Management of air rifle pellet injury at L2–L3 spinal cord segment in a dog

A dog was presented with the clinical signs of acute paraplegia with kyphosis of the lumbar vertebrae. Neurological examination of the lumbar region isolated the lesion at cranial lumbar vertebrae. Plain radiographs of lateral and ventrodorsal views and cisternal myelogram of the lumbar vertebrae revealed the presence of an air rifle pellet at the L2-L3 junction inside the vertebral canal with the compression of the spinal cord. Surgical decompression by mini-hemilaminectomy at L2-L3 vertebral junction was performed and the air rifle pellet was removed. Postoperatively the animal showed uneventful recovery by 4^th week.