Spinal stenosis, and more specifically lumbosacral stenosis, is a painful disease affecting the lower level of the spinal cord of a dog and can cause urinary, bowel, and walking problems. Knowing what this disease is, how it is diagnosed, and what type of treatment options exist can help prepare you in case your dog is diagnosed with this problem.

What Is Spinal Stenosis?

Spinal stenosis is more commonly referred to as lumbosacral stenosis and is a disease affecting the structures of the spinal cord in the lumbar and sacral regions of the spine. The spinal cord is protected in the body by the boney spine and dogs with spinal stenosis have different problems that put pressure on the part of the spinal cord and nerves near the hips and tail. This results in a variety of problematic symptoms for a dog in the backside. Spinal stenosis can also occur in the cervical region of the spine but this is referred to as Wobbler syndrome (or cervical stenosis) and produces different symptoms than lumbosacral stenosis.

Symptoms of Spinal Stenosis in Dogs

Spinal stenosis affects the stability of a dog's hind quarters and symptoms can vary depending on how severe the disease is or where and how the spinal cord is affected. Here are the symptoms of this disease:

Difficulty Rising

Most dogs experience difficulty in using their hind limbs, specifically when they try to get up after laying down or sitting. This is due to inflammation of the nerves and muscles.

Difficulty With Stairs

Trouble with hind legs will result in your dog having extreme trouble or reluctance when it is trying to go up steps.

Pain and Weakness in the Backside

General weakness in the backside may be observed as wobbling or stumbling while walking. Some dogs experience severe pain in the backside due to the nerves that are affected and will cry out if their hind end is touched. If the problem progresses without treatment, the dog may experience a disc rupture in the area and become paralyzed.

Incontinence

Nerves that are affected may also cause a dog with spinal stenosis to lose control of its bladder and bowels so accidents in the house and puddles of urine where the dog was laying may occur.

Knuckling

The pain and weakness in the backside will sometimes cause your dog's paws to knuckle over and drag on the ground.

Trouble With Tail Movement

A dog with spinal stenosis may not be able to pick up their tail or wag it. If a dog owner tries to lift a dog's tail, it may also cry out in pain or whine. Some dogs may become anxious about their tail and chew it nonstop to the point of mutilation.

Causes of Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis is a degenerative disease so this means it develops as a dog ages. It is thought that genetics may play a role in this disease, especially in German shepherd and possibly other working dog breeds, especially if they experience repetitive strain in the lumbosacral junction area that occurs from overuse through intense physical training activities.

Some breeds are born with abnormally shaped vertebrae which can lead to spinal stenosis. Medium- to large-breed dogs that are somewhat older are most prone to spinal stenosis. However, more research needs to be done to fully understand the cause of this disease.

Diagnosing Spinal Stenosis in Dogs

If you suspect your dog is developing spinal stenosis then your veterinarian will discuss the symptoms you are seeing at home and perform a full physical examination. Tests may also be done to rule out other diseases, such as blood work and urine tests.

Your vet will conduct a manual test by putting direct pressure over the lumbosacral space in various positions. In addition, the doctor may use the "tail jack" test (lifting of the tail) to see if your dog responds with pain.

X-rays of the spine will need to be taken to look at the vertebrae shape and spacing. In order to make a final diagnosis though, an MRI or CT scan will be performed. A myelogram may be performed, which injects contrast material into the area to be able to view the area to pinpoint where the pressure is occurring.

Treatment

Activity restriction along with medications to address inflammation and pain is the typical treatment plan if surgery is not an option for your dog. Some dogs with spinal stenosis do well with this treatment plan but if the disease is severe enough, surgical intervention may be the only option.

A surgery called a laminectomy will be performed if it is elected. During this procedure the doctor will relieve the pressure on the nerves and the spinal cord. Not every veterinarian performs this type of surgery so you may need to visit a specialty hospital for this procedure.

In addition, your vet may strongly recommend that your dog lose weight. Excess weight can irritate a dog's back problems, especially when it has spinal stenosis.

Prognosis for Dogs With Spinal Stenosis

The prognosis for dogs with spinal stenosis is good, even if surgery is performed. The laminectomy should restore the functioning of the hind legs. Post-operative care includes medications to manage pain and inflammation and may also require physical rehabilitation, cold therapy laser, and various supplements. In many cases, the dog will need to continue on a course of pain relievers or anti-inflammatory medicine for an undetermined amount of time.

How to Prevent Spinal Stenosis

Since spinal stenosis is thought to be a genetic or congenital issue, the only way to help prevent it from occurring in dogs is to screen at-risk breeds for spinal issues prior to breeding them. X-rays of the backbone should be obtained to ensure there are no apparent abnormalities of the vertebrae in the breed you choose.