Predictors of urinary or fecal incontinence in dogs with thoracolumbar acute non‐compressive nucleus pulposus extrusion

BACKGROUND: Urinary (UI) and fecal (FI) incontinence occur in up to 7.5% and 32% of dogs, respectively, after thoracolumbar acute noncompressive nucleus pulposus extrusion (ANNPE). HYPOTHESES/OBJECTIVES: To investigate clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic predictors of UI and FI in dogs with ANNPE affecting the T3‐L3 spinal cord segments. ANIMALS: Hundred and eighty‐seven dogs with T3‐L3 ANNPE diagnosed based on clinical and MRI findings. METHODS: Multicenter retrospective study. Data were obtained from medical records and telephone questionnaires and analyzed by logistic regression. RESULTS: UI and FI were reported in 17 (9.1%) and 44 (23.5%) dogs, respectively. Paraplegic dogs were 3 times (95% CI = 1.25, 10.87) more likely to develop UI (P = .018) and 4 times (95% CI = 1.94, 12.56) more likely to develop FI (P = .001) compared to nonparaplegic dogs. Dogs with an intramedullary hyperintensity greater than 40% of the cross‐sectional area of the spinal cord at the same level on transverse T2‐weighted MRI images were 4 times more likely to develop UI (95% CI = 1.04, 21.72; P = .045) and FI (95% CI = 1.56, 10.39; P = .004) compared to dogs with smaller lesions. FI was 3 times (95% CI = 1.41, 7.93) more likely in dogs that were not treated with nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) after diagnosis compared to dogs administered NSAIDs (P = .006) and 2 times (95% CI = 1.12, 5.98) more likely in dogs presented with clinical signs compatible with spinal shock compared to dogs without (P = .026). CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The identification of clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic predictors of UI and FI in dogs with T3‐L3 ANNPE can help to approach these autonomic dysfunctions occurring after spinal cord injury.