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Transverse semithin section through region of chronic spinal cord compression, illustrating gross loss of gray matter; *indicates the sole remaining region of gray matter (dorsal horn). There also is substantial loss of white matter area and axonal integrity. Toluidine blue, scale bar: 500 mm.
Source publication
Evidence of intervertebral disk degeneration (IVDD) is extremely common in dogs, and its prevalence increases with age. It has many important consequences because degeneration of the intervertebral disks often is a prelude to disk herniation, which can injure the spinal cord, spinal nerves, or both. This review summarizes the advances in diagnosis...
Context in source publication
Context 1
... contrast, other models 51,52 exhibit a progressive loss of gray matter with time and compres- sion, suggesting that the distribution of damage with chronic compression includes both gray and white matter. Evaluation of pathological material from dogs in which there has been chronic disk protrusion (Fig 3) supports this viewpoint. ...
Similar publications
The human vertebral column serves to transfer loads from the head, trunk, and upper body to the pelvis to provide flexibility in motion while also helping to protect the spinal cord. The main load-bearing entity of the spine is the intervertebral disc, which is subject to degeneration due to normal aging or injury due to loading. Many treatments ha...
Citations
... 6,7 While many cases remain asymptomatic in both dogs and humans, herniation is strongly associated with IVDD and clinical signs often results from the encroachment of extruding disk tissue on surrounding neural structures, causing pain and neurological dysfunction. [8][9][10] The IVD in both dogs and humans is comprised of three distinct regions: the nucleus pulposus (NP), annulus fibrosus (AF), and cartilaginous end plates (CEPs). The healthy NP is a highly hydrated gelatinous structure with notochordal-derived cells interwoven in a proteoglycan-and collagen-rich matrix, predominantly aggrecan and collagen type II, respectively. ...
Background
Intervertebral disk (IVD) degeneration affects both humans and canines and is a major cause of low back pain (LBP). Mast cell (MC) and macrophage (MØ) infiltration has been identified in the pathogenesis of IVD degeneration (IVDD) in the human and rodent model but remains understudied in the canine. MC degranulation in the IVD leads to a pro‐inflammatory cascade and activates protease activated receptor 2 (PAR2) on IVD cells. The objectives of the present study are to: (1) highlight the pathophysiological changes observed in the degenerate canine IVD, (2) further characterize the inflammatory effect of MCs co‐cultured with canine nucleus pulposus (NP) cells, (3) evaluate the effect of construct stiffness on NP and MCs, and (4) identify potential therapeutics to mitigate pathologic changes in the IVD microenvironment.
Methods
Canine IVD tissue was isolated from healthy autopsy research dogs (beagle) and pet dogs undergoing laminectomy for IVD herniation. Morphology, protein content, and inflammatory markers were assessed. NP cells isolated from healthy autopsy (Mongrel hounds) tissue were co‐cultured with canine MCs within agarose constructs and treated with cromolyn sodium (CS) and PAR2 antagonist (PAR2A). Gene expression, sulfated glycosaminoglycan content, and stiffness of constructs were assessed.
Results
CD 31+ blood vessels, mast cell tryptase, and macrophage CD 163+ were increased in the degenerate surgical canine tissue compared to healthy autopsy. Pro‐inflammatory genes were upregulated when canine NP cells were co‐cultured with MCs and the stiffer microenvironment enhanced these effects. Treatment with CS and PAR2 inhibitors mediated key pro‐inflammatory markers in canine NP cells.
Conclusion
There is increased MC, MØs, and vascular ingrowth in the degenerate canine IVD tissue, similar to observations in the clinical population with IVDD and LBP. MCs co‐cultured with canine NP cells drive inflammation, and CS and PAR2A are potential therapeutics that may mitigate the pathophysiology of IVDD in vitro.
