Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook.pdf - Mr. Walnuts

376 •DOG OWNER’S HOME VETERINARY HANDBOOK
At the scene of the accident, move the dog as gently as possible onto a flat
surface, such as a piece of plywood, and transport to the nearest veterinary
clinic. Sliding the dog onto a blanket and lifting the corners is an acceptable
way to transport her if a makeshift stretcher is not available.
Spinal cord injuries are treated with corticosteroids and diuretics such as
mannitol to prevent further swelling at the site of the injury. Good nursing
care and physiotherapy are extremely important in preventing complications
and hastening recovery. Surgery may be necessary to relieve pressure on the
spinal cord or to stabilize a fractured vertebra.
A dog with mild bruising of the spinal cord begins to recover in a few days.
However, if the cord has been lacerated or severely damaged, paralysis or
death may be the result.
INFECTIONS AND TUMORS
Infections of the vertebrae, discs, and spinal cord are uncommon. Most bacterial
infections occur after trauma or from infected wounds close to the spine.
Viral, fungal, rickettsial, and protozoan diseases that cause encephalitis can
also cause spinal cord infections (known as myelitis). The diagnosis of
myelitis is made by spinal tap and cerebrospinal fluid analysis.
Tumors can involve the spinal cord, nerve roots, or structures around the
cord. Symptoms are caused by the compression of the cord or the nerves coming
out from the cord. Benign neoplasms such as meningiomas, and bony
growths called osteophytes (see Spondylosis, page 380), may also cause compression.
Malignant tumors include osteosarcomas and lymphosarcomas.
Treatment: Treatment of myelitis involves the long-term use of antibiotics,
selected after culture and sensitivity tests. Surgery may be necessary to
remove a foreign body, drain an abscess, obtain material for testing, or relieve
pressure on the spinal cord.
Some benign tumors can be removed surgically. Malignant tumors
usually are not removable but may respond temporarily to radiation and/or
chemotherapy.
RUPTURED DISCS
A disc is a cushion of cartilage that sits between the vertebrae and acts as a
shock absorber. It is composed of a rim of tough, fibrous connective tissue that
surrounds a gel-like center called the nucleus. When a disc ruptures, one of two
things may happen. The first is that the fibrous capsule breaks, allowing the
inner nucleus to push out through the opening and impinge on the spinal cord
or a nerve root. This type of rupture is called a Hansen Type 1. The second is