Intervertebral Disk Disease in 3 Striped Skunks (Mephitis mephitis)

OBJECTIVE: To describe diagnostic findings, surgical technique, and outcome in 3 striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) with a history of paraparesis. STUDY DESIGN: Case series. ANIMALS: Skunks (n = 3) with paraparesis. METHODS: Neurologic examination revealed upper motor neuron disease (T2–L2) in 2 sku...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Veterinary surgery 2014-07, Vol.43 (5), p.589-592
Main Authors: Krauss, Maximiljan W, Benato, Livia, Wack, Allison, McDonnell, John J, Schoemaker, Nico J, Westerhof, Ineke, Bronson, Ellen, Gielen, Ingrid, Van Caelenberg, Annemie, Hellebuyck, Tom, Meij, Björn P, De Decker, Steven
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal diseases
Animals
drug therapy
Female
image analysis
Intervertebral Disc Degeneration - diagnostic imaging
Intervertebral Disc Degeneration - surgery
Intervertebral Disc Degeneration - veterinary
Intervertebral Disc Displacement - diagnostic imaging
Intervertebral Disc Displacement - surgery
Intervertebral Disc Displacement - veterinary
Laminectomy - veterinary
magnetic resonance imaging
Male
Mammals
Mephitidae
Mephitis mephitis
Neurologic Examination - veterinary
pain
Radiography
skunks
surgery
Surgical outcomes
Thoracic Vertebrae
Veterinary medicine
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Summary:OBJECTIVE: To describe diagnostic findings, surgical technique, and outcome in 3 striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) with a history of paraparesis. STUDY DESIGN: Case series. ANIMALS: Skunks (n = 3) with paraparesis. METHODS: Neurologic examination revealed upper motor neuron disease (T2–L2) in 2 skunks and lower motor neuron disease (L3–S3) in 1 skunk. Diagnostic imaging included radiography, myelography, CT, and MRI and confirmed intervertebral disk herniation (IVDH) in each skunk. Because initial treatment with pain medication and cage rest did not result in lasting improvement, spinal surgery was performed. RESULTS: Hemilaminectomy (2 skunks) and dorsal laminectomy (1 skunk) was performed with removal of extruded disk material. The skunks improved after surgery but all had minor residual neurologic deficits when examined at various times postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Thoracolumbar intervertebral disk herniation occurs in skunks, and must be included in the differential diagnosis of paraparesis.
ISSN:0161-3499
1532-950X
DOI:10.1111/j.1532-950X.2014.12187.x