Spondylosis deformans in the female beagle dog: A radiographic study

Abstract

Spondylosis deformans is a generalised disease of ageing resulting in formation of bony osteophytes around degenerating intervertebral discs throughout the vertebral column. It is noninflammatory and needs to be differentiated from spondylitis, which is either an infectious or noninfectious inflammatory process. Lateral radiographs of 310 female beagle dogs from a closed colony showed development of spondylosis deformans that was age‐dependent and located principally at discs numbers 5, 15, and 20 to 23. It was noteworthy that disc 26 was minimally involved whereas this location has been previously reported to have frequent involvement in larger breeds of dogs. None of the dogs studied had clinical signs causing their removal from the colony, further supporting the concept that spondylosis deformans as a bony response to disc degeneration is not a cause of severe pain or lameness.

Spinal hyperostosis in humans and companion animals

“…Spondylosis in the cervical spine is described less often (Wright 1982a;Resnick 1985;Morgan et al 1989). In cats, spinal segments T4-T10 are described to be most frequently affected by spondylosis (Beadman et al 1964;Read & Smith 1968;Clarke et al 2005;Clarke & Bennett 2006;Lascelles 2010;).…”

“…Spondylosis can be diagnosed on radiographic or (histo) pathological examination (Morgan 1967a;Morgan 1967b;Read & Smith 1968;Morgan et al 1989;Langeland & Lingaas 1995;Carnier et al 2004). Using radiographs, Wright (1982aWright ( , 1982b) made a distinction between endplate osteophytes (type 1) described to be the result of spondylosis and a group of three other types (types 2, 3, and 4) of new bone formation (Figure 3).…”

“…In working dogs, the diminished spinal flexibility is described to limit activity (Morgan et al 1989;Vaughan 1990). Osteophyte formations extending dorso-laterally can compress spinal nerve roots at the level of intervertebral foraminae (Morgan et al 1989).…”

“…In working dogs, the diminished spinal flexibility is described to limit activity (Morgan et al 1989;Vaughan 1990). Osteophyte formations extending dorso-laterally can compress spinal nerve roots at the level of intervertebral foraminae (Morgan et al 1989). Spondylosis was also detected on computed tomography (CT) images in 62% of dogs with degenerative lumbosacral stenosis (DLS) (Suwankong et al 2008).…”

“…In the veterinary literature, spondylosis is described as a non-inflammatory, degenerative disease of the region peripheral to the endplate associated with new bone formation originating several millimeters from the disco-vertebral junction (Morgan et al 1989;Langeland & Lingaas 1995;Carnier et al 2004;Levine et al 2006). The osteophytes vary from small spurs to bony bridges across the disc space, leaving most of the ventral surface of the vertebral body unaffected.…”