... Clinical reasoning has been shown to be relatively reliable in veterinary spinal conditions because specific aetiologies tend to present with typical clinical features, such as speed of onset and clinical progression [3,7]. When it comes to thoracolumbar IVDE, although these patients can present with a combination of clinical signs ranging from spinal pain to paraplegia [8], they are most commonly small, young/middle-aged dogs of chondrodystrophic breeds such as Dachshunds, with an acute and deteriorating history of painful myelopathy [3]. On the other hand, ischaemic myelopathy (IM) or acute non-compressive nucleus pulposus extrusion (ANNPE) typically present with an acute/peracute and improving history of non-painful, lateralising myelopathy [3,5], sometimes following strenuous exercise [9,10], and with some predilection for males [11,12] and for certain breeds such as miniature Schnauzer and Staffordshire bull terrier [13,14]. ...
... Recovery from SCI can span weeks [8], and our IVDE group 2 dogs underwent crosssectional imaging 6.84 days after initial presentation. As this was followed by surgery in 18/19 cases, it is unknown whether these 18 patients would have fully recovered if medical management had been continued for longer. ...
... If the patient deteriorated, imaging was normally performed immediately (group 2). This approach stems from the concept that SCI from IVDE derives from a combination of different degrees of compression and contusion [8], and if the latter is the most significant factor in the patient's clinical signs, then these will gradually improve as the contusion subsides over time. If the patient does not improve or remains painful, then the 'compressive' component of the IVDE may be more significant in that patient, and decompressive surgery may be more appropriate. ...
Acute thoracolumbar myelopathy is a common neurological presentation in dogs. Although certain spinal conditions present with characteristic clinical pictures, managing such cases with clinical reasoning alone (i.e., without cross-sectional imaging) has never been explored. The aim of this study was to define the outcome of patients with suspected intervertebral disc extrusion (IVDE), ischaemic myelopathy (IM) or acute non-compressive nucleus pulposus extrusion (ANNPE) that were managed with clinical reasoning alone. The database of the Queen’s Veterinary School Hospital (Cambridge) was searched for paraparetic or paraplegic dogs with suspected IVDE or IM/ANNPE that were initially managed medically without undergoing imaging. Clinical presentation and outcome were recorded. If cross-sectional imaging was subsequently performed, information about the final diagnosis was collected and compared with the initially suspected diagnosis. A total of 123 IVDE cases were collected: 81% had a successful outcome with no imaging performed; 16% had IVDE confirmed with imaging and successful outcome with surgery or medical management; and just 3% were found to have an alternative diagnosis or were euthanised without imaging. A total of 16 IM/ANNPE cases were collected: 94% had a successful outcome, and one dog was euthanised. Successful outcomes can be obtained by using clinical reasoning alone in most dogs with suspected IVDE or IM/ANNPE.
... [34][35][36] Consequently, during a period of mechanical stress, affected dogs often rupture the annulus, thereby allowing the inner calcified nucleus to be forcibly expelled, creating a combined contusive/ compressive spinal cord lesion. [37][38][39] Although the SCI in many individuals is relatively mild, there is a subpopulation (*20% of the total affected) 40 with suprasacral lesions that lose all motor control and sensory function to the hindquarters (pelvic limbs, tail, bladder, and anus), and only *50% of such cases recover independent ambulation after conventional treatment (DS, rehabilitation, etc.). 41,42 These dog patients have many similarities to American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) human patients with grade A thoracic lesions, 43 albeit with a much higher incidence of improvement than their human counterparts. ...
