CoChat
Sign Up
Cited by 60Veterinary Orthopedics and NeurologyVeterinary Medicine and SurgeryHuman-Animal Interaction Studies

How Long and Low Can You Go? Effect of Conformation on the Risk of Thoracolumbar Intervertebral Disc Extrusion in Domestic Dogs

Open access
Packer, Rowena M. A., Hendricks, Anke, Volk, Holger A., Shihab, Nadia K., Burn, Charlotte C.·2013·PLoS ONE
DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0069650PMC PMC3722130
Open this paper in CoChat — free accountOpen PDF

Abstract

Intervertebral disc extrusion (IVDE) is a common neurological disorder in certain dog breeds, resulting in spinal cord compression and injury that can cause pain and neurological deficits. Most disc extrusions are reported in chondrodystrophic breeds (e.g. Dachshunds, Basset Hounds, Pekingese), where selection for 'long and low' morphologies is linked with intervertebral discs abnormalities that predispose dogs to IVDE. The aim of this study was to quantify the relationship between relative thoracolumbar vertebral column length and IVDE risk in diverse breeds. A 14 month cross-sectional study of dogs entering a UK small animal referral hospital for diverse disorders including IVDE was carried out. Dogs were measured on breed-defining morphometrics, including back length (BL) and height at the withers (HW). Of 700 dogs recruited from this referral population, measured and clinically examined, 79 were diagnosed with thoracolumbar IVDE following diagnostic imaging ± surgery. The BL:HW ratio was positively associated with IVDE risk, indicating that relatively longer dogs were at increased risk, e.g. the probability of IVDE was 0.30 for Miniature Dachshunds when BL:HW ratio equalled 1.1, compared to 0.68 when BL:HW ratio equalled 1.5. Additionally, both being overweight and skeletally smaller significantly increased IVDE risk. Therefore, selection for longer backs and miniaturisation should be discouraged in high-risk breeds to reduce IVDE risk. In higher risk individuals, maintaining a lean body shape is particularly important to reduce the risk of IVDE. Results are reported as probabilities to aid decision-making regarding breed standards and screening programmes reflecting the degree of risk acceptable to stakeholders.

The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.

Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.

A few free checks a day · papers already verified open instantly · results are public

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1371/journal.pone.0069650

Cites

1 of 1 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Claims the paper makes

The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.

Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.

A few free checks a day · papers already verified open instantly · results are public

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • IVDD is more commonly seen in dog breeds with longer backs and shorter legs, such as Dachshunds, Beagles, Corgis, and Basset Hounds.

    “Though IVDD can affect dogs of various breeds, it is more commonly seen in those breeds with longer backs and shorter legs, such as Dachshunds, but also Beagles, Corgis, and Basset Hounds [38,39].”

    From Ethical Concerns about Fashionable Dog Breeding (2024) · cites this paper as [38]

    The Discussion reports that relatively longer backs are associated with higher thoracolumbar disc-extrusion risk across breeds, and identifies Dachshunds, Corgis and Basset Hounds as examples of long-backed or high-risk breeds. The paper does not identify Beagles as an example, and its finding concerns thoracolumbar disc extrusion rather than all forms of IVDD. (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

The self-check needs the paper’s full text.

