Conservative treatment of cervical intervertebral disc disease in a dog with the use of a cervical collar: case report

Abstract

Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) is the main  spinal cord disease in dogs, especially  of chondrodisthrophic breeds, and it’s  characterized  by structural degeneration of discs, following protrusion or extrusion of debris to the medullar canal, compression and variable degrees of pain, paresis and ataxia. Surgical  descompressive intervention   coupled with disc fenestration are the treatment of choice as it promotes faster recovery with higher succes rates, not withou important morbidity and mortality. The conservative management is considered when the pacient has mild clinical signs, doesn’t have severe medullar compression or contusion lesions on imaging tests, as well as when there are restrictions associated with the clinical state of the pacient or the higher costs of surgical treatment.