Although many interventions for acute spinal cord injury (SCI) appear promising in experimental models, translation directly from experimental animals to human patients is a large step that can be problematic. Acute SCI occurs frequently in companion dogs and may provide a model to ease translation. Recently, incision of the dura has been highlighted in both research animals and human patients as a means of reducing intraspinal pressure, with a view to improving perfusion of the injured tissue and enhancing functional recovery. Observational clinical data in humans and dogs support the notion that it may also improve functional outcome. Here, we report the results of a multi-center randomized controlled trial of durotomy as an adjunct to traditional decompressive surgery for treatment of severe thoracolumbar SCI caused by acute intervertebral disc herniation in dogs. Sample-size calculation was based on the proportion of dogs recovering ambulation improving from an expected 55% in the traditional surgery group to 70% in the durotomy group. Over a 3.5-year period, we enrolled 140 dogs, of which 128 had appropriate duration of follow-up. Overall, 65 (51%) dogs recovered ambulation. Recovery in the traditional decompression group was 35 of 62 (56%) dogs, and in the durotomy group 30 of 66 (45%) dogs, associated with an odds ratio of 0.643 (95% confidence interval: 0.320–1.292) and z-score of −1.24. This z-score indicates trial futility to reach the target 15% improvement over traditional surgery, and the trial was terminated at this stage. We conclude that durotomy is ineffective in improving functional outcome for severe acute thoracolumbar SCI in dogs. In the future, these data can be compared with similar data from clinical trials on duraplasty in human patients and will aid in determining the predictive validity of the “companion dog model” of acute SCI.
... Therefore, pain in humans with chronic discopathies is mainly associated with nerve root compression, without forgetting the other multifactorial components such as facet or discogenic pain especially in low back pain [7,8]. However, in dogs, the main source of pain is stimulation of the nociceptors of the dorsal longitudinal ligament as a consequence of spinal cord compression [10], although they may also suffer from radicular pain [11]. ...
... Clinical signs tend to reflect the chronic and slowly progressive nature of intervertebral disc degeneration associated with a chronic inflammatory state. The most common presentations are usually mild-to-moderate neurological deficits, not very painful myelopathy in older dogs, although pain may be present depending on the presence of nerve root compression [11], and the stimulation of the nociceptors of the dorsal longitudinal ligament [10]. ...
... In dogs with intervertebral disc protrusions, treatment is usually conservative since, being a progressive disease, surgical treatment should be performed before the onset of ataxia and paresis to avoid degenerative axonal lesions and demyelination, a rare occurrence since the diagnosis is usually made after months of evolution [10,15]. Medical treatment consists of combinations of relative rest, physical rehabilitation, and administration of analgesics, muscle relaxants, and anti-inflammatory drugs [16,17]. ...
Simple Summary
In humans, intervertebral disc degeneration is a chronic condition, the course of which leads to pain and inability to walk. Similarly, in dogs, intervertebral disc protrusion is a chronic pathology with a major impact on quality of life (QL). Surgical treatment is uncommon and conventional medical treatment is sometimes contraindicated due to the patient’s comorbidities, or is ineffective. New adjuvant strategies are being sought to improve patients’ QL. Of these, treatment with medicinal ozone (MO) is gaining prominence in recent years due to its analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. A retrospective clinical study was carried out in patients diagnosed with intervertebral disc protrusions in which MO was used as an adjuvant treatment to conventional medical treatment (physical rehabilitation, analgesics, anti-inflammatory drugs) in an attempt to improve their QL. A total of 21 dogs were included in this study. All patients showed an improvement in neurological signs and spinal pain with a consequent improvement in QL. No serious adverse effects were observed. Ozone therapy could be a potential therapy to be consider as a complementary treatment in dogs with intervertebral disc protrusions where surgery is not possible and/or medical treatment is insufficient. Prospective studies are necessary.
Abstract
Ozone-therapy is used in humans as a coadjutant treatment in intervertebral disc diseases due to its analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. References in dogs are scarce and limited to clinical cases (intradiscal/paravertebral infiltrations). The aim of this study was to assess the use of medical ozone (MO) as an adjunctive treatment in dogs with intervertebral disc protrusions (Hansen Type II/Chronic). A retrospective study was conducted in dogs diagnosed with intervertebral disc protrusions by MRI/CT in which MO was used as an adjuvant therapy to conventional medical treatment. Neurological examination and quality of life (QL) at the beginning and end of study were recorded, as well as posology and possible side effects. A total of 21 patients of different breeds and sex with a mean age of 12 years were included in this study. Results showed pain relief (7 ± 3 days) and improvement of neurologic signs (11 ± 9 days) with a consequent increasement in QL (13 ± 9 days). Thirteen out of the twenty-one patients (62%) showed a complete remission of the clinical signs. No serious adverse effects were observed. Medical ozone could be a potential complementary therapy to medical treatment in dogs with intervertebral disc protrusions. Prospective studies are necessary.