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 50

  1. [1]Bray JP, Burbidge HM (1998) The canine intervertebral disk - Part two: Degenerative changes - Nonchondrodystrophoid versus chondrodystrophoid disks. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 34: 135– 144. 9507426
  2. [2]Levine JM, Budke CM, Levine GJ, Kerwin SC, Hettlich BF, et al (2008) Owner-perceived, weighted quality-of-life assessments in dogs with spinal cord injuries. J Am Vet Med Assoc 233: 931– 935. 18795855
  3. [3]Freeman PM, Holmes M, Blamires H, Jeffery N, Granger N (2012) Impact on owners of home-based management of dogs with severe chronic spinal cord injury. 25th Symposium of the ESVN-ECVN. Ghent, Belgium.
  4. [4]Bauer M, Glickman N, Glickman L, Toombs J, Golden S, et al (1992) Follow-up study of owner attitudes toward home care of paraplegic dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 200: 1809– 1816. 1639682
  5. [5]Bergknut N, Egenvall A, Hagman R, Gustås P, Hazewinkel HAW, et al (2012) Incidence of intervertebral disk degeneration–related diseases and associated mortality rates in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 240: 1300– 1309. 22607596
  6. [6]Braund KG, Ghosh P, Taylor TKF, Larsen LH (1975) Morphological Studies of Canine Intervertebral-Disk - Assignment of Beagle to Achondroplastic Classification. Res Vet Sci 19: 167– 172. 1166121
  7. [8]Cappello R, Bird JLE, Pfeiffer D, Bayliss MT, Dudhia J (2006) Notochordal cell produce and assemble extracellular matrix in a distinct manner, which may be responsible for the maintenance of healthy nucleus pulposus. Spine 31: 873– 882. 16622374
  8. [10]Hansen HJ (1952) A pathological-anatomical study on disc degeneration in the dog. Acta Orthop Scand Suppl 11: 1–120. 14923291
  9. [11]Bergknut N, Rutges JP, Kranenburg HJ, Smolders LA, Hagman R, et al (2012) The dog as an animal model for intervertebral disc degeneration? Spine 37: 351– 358. 21544011
  10. [12]Bergknut N, Meij BP, Hagman R, de Nies K, Rutges JP, et al (2013) Intervertebral disc disease in dogs - Part 1: A new histological grading scheme for classification of intervertebral disc degeneration in dogs. Vet J 195: 156– 163. 22789628
  11. [13]Kranenburg HC, Grinwis GCM, Bergknut N, Gahrmann N, Voorhout G, et al (2012) Intervertebral disc disease in dogs: Part 2: Comparison of clinical, magnetic resonance imaging, and histological findings in 74 surgically treated dogs. Vet J 195: 164– 171. 22795604
  12. [14]Smolders L, Bergknut N, Grinwis G, Hagman R, Lagerstedt A, et al (2013) Intervertebral disc degeneration in the dog. Part 2: Chondrodystrophic and non-chondrodystrophic breeds. Vet J 195: 292– 299. 23154070
  13. [15]Jensen VF, Beck S, Christensen KA, Arnbjerg J (2008) Quantification of the association between intervertebral disk calcification and disk herniation in Dachshunds. J Am Vet Med Assoc 233: 1090– 1095. 18828719
  14. [19]Ball MU, Mcguire JA, Swaim SF, Hoerlein BF (1982) Patterns of Occurrence of Disk Disease among Registered Dachshunds. J Am Vet Med Assoc 180: 519– 522. 7061336
  15. [20]Jensen VF, Ersboll AK (2000) Mechanical factors affecting the occurrence of intervertebral disc calcification in the dachshund–a population study. J Vet Med A Physiol Pathol Clin Med 47: 283– 296. 10932525
  16. [21]Verheijen J, Bouw J (1982) Canine intervertebral disc disease: a review of etiologic and predisposing factors. Vet Q 4: 125– 134. 6755879
  17. [24]Brisson BA, Moffatt SL, Swayne SL, Parent JM (2004) Recurrence of thoracolumbar intervertebral disk extrusion in chondrodystrophic dogs after surgical decompression with or without prophylactic fenestration: 265 cases (1995–1999). J Am Vet Med Assoc 224: 1808– 1814. 15198267
  18. [25]Mayhew PD, McLear RC, Ziemer LS, Culp WT, Russell KN, et al (2004) Risk factors for recurrence of clinical signs associated with thoracolumbar intervertebral disk herniation in dogs: 229 cases (1994–2000). J Am Vet Med Assoc 225: 1231– 1236. 15521446
  19. [26]Olby N, Levine J, Harris T, Munana K, Skeen T, et al (2003) Long-term functional outcome of dogs with severe injuries of the thoracolumbar spinal cord: 87 cases (1996–2001). J Am Vet Med Assoc 222: 762– 769. 12675299
