Prevalence and clinical features of thoracolumbar intervertebral disc-associated epidural hemorrhage in dogs.

BACKGROUND

Intervertebral disc-associated epidural hemorrhage (EH) in dogs is a poorly understood neurological condition.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the clinical presentation, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes, and clinical outcome of dogs with acute thoracolumbar intervertebral disc herniation (TL-IVDH) with and without EH.

ANIMALS

One hundred sixty client-owned dogs that underwent MRI and hemilaminectomy for acute TL-IVDH at a private practice in Colorado, including 63 dogs with EH and 97 dogs without EH.

METHODS

Retrospective review of medical record data from 160 dogs presenting sequentially to a single practice with acute TL-IVDH that underwent MRI and hemilaminectomy surgery.

RESULTS

Sixty-three of 160 (39%) dogs had confirmed EH. French Bulldogs were significantly overrepresented (23/63; odds ratio [OR]: 4.1; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.8-9.0; P < .001) of the EH cases. Dogs with EH were more likely to present with clinical signs less than 48 hours than were dogs without EH (24-48 vs 48-72 hours; OR: 2.4; 95% CI: 1.2-4.6; P = .02) and were more likely to be nonambulatory on presentation (OR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.0-4.1; P = .04). Dogs with EH were more likely to have <50% cross-sectional spinal cord compression than dogs without EH (OR: 2.3 vs. 0.4; 95% CI: 1.2-4.4 and 0.2-0.9, respectively), longer longitudinal spinal cord compression (3 spaces vs 1 space, P < .001), and greater intrinsic spinal cord change (grade 3/severe vs grade 1/mild; P < .001) based on MRI. The location of the intervertebral disc herniation in French Bulldogs with EH was more likely to be thoracolumbar (OR: 10.8; 95% CI: 2.1-55.7; P = .03).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

French Bulldogs have a high prevalence of intervertebral disc-associated EH. Dogs with EH have a shorter clinical course and are more likely to be nonambulatory on initial presentation.