Scientific Title: Canine Paraspinal Muscle Biomechanical and Physiological Properties Related to Intervertebral Disc Disorders
Study Investigators: Drs Alex Chan, Fiona James and Stephen Brown
Graduate Student: Josh Briar (PhD)
Purpose of the Clinical Study
Spinal degeneration causes pain and disability in both dogs and humans with treatment often involving surgery. Because spinal degeneration is associated with the degeneration and dysfunction of spinal muscles, these muscles are a prime target for patient rehabilitation strategies. In humans and dogs, we do not fully understand how these muscles degenerate and the impact of these changes on muscle function. The research team is working closely with human clinicians and recruiting both humans and dogs into this comparative study!
Is Your Pet Eligible?
Dogs with a confirmed diagnosis of acute disk herniation and/or intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) undergoing MRI and standard of care surgery.
Visits / Samples Required
Only 1 visit is required for this study, samples will be collected on the day of your dog’s surgery.
Standard of care surgery includes a partial cut down of the spinal muscles allowing the surgeons to access the intervertebral disc (IVD). During this process, a small piece of muscle (up to 1cm) will be collected for the study. In addition, pieces of the disk that would normally be discarded will be collected.