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Diskospondylitis
Diskospondylitis is infection of the intervertebral disk and adjacent vertebral bodies. Unlike spondylosis, it is painful and requires aggressive antibiotic treatment.
Key Facts
- Bacterial or fungal infection of the disk space and vertebral endplates
- Most common bacterial cause: Staphylococcus; fungal causes include Aspergillus, Brucella
- Signs: back pain, reluctance to move, fever, stiffness, weight loss; can progress to paralysis
- Infection reaches the spine via bloodstream from distant sites (UTI, dental disease, skin infections)
- Diagnosis: X-rays show characteristic bone destruction at disk space; blood cultures, urine cultures
- Treatment: long-term antibiotics (6-12 months) based on culture results
- Prognosis: good with early detection and appropriate antibiotics; guarded if neurological deficits present
- Species: dogs (primarily); rare in cats