Texas A&M Professor Offers New, Affordable Treatment for Herniated Discs in Dogs

Dr. Nick Jeffery, a neurology and neurosurgery professor at Texas A&M’s Small Animal Teaching Center, has developed a new, affordable treatment for dogs with herniated discs, which is an alternative to costly and invasive spinal surgery. Traditional surgery can require deep incisions, intensive recovery, and costs of $8,000–$10,000, leading some owners to consider euthanasia. Jeffery, collaborating with a University of Cambridge colleague, is testing enzyme injections that dissolve problematic disc material. The treatment, launched in a clinical trial in January 2023, has shown results comparable to surgery. It involves injecting enzymes into four consecutive disc spaces, requiring only a few small needle punctures and typically costing around $1,000.

Texas A&M is currently the only site offering the procedure, with plans to train veterinarians nationwide if success continues. Eligible dogs must be small, under 33 pounds, significantly affected in mobility, and live within driving distance of College Station. The promising approach could greatly expand access to lifesaving care.