Dec 14, 2015
This radiograph shows Ankylosing spondylosis or spondylosis deformans between the vertebrae L2 and L3. The dog was a 9 year old German Shepherd male, had paraplegic hind limbs and was incontinent.
Ankylosing spondylosis is a condition where the ventral portions of two adjacent vertebrae form a bridge causing a chain like structure. Mostly it goes unnoticed because it causes no damage except making the spinal cord less flexible. Usually dogs develop this at a later stage in life and hence owners mistake it to be a case of weakness from growing old.
The general treatment mostly includes careful use of steroidal or non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs and regular exercise.