... One of the major benefits of regional anaesthetic techniques is their potential to decrease the requirement for other analgesics and anaesthetic drugs [41], and this may help to maintain intraoperative normotension [42]. The maintenance of normotension in dogs that suffer from thoracolumbar intervertebral disc disease and acute spinal cord injury is of the utmost importance, especially as hypotension is a commonly seen intraoperative complication in spinal surgeries [43], and several studies have demonstrated that the maintenance of normotension improves clinical outcome [44][45][46]. ...
Simple Summary
The analgesic management of dogs with spinal disease is important, as insufficient pain relief may result in chronic neuropathic pain. The retrolaminar block is a relatively new local anaesthetic technique, first developed in humans, in which the local anaesthetic is deposited into the musculofascial plane on the lamina of the target thoracic vertebra, thus providing analgesia to the thoracic region. The aim of this study was to evaluate the retrolaminar technique as a peri-operative analgesic option for dogs with spinal disease, by determining the distribution of two volumes of contrast-dye mixture and the potential complications after anatomical landmark-guided thoracolumbar retrolaminar injections in canine cadavers. Eight canine (greyhound) cadavers were randomised into two groups that received either a 10 or a 20 mL injection into the retrolaminar space at the level of the twelfth thoracic vertebra, after which they underwent computed tomography and anatomical dissection to determine the spread of the injectate. The injectate was detected in the surrounding intervertebral foramina and the paravertebral and retrolaminar fascial planes, which could suggest promising analgesic potential for spinal pain. Epidural and retroperitoneal spread was also noted, and the spread was not volume-dependent. Further studies will help to determine the exact indications for this technique.
Abstract
The retrolaminar block is a regional anaesthetic technique, first developed in humans, in which the local anaesthetic is deposited directly onto the dorsal aspect of the thoracic or lumbar vertebral lamina. This study aims to evaluate the distribution of landmark-guided thoracolumbar retrolaminar injections in greyhound cadavers. Thirteen injections of contrast-dye solution were performed in eight cadavers at the level of the twelfth thoracic vertebra (T12), with either 20 mL (n = 8, high volume, HV) or 10 mL (n = 5, low volume, LV) per site. The spread of the injectate was evaluated through computed tomography and transverse anatomical dissection. The groups were compared using the Mann–Whitney U test. The median (range) of the extent of the spread was 4 (2–5) and 3 (2–4) intervertebral foramina in the LV and HV groups, respectively. The median (range) of the spread along the retrolaminar space was 3 (2–3) retrolaminar segments in the LV and 3 (2–4) in the HV group. Epidural and retroperitoneal spread was identified in seven cadavers. Following landmark-guided retrolaminar injections, the injectate spread both in the retrolaminar and paravertebral spaces, without any obvious association between the volume of injectate and the extent of the spread. Further studies are warranted to determine the clinical efficacy of the technique.
... Spinal cord injuries (SCI) in dogs are often caused by intervertebral disc herniation (IVDH) [1,2]. Commonly occurring signs are pain and paralysis of varying degrees [3,4]. ...
... The following grading according to Sharp and Wheeler [1,2] was available for the dogs (Table 1): grade 1 in 3.8% (n = 1), grade 2 in 34.6% (n = 9), grade 3 in 23.1% (n = 6), grade 4 in 26.9% (n = 7), grade 5 in 11.5% (n = 3) at the acute stage of the disease. Dogs in the acute stage of the disease were divided into two broad categories: "paresis" and "plegia". ...
