Do anti-inflammatory drugs prevent disc episodes?

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Neuro Corner Answers

Dr. Andrew Isaacs
DVM Diplomate ACVIM (Neurology)
Dogwood Veterinary Referral Center

Primary interests include intervertebral disc disease, seizure management, luxations/fractures of the spine, and surgery for brain tumors

Question

JILL ASKS:

1- For a Staffy breed, would that mean she has Hansen type 2?
2- Can a neck pull on a leash rupture an IVDD disc in lower lumbar-sacral?
3- Can anti–inflammatories prevent a bulging disc from fully rupturing?

My Vet and Chiro had conflicting answers on some of these questions….thanks for any information!

ANSWER

Larger breeds typically have Hansens type 2, but will sometimes see Type 1. Pulling on a dog’s collar with neck lead could potentially cause L/S disk rupture, but more likely to cause cervical disk issues. Anti-inflammatory medications help address inflammation, but do not prevent a disk from rupturing. Andrew [Editor’s note: See harness information for the IVDD dog (selecting and fitting) https://dodgerslist.com/harness-with-leash/

Disclaimer:

This information is presented for educational purposes and as a resource for the dog IVDD community. The coordinators are not veterinarians or health care professionals. Nothing herein should be interpreted as medical advice.

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