When something damages a disc in the spinal cord of a dog, fluid leaks out from the disc. This fluid can cause the surrounding nerves to be pinched or irritated, which is very painful for the animal. This issue can be caused by repetitive exercise, injuries, or tumor growth. Dogs suffering from a disc herniation often have difficulty walking or experience partial paralysis. Its presence can often be confirmed by the use of radiographs or an ultrasound.
To treat a herniated disc, the first procedure to be tried is often ventral slot decompression, but this surgery can sometimes fail. In other instances, due to the area of the tumor or damage, ventral slot surgery is not possible. In these cases, a procedure called a “cervical dorsal laminectomy” will be performed. This surgery is more invasive than a ventral slot decompression, as the ligaments around the spinal cord must be incised.