Perioperative epidural catheter analgesia as a component of a multimodal analgesic approach in a dog with thoracic hemivertebrae and kyphosis undergoing thoracic vertebral stabilisation

A 4-year-old, male, neutered French bulldog weighing 13.5 kg presented with urinary and faecal incontinence, progressive, non-painful paraparesis and pelvic limb proprioceptive ataxia. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a T12 constrictive myelopathy in association with multiple thoracic vertebral malformations, and mildly impinging thoracic intervertebral disc protrusions. Additionally, there was a sacral axial defect and degenerative lumbosacral stenosis. Surgical treatment comprised bilateral dorsal vertebral stabilisation of T9–T13. This case report summarises the peri-anaesthetic management, which included an ‘in-plane’ ultrasound-guided placement of an epidural catheter at the level of L3–L4 and advancement cranially to T12 as a component of a multimodal analgesic regimen. Following the cessation of postoperative epidural bupivacaine administration, the patient remained comfortable without requiring rescue analgesia, and was discharged within 24 hours of surgery. At the latest recheck 5 months after surgery, the dog's neurological status remained static. This technique and application remain unexplored in existing veterinary literature. © 2024 British Veterinary Association.