Disease overview

Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), Type I, is a condition involving the nucleus pulposus, which acts as a cushion between vertebrae. This disease can cause compression on the spinal cord after trauma or injury to the discs.

Gene name

FGF4retrogeneinCFA12

Inheritance

Autosomal dominant

Signs and symptoms

Signs of IVDD may include pain, changes in gait, and paralysis. Depending on the level of compression, signs vary in severity as well as presentation.

How is it diagnosed

A veterinarian will conduct a thorough exam, including a review of health history and any clinical signs. Radiographs can assess narrowed intervertebral disc space. A neurological exam can help determine the severity of the disease. Genetic testing is necessary to determine if there is an underlying genetic cause, which can assist veterinarians with diagnosis and help breeders identify affected and carrier dogs.

Breeds at higher risk

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Citations

Dickinson PJ, Bannasch DL. Current Understanding of the Genetics of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration. Front Vet Sci. 2020 Jul 24;7:431. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00431. PMID: 32793650; PMCID: PMC7393939.

Bannasch D, Batcher K, Leuthard F, Bannasch M, Hug P, Marcellin-Little DJ, Dickinson PJ, Drögemüller M, Drögemüller C, Leeb T. The Effects of FGF4 Retrogenes on Canine Morphology. Genes (Basel). 2022 Feb 10;13(2):325. doi: 10.3390/genes13020325. PMID: 35205370; PMCID: PMC8872533.

Brown EA, Dickinson PJ, Mansour T, Sturges BK, Aguilar M, Young AE, Korff C, Lind J, Ettinger CL, Varon S, Pollard R, Brown CT, Raudsepp T, Bannasch DL. FGF4 retrogene on CFA12 is responsible for chondrodystrophy and intervertebral disc disease in dogs. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2017 Oct 24;114(43):11476-11481. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1709082114. Epub 2017 Oct 11. PMID: 29073074; PMCID: PMC5664524.

Batcher K, Dickinson P, Giuffrida M, Sturges B, Vernau K, Knipe M, Rasouliha SH, Drögemüller C, Leeb T, Maciejczyk K, Jenkins CA, Mellersh C, Bannasch D. Phenotypic Effects of FGF4 Retrogenes on Intervertebral Disc Disease in Dogs. Genes (Basel). 2019 Jun 7;10(6):435. doi: 10.3390/genes10060435. PMID: 31181696; PMCID: PMC6627552.

Murphy BG, Dickinson P, Marcellin-Little DJ, Batcher K, Raverty S, Bannasch D. Pathologic Features of the Intervertebral Disc in Young Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers Confirms Chondrodystrophy Degenerative Phenotype Associated With Genotype. Vet Pathol. 2019 Nov;56(6):895-902. doi: 10.1177/0300985819868731. Epub 2019 Sep 16. PMID: 31526126.

Disclaimer

Disease diagnosis and treatment should always be performed by a veterinarian. The following information is for educational purposes only.