This little-known neurological disease of the spinal cord and spine mainly affects older, large dogs weighing 20 kg or more. The disease develops very slowly but is very painful for the dog and causes progressive paralysis in the hindquarters.
Because it looks like a horse's tail, the rear branch of the spinal cord located in the area where the lumbar vertebrae transition to the sacrum is called the "cauda equina." The nerves emerging here control the muscles of the hindquarters and tail, as well as fecal and urinary excretion. Damage to the spinal cord and nerves in this area is referred to as cauda equina syndrome.
Due to the particular mobility in this area and the corresponding wear and tear, degenerative changes in the vertebral bodies, intervertebral discs, and ligaments connecting the vertebrae occur relatively frequently. The resulting narrowing of the spinal canal (=stenosis) puts pressure on the spinal cord, leading to neurological symptoms.
As the disease develops very gradually, the first signs are often overlooked by the dog owner or attributed to the dog's advanced age. Affected dogs may not want to run as much, are reluctant to jump or only jump into the car or over obstacles with pain, and show difficulty getting up and climbing stairs. At the beginning, lameness in one or both hind limbs may be observed. As the disease progresses, paralysis of the hindquarters occurs, leading to a dragging gait. A distinctive feature of this so-called toe dragging is excessive wear on the front of the claws. Later, sensory disturbances, muscle wasting, tail paralysis, and uncontrolled urination and defecation may occur.
If your dog shows any of these symptoms, please take them to your veterinarian immediately.
Since the symptoms are not always clear-cut, it is particularly important for the treating veterinarian to rule out other conditions such as hip dysplasia, tumors, or fractures. As part of their clinical and specialized neurological examination, they will use various examination methods and reflex tests to obtain initial indications of cauda equina syndrome. Affected dogs usually show clear signs of pain when pressure is applied to the lumbar region or when the tail is overextended.
Further X-ray examination is almost always standard in order to determine the cause and extent of the disease more precisely. However, not all narrowing of the spinal canal is clearly visible on X-rays. Reliable diagnosis of cauda equina syndrome can therefore only be made with a contrast agent examination, known as myelography, or with the help of CT or MRI scans.
In principle, the disease can be treated conservatively or surgically, depending on its severity. In many cases, the affected dog is treated with anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving medication and kept calm, especially in the early stages. However, the prospects for improvement of symptoms are only favorable if the cause of the nerve compression is exclusively due to overloading of the soft tissue structures.
If bony changes in the vertebral bodies lead to narrowing of the spinal canal and associated pain, surgical treatment is essential to relieve the spinal cord and protect it from further damage. Depending on the cause, there are various surgical procedures with the common goal of removing the pressure on the nerve tissue. The success of the operation depends largely on how consistently the aftercare is carried out. Even though the nerve fibers of the cauda equina can regenerate well, it is essential that the dog is rested appropriately during the healing phase. At the same time, physiotherapy and massage should be used to rebuild the muscles of the hindquarters. Furthermore, overweight dogs should definitely be put on a diet. With the petsXL health passport, you can clearly store and monitor your dog's weight data.
After successful surgery and consistent follow-up care, the prospects for recovery are generally favorable. If paralysis has already set in, the prognosis worsens.
In centuries past, looking into a horse's mouth played an important role, albeit primarily to determine the animal's age. Today, the focus is more on dental care and dental disease in horses. Dental hygiene is a very important aspect of keeping horses healthy. Regular veterinary checks of the mouth and teeth should be carried out at least once a year. The annual check-up and routine dental treatment can be carried out by any equine practice. In the event of specific dental problems or complications, it is advisable to consult a practice that specializes in equine dentistry. Typical dental problems in horses include tartar and the formation of hooks and edges on the molars due to uneven wear. These issues can be quickly resolved during routine treatment, preventing further damage. But how can we, as horse owners, tell if our horse has dental problems?
Hoof cancer is a chronic disease of the hoof corium. Unlike hoof abscesses, hoof cancer does not cause individual cells to die, but rather leads to uninhibited growth of individual parts of the hoof corium, accompanied by a foul-smelling discharge and a lack of keratinization of this tissue. The term "hoof cancer" was coined due to the appearance of this excessively grown, cauliflower-like tissue, although it is not a form of cancer.
Borna disease, also known as contagious encephalomyelitis or head disease of ungulates, is a rare viral disease of the nervous system that mainly affects horses and sheep. However, other animals and humans are also susceptible to the Borna virus. The disease was first described in 1813, when a whole group of cavalry horses fell ill in the town of Borna.
What is a fun night of dancing for many people is unfortunately a sensitive issue for a lot of dog owners: New Year's Eve fireworks frighten our noise-sensitive four-legged friends and can lead to major problems.
Uveitis is an inflammation of the uvea, the middle layer of the eye. It can be divided into anterior and posterior inflammation and manifests itself through a narrow pupil and reddened conjunctiva.
Due to its appearance, the neck lump is also known as a talpa, which means mole tumor. It describes all inflammatory enlargements of the soft tissues in the neck area of the horse. The majority of cases are due to inflammation of the bursa located under the neck band.
It happens in the paddock or even in the stall: your horse injures itself and may be bleeding. What should you do? Is it just a small scratch, a bump, or even a huge, gaping wound? Do I need to call the vet, or can I treat it myself, and if so, how? How can I minimize the risk of injury in the future? Kicks, bites, falls, or foreign objects can cause cuts, puncture wounds, abrasions, bruises, contusions, or burns in horses, which may require veterinary treatment depending on their severity. The severity of an injury always depends on its location and the involvement of surrounding structures, such as muscles, tendons, or joints. As with humans, a distinction is made between covered and open injuries in horses. In covered injuries, the horse's skin is undamaged, which is why this type of injury is not always easy to detect. For example, a kick may have caused a bruise that we as owners may only notice when grooming or when the horse is lame. Damage to the skin is referred to as an open injury or wound. This results in bleeding of varying severity, but even here, smaller wounds can be overlooked due to the coat.
Ear infections in dogs are one of the most common reasons for visits to the veterinarian. However, the condition is often detected too late and not treated consistently. The anatomical structure of the ear canal in dogs and its length make it prone to inflammation. Due to various factors, some dog breeds are even more susceptible to inflammation in the ear area. Outer ear infections, also known as otitis externa, are the most common type. Middle and inner ear infections are less common. However, if not detected early, these can develop into chronic conditions that require intensive treatment.
Skin fungus, also known as dermatomycosis, is one of the most common infectious skin diseases in cats. It resembles many other skin diseases in appearance and is therefore not always easy to diagnose. Many types of fungus are also transmissible to humans, meaning that it is a zoonosis.
Is your dog moving more stiffly, reluctant to go down stairs or jump into the car? Is he limping or does he have a swollen joint? Around 20% of all dogs develop joint diseases such as arthritis and osteoarthritis during their lifetime. But what is the difference between them?
If your horse is rubbing itself more than usual, you should take a closer look, as itching can be a key symptom of many skin diseases or allergies in horses. However, some metabolic disorders can also cause itching in horses. This condition is very stressful for your animal and should therefore be examined and treated by a veterinarian as soon as possible.
It is a dramatic sight for us as owners when our own horse suddenly cannot bend its hind leg and can barely walk. In many cases, the kneecap dislocation resolves itself and the horse runs normally again. If the dislocation does not resolve, a veterinarian must remedy the situation by skillfully manipulating the horse and leading it backwards or sideways so that it can walk normally again. A brief digression into the anatomy of the knee joint provides a simple explanation for this phenomenon.
