What Is Cervical Slot Surgery on a Dog?

A cervical slot surgery is a highly invasive procedure designed to alleviate a dog's neck pain caused by vertebrae that are slipped out of alignment in the spinal column. A dog undergoing this surgery requires extensive postoperative care for several weeks to avoid any reherniation of vertebral discs.

  1. Susceptible Breeds

    • Short-legged breeds with elongated spines and shorter, stubbier necks experience a greater incidence of this type of neck injury. These breeds include basset hounds, beagles, corgis, dachshunds, Lhasa apsos, Pekingese and shih tzus. Medium-size dogs such as cocker spaniels and poodles as well as the Doberman pinscher, a larger dog, are also prone to this type of neck injury.

    Causes

    • Physical trauma, such as being hit by a vehicle, is one cause for neck pain in a dog. However, as most dogs brought to veterinary clinics suffering from this disorder are in their middle to advanced years, aging combined with the degeneration of the vertebrae is the leading cause for this condition. As a dog ages, the intervertebral discs that work as cushions between the vertebrae and the spinal cord begin to deteriorate. The outer ring of the intervertebral disc that was once fibrous and firm can tear. This leaves the once-soft inner ring vulnerable to hardening, impairing its ability to act as a cushion, allowing debris to float in the space between the spinal column and the vertebrae, causing pain when it touches spinal nerves.

    Surgery

    • Cervical slot surgery, which aims to remove debris, involves cutting a hole or slot on both sides of the outer spinal column near the vertebrae with the deteriorating intervertebral discs. The surgeon then removes the destroyed material. This is a complex surgery that should be performed by a specialist.

    Recovery

    • Most dogs undergoing this surgery spend at least three days recovering at the veterinary clinic. In some severe cases with long-lasting or extensive compression, the dog may require up to 10 days of continuous monitoring by professional staff. Once home, canine neck surgery patients should be restricted to cage rest anywhere from four to six weeks, depending on their progress. Some dogs continue to experience clumsiness and difficulty defecating or urinating while recovering. This can put an additional care burden on human companions, who should prepare for the high level of commitment required to allow for complete recovery.

    Laser Surgery

    • Researchers at Oklahoma State University's Center for Veterinary Health Services are posting encouraging results from laser surgeries to alleviate back pain in the spinal columns of several breeds of dogs. Since 1993, more than 300 dogs have undergone laser disc ablation surgery, in which seven needles are inserted through the skin near the location of seven different discs. An X-ray is taken to verify that the needles are placed correctly and are entering the center of the intervertebral discs. A laser fiber is then sent through the needle to the center of the disc. This liquefies the disc, and scar tissue begins to form immediately, eliminating a recurrence. Researchers hope to investigate the application of this laser technology to the neck area in the future.