Summary
A six-year-old, spayed female Weimaraner dog was first presented with the complaint
of hindlimb paresis and then hindlimb paralysis two years later after colliding with
a tree. Radiographs and computed tomography revealed spinal fractures at lumbar vertebrae
(L)2-3 and at L4-5. In addition, the spinal column was affected by new bone formation
along the vertebral bodies, bridging the disc spaces, as seen in diffuse idiopathic
skeletal hyperostosis (DISH). Open reduction and internal fixation was achieved with
standard vertebral body plating. This is the first report of DISH-associated spinal
fractures after minor trauma in a dog. Surgery resulted in return of the full function
after the first, and in improvement of neurologic function after the second incident.
Keywords
Dog - diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis - spine - fracture
