Spinal hyperostosis in humans and companion animals

Abstract

Both spondylosis and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) are prevalent in humans and are considered distinct entities. Nowadays, the term spondylosis is in the biomedical literature mostly used when also degenerative disc disease is present. In companion animals, many reports on spondylosis, often without intervertebral disc degeneration, are described. The nomenclature and the definitions of both spondylosis and DISH in the biomedical and veterinary literature should be more in line to facilitate comparison. DISH occurs in dogs but has not been described in cats yet. DISH and spondylosis can co-occur in dogs in one animal. Boxers may serve as translational disease models for the elucidation of the gene(s) involved in the (etio)pathogenesis of DISH or serve as a test population for newly developed treatment options.

Dorsal vertebral column abnormalities in dogs with disseminated idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH)

“…Therefore, the results of our study do not favour following these strict ‘Morgan’ criteria either. It is well known that both dogs and people with DISH can present with a variety in lesion distribution and localisation (Kranenburg and others 2013). This has led to a multitude of terms to refer to this disorder in people and highlights the difficulty of correctly defining and diagnosing DISH (Utsinger 1985).…”

Spinal hyperostosis and ankylosis in a Gallo-Roman horse from Iwuy ‘Val-de-Calvigny’ (Nord, France): ‘Ankylosing spondylarthritis’ (spondylarthritis ankylopoetica), ‘deforming spondylarthrosis’ (spondylarthrosis deformans) or ‘DISH’ (hyperostosis vertebralis ankylopoetica)? An archeozoological and comparative nosological review

“…Many (overfed) zoo animals suffer from DISH, especially primates. The dog currently is proposed as a model for the disease (Kranenburg et al, 2013).…”

Disseminated idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis: diagnostic criteria and clinical significance

“…It is not a new disease process. It is commonly seen in people, and spinal hyperostosis similar to DISH has been described in dinosaurs, a saber-toothed cat and old rhesus monkeys (Kranenburg and others 2013). …”

“…As it can be challenging to find dorsal column abnormalities on spinal radiographs (De Decker and others 2011), this might explain why earlier publications did not include dorsal vertebral column abnormalities in the diagnosis of DISH. Nevertheless, the large variety of lesion distribution and localisation makes it difficult to appropriately define and diagnose DISH in dogs (Kranenburg and others 2013). This situation is similar in people, and has led to numerous terms for this condition (Utsinger 1985).…”

“…Milder clinical signs reported are stiffness in the back, lameness, gait changes and pain (Kranenburg and others 2013). Nevertheless, recent publications have reported clinically relevant associations between DISH formations and clinical signs, which should be considered when presented with patient with thoracolumbar myelopathy.…”