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Severe Respiratory Compromise Secondary to Cervical Disk Herniation in Two Dogs

From the Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences (Kube), University of California, Davis, California 95616 and the VCA West Los Angeles Animal Hospital (Owen, Hanson), 1818 South Sepulveda Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90025.

Two dogs presented with acute tetraparesis, hypoventilation, and bradycardia with a second-degree atrioventricular heart block. Neurological examination localized both lesions to the cervical spine. Diagnostic imaging revealed a ventral extradural compression at the second to third cervical (C₂–C₃) region in one dog and at the third to fourth cervical (C₃–C₄) region in the other. Following surgical correction of the extruded disk, the hypoventilation and bradycardia resolved. Cervical disk extrusions are a common cause of acute tetraparesis in the dog. This report shows that respiratory and cardiac complications may occur concurrently. The authors recommend screening dogs with cervical myelopathies for respiratory and cardiac dysfunctions and treating appropriately. Prompt surgical intervention and supportive care can improve the prognosis.