... Dogs in the acute stage of the disease were divided into two broad categories: "paresis" and "plegia". Since only one dog was initially Sharp and Wheeler [1,2] grade 1, it was placed in the group of dogs with "paresis" for statistical evaluation. Thus, dogs with (16 dogs, 61.5%) and without (10 dogs, 38.5%) spontaneous movement were grouped together. ...
Background
Intervertebral disc herniation (IVDH) is one of the most common causes of spinal cord injury (SCI) in dogs. As a result of acute SCI, a complex inflammatory response occurs in the spinal cord. Th17 cells (Th17) produce pro-inflammatory cytokines, while regulatory T cells (Treg) have opposite effects producing anti-inflammatory cytokines. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine whether Th17- and Treg cells are involved in the pathogenesis of SCI or whether cellular changes occur due to coexisting inflammatory diseases. We hypothesized that chronic alterations in the Th17/Treg ratio are associated with a worse outcome after SCI.
Methods
Twenty-six paretic or plegic dogs with IVDH with and without coexisting inflammatory disease were investigated in the acute stage of the disease and after recovery of SCI. In addition, a healthy control group was included (n = 14). Quantification of Th17 and Treg cells, from peripheral blood samples, was performed by multicolor flow cytometry and IL17 was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Results
After recovery significantly higher levels of Th17 (p = 0.0265) and Treg cells (p = 0.00025) were detected compared to acute IVDH but Th17/Treg ratio did not differ significantly. Recovered dogs and the control group did not differ significantly from each other. No association between an imbalance in the ratio and neurologic severity or underlying inflammatory diseases was found.
Conclusion
This study demonstrated that altered Th17 and Treg levels in peripheral blood are altered in the acute stage of IVDH, preexisting inflammatory diseases seem not to influence these cell populations. Th17 and Treg cells could be considered when evaluating new treatment strategies for SCI.
... Other causes also include synovial cysts as well as dynamic compression in lumbosacral dorsi-flexion but otherwise minimal compression in neutral position. Compression could be categorised as dynamic when instability and thus motion of the vertebral segments results in variation in severity of compression from moment to moment depending on the position of the vertebrae at a specific point in time ( Jeffery et al., 2013). The spinal nerves originating from the lumbosacral section of the vertebral column stretches to the hips, stifle, tarsus, urinary bladder as well as anal and urinary sphincters, in order from L4 to S3. Neurological findings associated with degeneration at L4-S1 often presents as femoral pseudo-hyperreflexia, muscle atrophy and potentially decreased reflexes due to impingement of the femoral and sciatic nerves. ...
PICO question
In dogs suffering from degenerative lumbosacral stenosis (DLSS), is surgical treatment more effective than nonsurgical therapy in reducing lumbosacral pain and neurological dysfunction in the long-term?
Clinical bottom line
Category of research
Treatment.
Number and type of study designs reviewed
Two papers were critically reviewed. They were prospective and retrospective studies.
Strength of evidence
Weak.
Outcomes reported
Besides the two studies, there are no other studies currently available that directly compare long-term clinical outcome of patients that have undergone nonsurgical and surgical treatment respectively.
