A comparison of conservative treatment and fenestration for thoracolumbar intervertebral disc disease in the dog

Many dogs will recover after a thoracolumbar disc protrusion whether they are treated conservatively or surgically. Two statistically similar groups of dogs submitted to the Department of Surgery, Royal Veterinary College (RVC) and to the Department of Surgery, University of Glasgow Veterinary School (UGVS) were reviewed. At the RVC an aggressive surgical policy was adopted and at the UGVS a conservative regime was followed. A comparison has been made between the two groups to evaluate the advantages of each regime. This comparison has provided the basis for a treatment protocol for cases of thoracolumbar intervertebral disc disease in the dog.