Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Contents -- Contributors -- Foreword: Rick LeCouteur -- Foreword: Mark D. Markel -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Section I Intervertebral Disc Structure and Function -- Chapter 1 Embryology, Innervation, Morphology, Structure, and Function of the Canine Intervertebral Disc -- Introduction -- Embryology of the IVD -- Innervation of the IVD -- IVD morphology, structure, and function -- References -- Chapter 2 Biomechanics of the Intervertebral Disc and Why Do Discs Displace? -- Biomechanical function of the healthy intervertebral disc -- Biomechanical failure of the IVD -- Displacement of the IVD in CD dogs -- Displacement of the IVD in NCD dogs -- References -- Chapter 3 Comparisons between Biped (Human) and Quadruped (Canine/Feline) Intervertebral Disc Disease -- Anatomy and gross pathology -- Biomechanics -- Histology and histopathology -- Biochemical -- Diagnostic imaging -- Acute spinal cord injury -- Surgical treatment -- References -- Section II Disc Disease: Degenerative and other Pathology -- Chapter 4 Historical and Current Nomenclature Associated with Intervertebral Disc Pathology -- Introduction -- A brief history of nomenclature for intervertebral disc displacement in dogs -- Modern nomenclature -- A subclassification of IVDH -- Conclusions -- References -- Chapter 5 What Do We Know about the Incidence of Disc Disease in Chondrodystrophoid Dogs? -- Definitions -- Epidemiologic studies of disc disease in dogs -- Conclusions and clinical implications -- References -- Chapter 6 Feline Intervertebral Disc Disease -- Introduction -- Etiology -- Pathogenesis -- Conclusions -- Note -- References -- Chapter 7 Is "Wobbler" Disease Related to Disc Disease? -- Introduction -- Etiology -- Pathogenesis -- Diagnostic imaging -- Treatment -- References -- Chapter 8 Spondylosis Deformans -- Spondylosis deformans.

DISH -- Osteoarthritis of the facet joints -- Baastrup's sign -- References -- Chapter 9 What is Fibrocartilaginous Embolism and Is It Related to IVDD? -- Overview -- Pathophysiology -- Clinical presentation -- Differential diagnoses -- Diagnosis -- Diagnostic investigations -- Treatment -- Prognosis -- References -- Section III Clinical Features of Intervertebral Disc Disease and Important Differentials -- Chapter 10 History, Neurologic Examination, and Neuroanatomic Localization for Spinal Cord and Nerve Root Disease -- History -- Physical examination -- Neurologic examination -- Neuroanatomic localization -- Conclusions -- References -- Chapter 11 Deep Pain: How Should We Test and Interpret Nociception? -- Pain versus nociception -- Neuroanatomy -- Testing pain perception -- Reliability of clinical testing of pain perception -- Electrophysiologic testing -- What are the implications of "loss of deep pain"? -- References -- Chapter 12 Ascending/Descending Myelomalacia Secondary to Intervertebral Disc Herniation -- Clinical features of ascending/descending myelomalacia -- Epidemiology -- Neuropathology -- Pathogenesis -- Acknowledgment -- References -- Chapter 13 Traumatic Disc Extrusions -- Pathophysiology -- Clinical presentation -- Diagnosis -- Treatment -- Outcome and prognosis -- References -- Chapter 14 "Discogenic" Pain (Signs Associated With Disc Degeneration But Without Herniation): Does It Occur? -- References -- Chapter 15 Compressive and Contusive Spinal Cord Injury Secondary to Intervertebral Disc Displacement: A Clinical Perspective -- What determines the relative degrees of compression and contusion when a disc herniates? -- References -- Chapter 16 Advances in Imaging for Intervertebral Disc Disease -- Introduction -- Radiography -- Myelography -- Computed tomography -- CT myelography -- Magnetic resonance imaging -- Conclusion.