In the study comparing clinical outcome of nonsurgical treatment by epidural steroid injection (ESI) and surgical treatment of degenerative lumbosacral stenosis, dogs were classified into clinical severity groups ranging from mild to moderate to severe. Mild cases demonstrated degenerative lumbosacral stenosis (DLSS) compatible clinical signs such as lumbosacral pain, reluctance to climb stairs / jump / raise up, lameness and muscle atrophy but no neurological deficits. Moderate cases presented DLSS compatible clinical signs in combination with neurological deficits such as reduced flexor withdrawal, proprioceptive deficits and nerve root signature. Severe cases demonstrated DLSS compatible clinical signs with more severe neurological deficits such as tail paresis and absent perineal reflex. Clinical outcomes were considered complete if clinical signs had resolved at follow-up consultations, partial if there was substantial but incomplete improvement in clinical signs and failed if the dog did not improve or deteriorated further. Improvements in patient condition were measured in terms of clinical outcome grading which is in relation to the initial clinical severity group assigned to each dog. Improvement after single dose of ESI was seen in 27/32 dogs, with 17/22 (after accounting for four dogs whose owners have refused further treatment, five dogs lost to follow-up after re-check as well as one dog whose owners have opted for repeated ESI instillations) relapsing within 6 months. All 17 of these dogs that suffered a relapse after single ESI subsequently underwent surgical treatment and demonstrated improvement in clinical signs, with a complete response seen in eight dogs and a partial response seen in nine dogs.
In the study comparing clinical outcome of conservative treatment of exercise restriction with phenylbutazone administration and surgical treatment of degenerative lumbosacral stenosis, outcomes were classified as good in dogs that regained preoperative activity levels; acceptable in dogs with persistent abnormality or requiring continued medication though otherwise active, and poor in all other cases. Out of 16 dogs treated surgically, 11 were treated by dorsal lumbosacral laminectomy and excision of the dorsal portion of the lumbosacral disc, while the other five had additional unilateral facetectomy to decompress the seventh lumbar nerve. Out of the 11 dogs treated with dorsal lumbosacral laminectomy and excision of the dorsal portion of the lumbosacral disc, 6/11 (54.5%) of dogs were deemed to have a good outcome, while 3/11 (27.3%) of dogs were deemed to have an acceptable outcome. Out of the five dogs treated with dorsal lumbosacral laminectomy and excision of the dorsal portion of the lumbosacral disc with additional unilateral facetectomy, 3/5 (60%) of dogs were deemed to have an acceptable outcome. The outcome of conservative treatment was deemed good in 8/16 (50%) of dogs in the conservative treatment group.
Conclusion
There is evidence suggesting that both nonsurgical and surgical treatments can improve clinical outcomes and reduce lower back pain and neurological deficits. However, based on the current limited literature, it cannot be ascertained whether surgical treatments are more effective than nonsurgical treatments in improving long-term clinical outcomes and vice versa. In the study that tested the efficacy of epidural steroid injection, only a single dose of steroids was given in this study, making it a potential reason for the high rate of relapse following nonsurgical treatment. For surgical treatment of DLSS, the type of surgical procedure chosen would also depend on the part of the lumbosacral region which fails and leads to compression. In conclusion, randomised controlled trials that compare different forms of nonsurgical treatment with surgical treatment for dogs with DLSS caused by different underlying factors need to be conducted to properly address the PICO question.
How to apply this evidence in practice
The application of evidence into practice should take into account multiple factors, not limited to: individual clinical expertise, patient’s circumstances and owners’ values, country, location or clinic where you work, the individual case in front of you, the availability of therapies and resources.
Knowledge Summaries are a resource to help reinforce or inform decision making. They do not override the responsibility or judgement of the practitioner to do what is best for the animal in their care.
... Degeneration of the IVD is inevitable in the aging process. Progressive pathological changes begin to appear in structure (1,21). The onset of disc degeneration in humans starts with the loss of diffusional capacity of blood vessels of the vertebral endplate that can act as a nutrient supplier to the nucleus pulposus. ...
... This degeneration of the blood supply may result from many mechanisms in humans. However, most disc degeneration in dogs is deeply associated with multigenetic elements (21,22). ...
... At the same time, they allow flexibility by enabling vertebral movement to absorb and distribute weight that is loaded on the spine (9,28). With increasing age, degenerative changes occur in IVDs as blood supply becomes insufficient (9,21,31). The histological structure of IVDs in humans is similar to that in dogs for different stages of IVD degeneration. ...
