Total or partial rest may be necessary.
Surgical treatment of cauda equina in dogs
When medical treatment is not sufficient or a hernia has occurred, a surgical intervention called dorsal laminectomy must be performed.
In the operation, it is opened at L7-S1 to decompress the spinal cord in the area, using a lactated ringer flushing and cleaning the foramina and canal if the disc has prolapsed.
In cases of dislocations or fractures, they must be solved with specific operations for each case.
Palliative treatment of cauda equina in dogs
When surgical treatment is not indicated or it is not expected to recover functionality, structural complements or harnesses will be used in order to improve the quality of life of the dog.
These three types of treatment can be supplemented with physiotherapy and rehabilitation and electroacupuncture and acupuncture techniques to further improve the condition of the affected dog.