  20. [27]Scott HW, McKee WM (1999) Laminectomy for 34 dogs with thoracolumbar intervertebral disc disease and loss of deep pain perception. J Small Anim Pract 40: 417– 422. 10516947
  21. [28]Levine JM, Levine GJ, Kerwin SC, Hettlich BF, Fosgate GT (2006) Association between various physical factors and acute thoracolumbar intervertebral disk extrusion or protrusion in Dachshunds. J Am Vet Med Assoc 229: 370– 375. 16881827
  22. [29]Sharp NJH, Wheeler SJ (2005) Thoracolumbar disc disease. In: Sharp NJH, Wheeler SJ, editors. Small Animal Spinal Disorders: Diagnosis and Surgery. Philadelphia: Elsevier Mosby. 106–210.
  23. [31]Sutter NB, Mosher DS, Gray MM, Ostrander EA (2008) Morphometrics within dog breeds are highly reproducible and dispute Rensch’s rule. Mamm Genome 19: 713– 723. 19020935 PMC2748280
  24. [33]Parker H, Kim L, Sutter N, Carlson S, Lorentzen T, et al (2004) Genetic structure of the purebred domestic dog. Science 304: 1160– 1164. 15155949
  25. [36]Havranek-Balzaretti B (1980) Beitrag zur Aetiologie der Dackellähme und Vorschlag zur züchterischen Selektion. (Etiology of the intervertebral disc disease in dachshunds and suggestions for breeding). Zürich: Veterinär-Chirurgischen Klinik und Institut für Veterinärpatologie. Dissertation, Universität Zürich.
  26. [37]Rohdin C, Jeserevic J, Viitmaa R, Cizinauskas S (2010) Prevalence of radiographic detectable intervertebral disc calcifications in Dachshunds surgically treated for disc extrusion. Acta Vet Scand 52: 24. 20398282 PMC2873269
  27. [38]Mogensen MS, Karlskov-Mortensen P, Proschowsky HF, Lingaas F, Lappalainen A, et al (2011) Genome-wide association study in Dachshund: identification of a major locus affecting intervertebral disc calcification. J Hered 102 Suppl 1 S81– 86. 21846751
  28. [42]Roberts T, McGreevy PD (2010) Selection for breed-specific long-bodied phenotypes is associated with increased expression of canine hip dysplasia. Vet J 183: 266– 272. 19959383
  29. [44]Roach WJ, Thomas M, Weh JM, Bleedorn J, Wells K (2012) Residual herniated disc material following hemilaminectomy in chondrodystrophic dogs with thoracolumbar intervertebral disc disease. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 25: 109– 115. 22286190
  30. [46]Brisson BA, Holmberg DL, Parent J, Sears WC, Wick SE (2011) Comparison of the effect of single-site and multiple-site disk fenestration on the rate of recurrence of thoracolumbar intervertebral disk herniation in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 238: 1593– 1600. 21671814
  31. [47]Mateo I, Lorenzo V, Foradada L, Munoz A (2011) Clinical, pathologic, and magnetic resonance imaging characteristics of canine disc extrusion accompanied by epidural hemorrhage or inflammation. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 52: 17– 24. 21322383
  32. [48]Forterre F, Dickomeit M, Senn D, Gorgas D, Spreng D (2011) Microfenestration using the CUSA Excel ultrasonic aspiration system in chondrodystrophic dogs with thoracolumbar disk extrusion: a descriptive cadaveric and clinical study. Vet Surg 40: 34– 39. 21175695
  33. [49]Johnson JA, da Costa RC, Allen MJ (2010) Micromorphometry and cellular characteristics of the canine cervical intervertebral discs. J Vet Intern Med 24: 1343– 1349. 20946372
  34. [50]Brisson BA (2010) Intervertebral Disc Disease in Dogs. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 40: 829– 858. 20732594
  35. [51]Lim C, Kweon OK, Choi MC, Choi J, Yoon J (2010) Computed tomographic characteristics of acute thoracolumbar intervertebral disc disease in dogs. J Vet Sci 11: 73– 79. 20195068 PMC2833433
  36. [52]Forterre F, Lang J (2010) New aspects in the treatment of disc herniation in the dog. Schweizer Archiv Fur Tierheilkunde 152: 109– 113. 20235010
  37. [53]King JB, Jones JC, Rossmeisl JH, Harper TA, Lanz OI, et al (2009) Effect of multi-planar CT image reformatting on surgeon diagnostic performance for localizing thoracolumbar disc extrusions in dogs. J Vet Sci 10: 225– 232. 19687623 PMC2801132
