Intervertebral disc disease (IDD): Instructions for radiography according to the Finnish Kennel Club protocol
Images available also: www.kennelliitto.fi/selkaohjeen-kuvat
Finnish Kennel Club’s spinal radiography protocol (pdf)
General instructions:
The dog must be sedated for the radiography and the microchip must be checked.
The radiographs must be marked permanently (e.g. lead tape) with the dog’s registration number or microchip number and the date of the radiography.
Radiographs:
In all images the spine must be parallel to the table without rotation of the spine. Use foam rubber supports (Figure 1). All disc spaces must be clearly visible.
At least 5 radiographs are needed:
- Lateral cervical spine (C1-C7) (Figure 2). The front limbs are pulled back. Centering in the mid cervical spine.
- Lateral cervico-thoracic junction (Figure 3). Centering in the C-T junction.
- Lateral thoracic spine = C7 – L1 covered preferably in one image (Figure 4).
- Lateral thoracic-lumbar junction (Figure 5). Centering in the T-L junction.
- Lateral lumbar spine = T13 – Cd1 covered preferably in one image (Figure 6). If this is not possible, two radiographs are made (T13 – L7 and L5 – Cd 1). The cranial border of the iliac bones can be used as a land mark for identification of the vertebrae.
Figure1 Positioning
 Figure 2 Cervical spine |  Figure 3 C-T junction |
 Figure 4 Thoracic spine |  Figure 5 T – L junction |
 Figure 6 Lumbar spine |