References -- Chapter 17 The Role of Nonimaging-Based Diagnostic Studies for Intervertebral Disc Herniation -- Introduction -- CSF analysis: Typical findings in IVDH -- CSF biomarkers: Novel biomarkers may provide important prognostic information -- Electrophysiology -- Conclusions -- References -- Chapter 18 Recurrent Intervertebral Disc Herniation -- Early recurrence -- Late recurrence -- Conclusions -- References -- Chapter 19 When Should Dogs Be Referred for Imaging and Surgery? -- Should I take plain radiographs of patients in which I suspect have IVDH? -- Examples -- Conclusions -- References -- Chapter 20 Discospondylitis and Related Spinal Infections in the Dog and Cat -- Introduction -- Definitions -- Pathophysiology -- History and clinical signs -- Risk factors -- Imaging -- Identifying the organism -- Treatment -- Summary -- References -- Chapter 21 Neoplasias Mimicking Intervertebral Disc Herniation -- Introduction -- Neoplasia sharing embryonic origin within the intervertebral disc: Chordoma -- Neoplasms mimicking IVDH: Tumors of the surrounding vertebrae -- Neoplasms mimicking disc displacement: Tumors of the epidural space -- Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 22 Client Communications When Confronted with a Patient with Suspected Intervertebral Disc Herniation -- Imaging -- Crate/cage rest -- Paretic or paralyzed patients -- References -- Section IV Nonsurgical and Adjunctive Medical Management of IVDD -- Chapter 23 Steroid Use in Intervertebral Disc Disease -- Introduction -- Pathophysiology -- Justification of steroid use based on human literature -- Animal models/studies -- Current uses and recommendations -- Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 24 Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs, Muscle Relaxants, Opioids, and Other Treatments for Primary and Adjunctive Medical Management of Intervertebral Disc Herniation.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs -- Acetaminophen (paracetamol) -- Muscle relaxants -- Opioids -- Gabapentin and pregabalin -- Amantadine -- TCAs -- Summary -- Conclusions -- References -- Chapter 25 Neuroprotective Treatments for Acute Spinal Cord Injury Associated with Intervertebral Disc Herniation -- Introduction -- Animal models: The first step -- Clinical trials -- Neuroprotectives studied in models -- Outcomes in dogs with IVDH -- Available clinical trial data in dogs with IVDH -- Conclusions -- References -- Chapter 26 The Use of Discography and Nucleolysis in Dogs -- Discography -- Nucleolysis -- Chemical prophylactic fenestration -- Nucleolysis and spondylomyelopathy in Doberman pinschers -- References -- Chapter 27 Medical Management and Nursing Care for the Paralyzed Patient -- Bladder management -- Defecation -- Hydration and nutrition -- Recumbency and decubital sores -- Respiratory care -- Summary -- References -- Section V Surgical Management of Intervertebral Disc Herniation -- Chapter 28 What Constitutes Spinal Cord Decompression? -- Chapter 29 General Principles of Spinal Surgery for Intervertebral Disc Herniation -- Goals -- Procedures -- Instrumentation -- Decompression -- Fenestration -- Closure -- References -- Chapter 30 Cervical Disc Disease: Ventral Slot versus Hemilaminectomy versus Dorsal Laminectomy -- Introduction -- Ventral approach and ventral slot -- Dorsal approach and dorsal laminectomy -- Dorsal approach and hemilaminectomy -- Lateral approach and hemilaminectomy -- Modified dorsal approach and hemilaminectomy -- Selection of surgical procedure -- References -- Chapter 31 Thoracolumbar Disc Disease: Dorsal Approaches versus Lateral versus Ventral Approaches. What to Do If I'm on the Wrong Side or Site (Level)? -- Wrong site/level -- Wrong side -- Conclusions -- References.

Chapter 32 Lumbosacral Disc Disease:: Is Vertebral Stabilization Indicated? -- Introduction -- Functional anatomy and clinical signs -- Etiology -- Pathogenesis -- Decompressive laminectomy -- LS foraminotomy -- References -- Chapter 33 The Rationale for Durotomy in Surgical Treatment of Intervertebral Disc Disease -- Introduction -- Effects of durotomy on outcome -- Durotomy to assess prognosis -- Risks of durotomy -- References -- Chapter 34 What Should Cover the Bone Defect after Laminectomy/Hemilaminectomy? -- Healing of laminectomies -- Materials used to cover the laminectomy -- Recommendations -- References -- Chapter 35 Pros and Cons of Prophylactic Fenestration:: Arguments in Favor -- References -- Chapter 36 Pros and Cons of Prophylactic Fenestration: The Potential Arguments Against -- References -- Chapter 37 Use of Lasers in Veterinary Surgery and Percutaneous Laser Disc Ablation -- Introduction -- Percutaneous laser disc ablation -- Use of lasers in rehabilitation of the canine IVDD patient -- Conclusion -- Notes -- References -- Chapter 38 Physical Rehabilitation for the Paralyzed Patient -- Introduction -- Patient evaluation and establishment of a prognosis -- Goals of rehabilitation therapy -- Development of a rehabilitation program -- Assessment of patient outcome -- Carts -- Summary -- Note -- References -- Section VI Future Directions -- Chapter 39 Minimally Invasive Techniques for Spinal Cord and Nerve Root Decompression -- Introduction -- Learning to perform MIS procedures -- Minimally invasive procedures commonly performed in human neurosurgery -- Minimally invasive procedures performed in veterinary neurosurgery -- Conclusions -- References -- Chapter 40 Will There be a Role for Disc Prostheses in Small Animals? -- Introduction -- Comparison of DAWS in people and in dogs -- Benefits of cervical disc arthroplasty.

Complications with cervical disc arthroplasty.