... Currently, the clinical treatment methods for IDD include conservative and surgical treatments [20]. Common conservative therapies are bed rest, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and a series of common physical therapies, which cannot prevent the occurrence and development of IDD although relieving pain to some extent [21].Surgical treatment is confronted with high cost, large trauma, and unsatisfactory postoperative rehabilitation in some patients [22]. Therefore, exploring new drugs for IDD has become an important research direction [23,24]. ...
Purpose
Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is one of the main causes of low back pain, which not only affects patients’ life quality, but also places a great burden on the public health system. Recently, ginsenoside Rg1 has been found to act in IDD; however, the mechanism is still unclear. The purpose of this study is to explore the function of ginsenoside Rg1 and its molecular mechanism in IDD.
Methods
The rat model of IDD and nucleus pulposus (NP) experimental groups treated with ginsenoside Rg1 was constructed for investing the role of ginsenoside Rg1 in IDD rats. In the in vitro and in vivo study, the histological morphological changes, motor threshold (MT), inflammatory factors, oxidative stress, apoptosis and expression of the YAP1/TAZ signaling pathway-related proteins of the intervertebral discs (IVD) were measured by histological staining, mechanical and thermal stimulation, ELISA, qRT-PCR, flow cytometry, and western blot, respectively.
Results
Ginsenoside Rg1 significantly increased the threshold for mechanical and thermal stimulation and alleviated histological changes in IDD rats. Ginsenoside Rg1 had a significant inhibitory effect on the secretion level of inflammatory factors, redox activity, extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation in IVD tissue and NP cells, and apoptosis in NP cells. Further investigation revealed that ginsenoside Rg1 significantly inhibited the expression of YAP1/TAZ signaling pathway-related proteins. Additionally, the above inhibitory effect of ginsenoside Rg1 on IDD progression was concentration-dependent, that is, the highest concentration of ginsenoside Rg1 was most effective.
Conclusion
Ginsenoside Rg1 inhibits IDD progression by suppressing the activation of YAP1/TAZ signaling pathway. This means that ginsenoside Rg1 has the potential to treat IDD.
... Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) causes canine gait disorders (Jeffery et al. 2013), and its prevalence increases with age (Smolders et al. 2013). Canine IVDD, including cervical disk herniation (CVDH), is more common in chondrodystrophic (CD) breeds such as Miniature Dachshunds, French Bulldogs, Welsh Corgis, Toy Poodles, Pekingese, and Shih Tzus. ...
... IVDD /CVDH is often observed in dogs, and its prevalence increases with aging (Jeffery et al. 2013). Recently, Chinese traditional medicine has been applied to treat IVDD (Roynard et al. 2018; Wright 2019). ...
Thirteen dogs with intervertebral disk disease (IVDD) and 3 dogs with cervical disk herniation (CVDH) were examined to determine the effects of acupuncture on energy metabolism. Acupuncture points GV14, GV20-1, BL18, BL23, BL26, GB30, and ST36 were selected for IVDD, while GV14, GV20-1, GB20, and BL23 were selected for CVDH. All dogs except no.13 did not receive medication during acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture effects were evaluated based on the IVDD/CVDH evaluation scales in Oji 2015 and Tanaka and Nakayama 2015. Blood samples were taken before and 30 min after acupuncture treatment. Pyruvate and lactate concentrations, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) activity, the MDH/LDH ratio (M/L ratio), and LDH isozyme electrophoretic patterns served as energy metabolism markers. In IVDD/CVDH dogs that showed improvements, plasma pyruvate concentrations significantly decreased, the M/L ratio increased, and the plasma LDH isozyme pattern changed from predominantly LDH5 to predominantly LDH1. These data suggest that local redox potential is improved and energy metabolism is increased in dogs with IVDD/CVDH after acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture treatments may activate the citric acid cycle and increase ATP production, followed by improvement of the disease. Future studies with a large sample size are needed to clarify this hypothesis.
