Treatment of discospondylitis in dogs: A systematic review

Abstract

Background: Both medical and surgical techniques have been reported to manage canine discospondylitis, although data on clinical effectiveness and long-term prognosis remain limited. Methods: A systematic review of studies on treatment approaches, follow-up data and investigation methods was conducted. Each study was evaluated for evidence quality (study design, sample size, disease characterisation, healing assessment and risk of bias) and outcome measures (treatment success, follow-up methods and long-term outcomes) using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Results: Forty-eight studies on medical and surgical management were included. All were classified as low-quality evidence with a high risk of bias. Medical and surgical interventions had success rates of 68.75% and 75%, respectively. Limitations: All studies had a high risk of bias and low-quality evidence due to their retrospective design and lack of randomisation. Conclusion: Antibiotics should be considered the first-line treatment when vertebral instability or disc extrusion is absent, guided by culture and sensitivity testing to ensure appropriate selection, with a mean treatment duration of 105 days. Surgical intervention is reserved for cases of failure of medical management and spinal instability, while percutaneous discectomy represents a promising adjunctive option in selected patients.