AbstractPercutaneous holmium yttrium aluminum garnet (Ho:YAG) laser ablation of the nucleus pulposus of thoracolumbar discs in dogs as a prophylactic procedure for prevention of catastrophic intervertebral disc protrusion/extrusion has been utilized at Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences (CVHS) since 1992. Over 400 animals have been treated using percutaneous laser disc ablation (PLDA) with minimal post-treatment complications and a decreased rate of neurologic recurrence. The purpose of this summary is to provide a brief historical background of this minimally invasive procedure as well as its current status in clinical practice in the USA.