This is the letter I wrote to JAVMA (Journal of the American Vet Med Ass.) which they would not publish. I still strongly believe however that every pet owner should be informed, by their veterinarian, about every available treatment option. 

Watching the decline of your pet’s physical and/or mental health after years of vitality can be heart wrenching.  We often have fond memories of watching Fido playing fetch or watching Fluffy race around the house in apparent glee. 

The intervertebral discs (the cushion that resides in the space between adjacent spinal vertebrae) are subject to a number of degenerative conditions and forces that predispose them to bulge or rupture over time. This rupture leads to two types of damage to the spinal cord, compression and concussion.