Canine disc-associated cervical spondylomyelopathy (DA-CSM) is a form of caudal CSM, characterized by the compression of the spinal cord and nerve roots due to an intervertebral disc protrusion. It is more frequent in large canine breeds. A variety of surgical techniques has been proposed for DA-CSM. The aim of the study was to evaluate the outcomes of a cervical distraction–stabilization technique using an intervertebral anchored fusion device (C-LOX) combined with a locking compression plate (LCP plate) for the treatment of DA-CSM in dogs, based on clinical and radiographical follow-up data. Thirteen dogs affected by DA-CSM were included in the study. After the surgical procedure, an improvement in neurological status was documented in 9/13 cases. This cervical distraction–stabilization technique seems to be a valuable surgical alternative to treat this canine pathology.

The medical records of 14 Italian wolves (Canis lupus italicus) with a vertebral fracture or luxation (SFL) between C1 and L7 treated at Ospedale Veterinario San Michele from 2017 and 2022 were reviewed. The most common cause of SFL was “road traffic accident”. Neurological signs were graded from 0 to 6 using a modified Frankel scale. Spinal fractures occurred in C1–C5 in 1 case, in T3–L3 in 11 cases and in L4–L7 in 2 cases. Six wolves were euthanized without treatment because they presented paraplegia without deep pain perception (DPP). Two animals with motor function were treated conservatively, and later on one of them was euthanized because of neurological impairment. Six wolves were surgically treated. Seven wolves had good neurological recovery, and six of them were released into the wild. Our results suggest that wolves with DPP before surgery may have a good functional recovery.

A 9-year-old Yorkshire terrier was brought to the emergency department for inability to maintain the correct station with acute onset. Neurological examination showed a non-ambulatory tetraparesis, spontaneous proprioceptive deficit in all limbs, and decreased flexor reflex in the forelimbs. The neurological symptoms suggested a cranial cervical spinal cord with suspicion of spinal shock. The clinical differential diagnoses included degenerative (intervertebral disc extrusion), vascular, inflammatory, or neoplastic disease. No pathological findings were evident in the hematobiochemical tests or in the radiograph examination. MRI examination of the cervical spine showed the presence of two adjacent hydrated nucleus pulposus extrusions at C3-C4 and C4-C5 tracts. Treatment included analgesic and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory therapy; movement restriction was initially necessary, followed by physiotherapy. Follow-up at 4 weeks showed complete recovery. A telephone follow-up after 3 months with the owner confirmed the absence of symptoms. This article reports the first double cervical HNPE case in a dog, adding the possibility that the disease may present in this form and the success of conservative treatment as described in the literature.

The French Bulldog has become increasingly popular worldwide, but selective breeding for brachycephalic traits has increased its predisposition to several neurological disorders. Among these, intervertebral disc herniation (IVDH) is one of the most common causes of spinal cord compression, pain, and neurological deficits. Although genetic predisposition plays a key role, previous evidence suggests that gonadal hormones factors may also adversely affect skeletal development and spinal biomechanics, thus influencing risk of IVDH. The aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of gonadectomy and age at gonadectomy on the risk of developing IVDH in French Bulldogs. Medical records of 2,101 French Bulldogs were retrospectively reviewed. Dogs with complete clinical and reproductive histories were included and classified into two groups: affected (A group, with IVDH) and control (C group, without IVDH). Early-gonadectomized dogs (<12 months) showed a significantly higher risk of IVDH compared with intact dogs. Early-gonadectomized males were nearly twice as likely to develop IVDH (OR = 1.92) than intact males, while early-gonadectomized females exhibited an even stronger association (OR = 9.84) compared with late-gonadectomized (OR = 2.77) and intact females. The preliminary results of this study suggest a potential influence of gonadectomy and age at gonadectomy on the risk of developing IVDH in French Bulldog. Therefore, the age at which gonadectomy is performed should be carefully considered in this and other predisposed chondrodystrophic breeds. These findings highlight the importance of gonadal hormones and the need for further research to evaluate the differential effects of early age gonadectomy.

The information available on cervical myelopathies (CMs) and cervical pain (CP) in non-chondrodystrophic breeds remains limited compared to chondrodystrophic breeds. The expression of CP in CMs may depend on lesion type, severity and onset of clinical signs. This retrospective single-centre study reviewed the medical records of 112 purebred non-chondrodystrophic dogs referred for neurological evaluation, in which C1-T2 lesions were subsequently confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Clinical onset was categorised as acute (≤7 days) or chronic (>7 days). Neurological grade was classified into four neurological groups (G1–G4). CP was graded using a study-specific, non-validated five-point ordinal clinical scale. Multifactorial analysis of variance (ANOVA), odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals, and multivariable binomial logistic regression were performed. ANOVA showed significant effects of group (p < 0.0001), disease category (p < 0.05), and clinical onset (p < 0.02) on CP scores. Post-hoc comparison showed significantly lower CP scores in chronic onset than in acute onset (p < 0.0001). Acute onset was associated with CP in G2 (OR = 71.0; p < 0.0002) and remained associated with CP after adjustment for groups (adjusted OR = 4.42; 95% CI: 1.28–15.28; p = 0.019). These findings suggest that clinical onset may contribute to CP expression in non-chondrodystrophic dogs with CMs. Acute onset, particularly in ambulatory myelopathic patients, appears more frequently associated with CP. However, due to the retrospective design, the heterogeneous diagnostic composition, and the study-specific nature of the CP score, these associations should be interpreted cautiously.