Disk disease in animals
The spine of an animal is made up of over 30 bones,
called vertebra. Vertebrae are held together by ligaments
and muscles. Spinal muscles form a braided bundle that extends
from neck to tail. In between the vertebrae there is a cushion
made of an external portion (cartilage) and an internal liquid
portion. This cushion is called the intervertebral disk. The combination
of multiple bones joined by ligaments allows a strong but flexible
structure that allows bending in all directions. Intervertebral
disks absorb shock, protecting the spinal cord. Try stamping
your feet! The shock propagates throughout your body, just as
a wave induced by a pebble propagates across the surface of a pond.
Intervertebral disks crack and degenerate because of trauma,
aging, birth defects, or poor conformation. The disk may gradually
break and develop calcium deposits, losing the shock absorption
properties. Shock causes cumulative damage, inflammation, and
pain. Spinal muscles become tense and develop knots which
may be distant from a damaged disk. A vicious circle is established
where pain generates muscle tension, which contributes to the
rigidity of the spine, which generates further loss of shock absorption,
further damage, and pain.
Local inflammation in a damaged disk affects the roots of
the spinal nerves, causing interference in their domain. Occasionally
animals become lame in one of their limbs without any actual
lesion in the affected limb. In others the function of viscera,
such as the bladder or rectum, may be affected, causing urinary
or fecal incontinence. This is seen commonly in old dogs of
large breeds.
Conventional treatment for disk disease include: Non
Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), steroids,
and surgery (laminectomy).
In Dr. Moncayo's practice he has found acupuncture highly
effective for the treatment of disk disease in dogs. In fact,
this is perhaps the most successful application of acupuncture
in animals. Acupuncture has not only anti-inflammatory and
analgesic (pain killing) effects, but also stimulates the nerves
to re-establish their function.
