can IVDD dogs still do agility?

[cansk8@ac.com]

I have a FB friend and agility acquaintance with a young male Pug. I think he is only about 5 years old , maybe less. I believe he had some back pain and her regular vet recommended cage rest and she may have done a little acupuncture. I think she said he seemed better but took him to a neurologist today who suggested she quit agility but they were going to do an MRI an X-rays. I don't think he has or had neuro deficits.

Maybe it would depend on what the MRI shows but is a herniated disk necessarily a show stopper for agility if the dog is stable and not showing neuro signs?

Other FB friends of her are weighing in saying they retired their agility dog because of a herniated disk. I'm guessing they are worried about acute paralysis ?

Please weigh in Laurie and anyone with experience here! I'm gonna post in the rehab group too!

Thanks!

[cansk8@ac.com]

This is what she posted on her FB page- sounds like the neurologist is recommending surgery- I have never heard of this Pug agenesis thing= maybe this poor dog will not be able to do agility...

[lehughes]

Hey Carole,

I'm glad you asked the question here as well as the VetRehab Chat group. I'd prefer to answer here!

So, I have in the past told people with dogs with IVDD to retire from agility or at minimum reduce risk by choosing only certain types of courses. (Minimizing jumping and/or only jumping at a veteran's or specials height when necessary.) The way I look at it, I cannot guarantee that a dog won't do something, blow a disc and be rendered paralyzed on a course - with the knowledge that there is a herniated disc. And if I have to give my 'okay' and 'promise' that all will be well, I can't do that with 100% certainty. That being said, we know that (in people and so I presume dogs as well) that there are MRI evidenced discs in asymptomatic persons... and they mean nothing!!!

I also don't think that the regular vet nor the neurologist would be capable of detecting facet joint issues or SIJ issues which could be contributing to 'back pain'. So, I'd recommend referral to someone (i.e. rehab practitioner with manual therapy skills) to asses (and treat) for such things.

And as to the agenesis thing. Pugs (and other dogs with the corkscrew tails) are prone to spinal anomalies. Pugs are also prone to other weird things as well: constrictive myelopathy - aka arachnoid hyperplasia and dural fibrosis... and more weird things - subarachnoid cysts, pug meningitis, spinal arachnoid diverticula...
Found these papers:
1) Fisher SC, Shores A, Simpson ST. Constrictive myelopathy secondary to hypoplasia or aplasia of the
thoracolumbar caudal articular processes in Pugs: 11 cases (1993 – 2009). J Am Vet Med Assoc 242(2):
223 – 229, 2013.
2) http://www.vin.com/apputil/content/defa ... id=5947847

So, all in all... I'd treat the back pain. I'd modify the kinds of courses this little guy would do (because he's a pug as much as anything!!!) And I'd carry on with life!

I hope this helps!

Cheers,

Laurie

[David Lane]

If there is pain and no neuro deficits, then I am braver about return to agility than I am if there are neuro deficits. IVDD is WAY over diagnosed by GP's - there are those that presume all pain is IVD origin, even in the absence of MRI or CT imaging.

Even with confirmed imaging findings, not all bulging discs are the primary source of pain. So to answer this question, I would 1st want to see the response to non-surgical therapy, as well as details about what was found on MRI.

If the pain can be resolved non-surgically, then a primary goal for preventing recurrence is strength and fitness training. As the dog's health allows, this includes off leash running on variable terrain (eg wooded paths). If the activity the dog chooses to do on these walks exceeds what is required to compete in recreational agility (modified to include dropped bar heights, avoid weaves and tight turns off jumps etc.), and if the dog loves agility, then I have no problem adding that to the play schedule.

If the dog doesn't love agility, then find another activity that it does. Nosework is generally where I send retired agility dogs..

I would however, tell the owner that this dog will never safely be a high level competitor, but then again I would have automatically said that just because it is a pug.

Sidebar trivia note: these malformed vertebrae that brachycephalics get are uncommonly the site ofdisc disease – it is the pairs of normal vertebrae adjacent to them that are more likely to be affected.

David Lane DVM
ACVSMR