Background: In people with cervical spinal cord injury (SCI), swallowing dysfunction is common. Despite extensive research towards understanding development of dysphagia in people with cervical myelopathy, clinical documentation is lacking in dogs with cervical spinal cord disease. Hypothesis/
Objectives: Dogs with cervical intervertebral disc herniation (IVDH) will have evidence of dysphagia that improves post-operatively based on visual analog scale scoring (VAS), and subjective and objective videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS) metrics. Animals: Client-owned dogs with a presumptive diagnosis of cervical IVDH were offered enrollment
Methods: Each patient served as their own control in this prospective cohort study. Dogs of any breed or age diagnosed on neurologic examination with findings consistent with cervical IVDH and surgically treated were included. Dogs were assessed pre- and post-surgically (within 1 week and 1 month). At each time point, owners provided VAS scores, and VFSS metrics were obtained.
Results: Four dogs completed the study. Median (range) overall health VAS scores decreased (improved) in all 4 dogs from baseline 8.6 (5.1–10.0) to 1 month 1.1 (0.3–1.9). In 3/4 patients, gastrointestinal VAS scores decreased from baseline 2.7 (0–7.3) to 1 month 1.5 (0–3.1). VFSS abnormalities included penetration, aspiration, and pathologic aerophagia. These abnormalities resolved by 1-month. Comorbidities included hiatal hernia and gastroesophageal reflux. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Pilot findings documented dysphagia in dogs with cervical IVDH that improved post-operatively. Larger numbers of dogs and additional analyses will help characterize abnormalities that may improve management of dysphagia in dogs with spinal cord injury.
