Case of the month: 8-month-old mixbreed dog with diarrhea and acute vomiting

Signalment and anamnesis

For further clarification the following radiographs were taken:

Radiographic description

Irregular, permeative to moth-eaten osteolysis of the vertebral body endplates of L2 and L3 with multiple, small bone fragments and increased bone density (sclerosis) of the adjacent vertebral bodies. The transition zone to normal bone tissue is unclear but appears long
A mild negative step formation is present between the affected vertebral bodies of L2 and L3, indicative of subluxation
The adjacent ventral soft tissue structures are mildly swollen

Diagnosis

Radiographic findings are suggestive of discospondylitis L2/3 with suspected pathologic compression fracture

Outcome

The patient had a positive blood culture, and an appropriate antibiotic was selected and administered based on the subsequent antibiogram
The patient is doing well

Discussion

Discospondylitis describes the infection of two adjacent vertebral endplates and the associated intervertebral disc
In most cases, bacterial or mycotic infections are the cause
Associated neurologic signs may occur in response to inflammation and instability, extrusion of disc material, and subluxation or fracture due to bone loss
Less commonly, discospondylitis may result in spinal accumulation of pus (empyema) associated with diffuse or focal meningomyelitis
In case of extradural compression of the myelon due to spinal empyema, surgical decompression may be indicated

Many thanks to Dr. ECVDI Thorsten Rick for this case report!

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