The cauda equine syndrome in dogs: literature review

Abstract

The theme of this article is the equine tail syndrome in dogs with emphasis on treatment of the disease. The equine tail is a set of nerve roots that descends through the spinal meatus to the end of the spinal cord. This syndrome strikes mainly in large dogs. There are many degrees of involvement of hindlimbs, bladder, anal sphincter and tail, with clinical signs that vary from flabbiness until loss of the power of voluntary motion of the hindlimbs. The most authors recommend surgery by using Laminectomy, however, the conservative treatment is not ruled out. Veterinary medicine uses alternative treatment as (physioterapy), acupuncture and Chiropraxy associated to conventional treatments.