Discopatia cervical em pinscher: relato de caso

Abstract

Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is characterized by the degeneration of one or more intervertebral disks, and its clinical signs are caused by the compression of the spinal cord or nerve roots, resulting from the extrusion or protrusion of degenerated intervertebral discs, being more prevalent in chondrodystrophic and large breed dogs. The degeneration of discs and biomechanical changes associated with aging make older dogs more susceptible to this condition, resulting in clinical signs that vary according to the location, speed, and intensity of the compression. This paper aims to report the case of cervical intervertebral disc disease in an elderly Pinscher, which was brought to veterinary care presenting episodes of intermittent cervical hyperesthesia, monoparesis of the right thoracic limb, nerve root signature, and lameness. The neurological examination revealed proprioceptive ataxia, loss of proprioception, absence of withdrawal reflex, and reduced sensation to both deep and superficial pain in the right thoracic limb and, to a lesser extent, in the left limb. The cervical spine radiograph showed a decrease in the intervertebral disc space at C6-7 and the corresponding intervertebral foramen, as well as dorsal elevation of C6. Based on radiographic findings and the clinical exam, a presumptive diagnosis of Hansen type II cervical intervertebral disc disease was made. Therefore, the case highlights the rare occurrence of such a condition in a small, non-chondrodystrophic breed, being the first report in the Pinscher breed according to our research. It is concluded that cervical intervertebral disc disease is a relevant clinical suspicion in geriatric patients, even outside of predisposed breeds, as disc degeneration is inherently related to aging.