  38. [54]Hecht S, Thomas WB, Marioni-Henry K, Echandi RL, Matthews AR, et al (2009) Myelography vs. computed tomography in the evaluation of acute thoracolumbar intervertebral disk extrusion in chondrodystrophic dogs. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 50: 353– 359. 19697598
  39. [55]Malik Y, Spreng D, Konar M, Doherr MG, Jaggy A, et al (2009) Laser-Doppler measurements of spinal cord blood flow changes during hemilaminectomy in chondrodystrophic dogs with disk extrusion. Vet Surg 38: 457– 462. 19538666
  40. [56]Erwin WM (2008) The Notochord, Notochordal cell and CTGF/CCN-2: ongoing activity from development through maturation. J Cell Commun Signal 2: 59– 65. 19003520 PMC2648046
  41. [57]Itoh H, Hara Y, Yoshimi N, Harada Y, Nezu Y, et al (2008) A retrospective study of intervertebral disc herniation in dogs in Japan: 297 cases. J Vet Med Sci 70: 701– 706. 18685242
  42. [58]Probst A, Modler F, Kunzel W, Mlynarik V, Trattnig S (2008) Demonstration of the articular cartilage of the canine ulnar trochlear notch using high-field magnetic resonance imaging. Vet J 177: 63– 70. 17513147
  43. [59]Forterre F, Konar M, Spreng D, Jaggy A, Lang J (2008) Influence of intervertebral disc fenestration at the herniation site in association with hemilaminectomy on recurrence in chondrodystrophic dogs with thoracolumbar disc disease: a prospective MRI study. Vet Surg 37: 399– 405. 18564265
  44. [60]Itoh H, Asou Y, Hara Y, Haro H, Shinomiya K, et al (2008) Enhanced type X collagen expression in the extruded nucleus pulposus of the chondrodystrophoid dog. J Am Vet Med Assoc 70: 37– 42. 18250570
  45. [61]Sterna J, Burzykowski T (2008) Assessment of the usefulness of the fenestration method in cases of disc extrusion in the cervical and thoraco-lumbar spine in chondrodystrophic dogs. Pol J Vet Sci 11: 55– 62. 18540209
  46. [62]Sterna J (2007) The assessment of ventral cervical decompression in the treatment of prolapse of the nucleus pulposus in dogs. Pol J Vet Sci 10: 89– 95. 17882932
  47. [63]Stigen O, Ottesen N, Jaderlund KH (2010) Early recurrence of thoracolumbar intervertebral disc extrusion after surgical decompression: a report of three cases. Acta Vet Scand 52: 10. 20137085 PMC2829575
  48. [64]Sakai D, Nakai T, Mochida J, Alini M, Grad S (2009) Differential phenotype of intervertebral disc cells: microarray and immunohistochemical analysis of canine nucleus pulposus and anulus fibrosus. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 34: 1448– 1456. 19525835
  49. [65]Ryan TM, Platt SR, Llabres-Diaz FJ, McConnell JF, Adams VJ (2008) Detection of spinal cord compression in dogs with cervical intervertebral disc disease by magnetic resonance imaging. Vet Rec 163: 11– 15. 18603629
  50. [66]Degórska B, Sterna J, Sapierzynski R, Siedlicki M (2009) What is your diagnosis? Cervical pain and paresis of left thoracic limb in a chondrodystrophic dog. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 22: 294. 19718847

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Packer, R. M. A., Hendricks, A., Volk, H. A., Shihab, N. K., & Burn, C. C.
Affiliations
University of London (GB)
Corresponding author
Burn, Charlotte C.
ORCID
Venue
PLoS ONE
Publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Published
2013-07-24
Volume
8
Issue
7
Pages
e69650
ISSN
1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0069650
PMC
PMC3722130
OpenAlex
W2021926661
Cited by
60
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 4
FWCI
7.04
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • RVC Research Online (Royal Veterinary College) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • Universities Federation for Animal Welfare
  • Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Veterinary Orthopedics and Neurology
  • Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Veterinary Medicine and Surgery
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Human-Animal Interaction Studies
Keywords
intervertebral disc extrusion, thoracolumbar spine, dogs, chondrodystrophic breeds, Dachshund, miniature dachshund, obesity, intervertebral disc degeneration
MeSH terms
Animals, Dog Diseases, Dogs, Intervertebral Disc, Intervertebral Disc Displacement, Thoracic Vertebrae

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review