Discospondylitis is a bacterial or fungal infection of the intervertebral discs causing severe spinal pain, neurological deficits, and prolonged treatment that creates sustained welfare management challenges.
Discospondylitis causes severe, debilitating spinal pain that substantially impairs quality of life. Dogs cannot communicate the source or severity of their pain, and the condition can be mistaken for other disc conditions if not adequately investigated. The long treatment course - months of antibiotics - requires owner commitment while the dog remains in significant discomfort during the initial treatment phase. Regular pain assessment and adequate analgesia throughout treatment are essential welfare components that should not be underemphasized relative to the antimicrobial treatment.