Dogs can suffer from disorders impacting any part of the nervous system, including the brain and peripheral nerves as well as the spine. Spine problems in dogs fall into a variety of classes. For instance, some are degenerative in nature, while others are caused by cancer or injury.
A type of degenerative spinal disorder, a condition called “intervertebral disk disease” results in the deterioration of the spinal column, which in turn puts pressure on the spinal cord. In particular, small dogs exhibiting spinal cord symptoms are often suffering from intervertebral disk disease. In these dogs, degeneration may begin early in life, with severe symptoms presenting at around 1 or 2 years old.
Tumors, if they grow near the spine, can also cause serious neurological issues in dogs. For instance, in cases of spinal cord neoplasia, tumors press against the spinal cord and do serious damage to nerve tissues.