INTRAVERTEBRAL DISC HERNIATION (SCHMORL'S NODE) IN FIVE DOGS

The herniation of intervertebral disc material into the vertebral body, known as Schmorl's nodes, is a well described disease process in man. Schmorl's nodes have not until now been described in the dog. This paper describes intravertebral disc herniation in the dog based on five patients taken from a retrospective study of dogs suspected of having cauda equina syndrome. The significance of intravertebral disc herniation in the dog at this time is that they indicate a disturbance in the vertebral endplate, they present definite radiographic signs, should be considered in patients with ostecohondrosis, and remain a possibls etiology for fibrocartilaginous emboli. Back pain is a common sign in people when Schmorl's nodes were the only pathologic findings. The common signs of palpatory pain in the lumbosacral region of the dogs in this report is noted but cannot be directly correlated at this time to the intravertebral disc herniation; however, it is suspected in two of the cases.