A 12-year-old female spayed mixed breed dog is presented for routine annual check-up.
A lateral plain radiograph is shown below.
Which clinical signs might the owner expect, based on the findings in the image?
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This dog has spondylosis deformans (SD) of the thoracolumbar spine which is not associated with neurologic deficits such as paresis or ataxia. Some dogs with this condition may have stiffness and occasionally discomfort.
This is a common finding with 25% to 70% of dogs affected, typically in middle to older-aged dogs. There is no clear correlation between SD and clinical signs. Typically an incidental radiographic finding.
SD is the noninflammatory formation of bony projections on the lateral and ventral surfaces of the vertebrae. They usually arise from the metaphyseal region of bone and often bridge the intervertebral disc space between vertebrae, as shown here.
