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Treatment
Surgery can be helpful for cases involving narrowing of the spinal canal and decompression of the spinal cord. Secondary damage due to spinal compression may be avoided if surgical intervention takes place early on. If the spinal compression is diffuse or long-term, your dog may not respond to surgery. If your dog is showing neurological signs such as dizziness, seizures or paralysis postoperatively, restricted activity combined with physical therapy may be helpful.
radiopaque
Something that appears white or light grey on a radiograph
paresis
A type of paralysis that may be only slight; affects the way that an animal is able to move
myelography
The study of the spine after dye has been injected
stenosis
The act of making an opening narrower.
tailed
The term for an animal whose tail has been docked or removed
vertebra
A bone in the spinal column
thoracic
Pertaining to the chest
lordosis
The curve in the spine, usually associated with an animal being in estrous
dysplasia
A condition in which growth and development are not up to normal standards
atlas
The number one cervical vertebrae.
euthanasia
Inducing death on an animal or putting them to sleep
inheritance
Transmitting genes from parent to child
lateral
Moving or located away from the midline; located along the side
latent
Term used to refer to an infection that is present but has not yet begun to spread
ataxia
A medical condition in which an animal is unable to control the movements of their muscles; may result in collapse or stumbling.