CT Imaging of Canine Cervical Spine

All dogs underwent general anesthesia and received the same anesthesia protocol during the whole procedure. The patients received a peripheral intravenous catheter in one of the saphena lateralis veins. Anesthesia was induced with diazepam (Ziapam, 5 mg/ml, Ecuphar, Belgium) 0.5 mg/kg IV and propofol (Narcofol, 10 mg/ml, cp-pharma, Germany) IV titrated to effect. After endotracheal intubation of the animal, anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane (Isofluran CP, 1 ml/ml, cp-pharma, Germany) 1–3 Vol% and oxygen. All dogs were positioned in standardized ventral recumbency, with their front limbs extended caudally to achieve optimal visualization of the entire cervical spine. Hartmann et al. positioned dogs in dorsal recumbency, with their legs extended cranially (1 (link)). CT scans were performed from the head to T2 using a 16-slice helical CT scanner (Aquilion®, Canon medical systems GmbH, Germany).