Quiz: Disk Disease in Dogs & Cats

Katherine I. Crook, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology), Charleston Veterinary Referral Center

ArticleQuizLast Updated March 20181 min readPeer ReviewedWeb-Exclusive

A brown dachshund stands alert in a grassy field dotted with yellow flowers, showcasing its long body and short legs. The dog wears a brown collar and appears healthy and attentive, with its ears perked up and eyes focused on the surroundings.

Intervertebral disk disease (IVDD) is the most common cause of spinal cord injury in dogs and it can also occur in cats.^1,2 IVDD commonly occurs in dogs and can have profound consequences, including pain and weakness. In some cases, disk disease can lead to intervertebral disk herniation (ie, disk degeneration that results in abnormal displacement of the nucleus pulposus and/or annulus fibrosis into the spinal canal).