Canine Intervertebral Disc Disease: The Current State of Knowledge

Intervertebral disc disease in dogs was first described in the late 1800s with a case report that puzzled over whether the cartilagenous mass within the vertebral canal of a dachshund could be related to the underlying intervertebral disc. Degeneration of intervertebral discs was recognized and described in detail in the 1940s and 1950s and since that time the seminal work of Hansen has imprinted types I and II intervertebral disc disease on every veterinarian. Due to the popularity of certain breeds of dog, intervertebral disc disease is by far the most common cause of canine paralysis and is treated on a daily basis by veterinarians. More recently, the advent of accessible magnetic resonance imaging and dramatic advances in molecular tools have led to expansion and refining of our categorization of intervertebral disc disease, understanding of the genetic risk factors, and improved ability to describe, quantify and treat the associated spinal cord injury.

In this Research Topic, we aim to cover the advances made in all aspects of canine
intervertebral disc degeneration from the genetic risk factors and the molecular processes involved to the diagnosis and treatment of the condition. We also want to include publications on the spinal cord injury that results from intervertebral disc degeneration and highlight the many clinical trials that have been run in recent years.

We are seeking publications that describe recent research advances while setting the
information squarely in the context of the clinical disease. We hope that this Research Topic will provide a forum for presentation of cutting edge, clinically relevant information.