Publication Database

Epidemiological study of congenital malformations of the vertebral column in French bulldogs, English bulldogs and pugs (2022)

Art

Zeitschriftenartikel / wissenschaftlicher Beitrag

Autoren

Lackmann, Felix (WE 20)

Forterre, Franck

Brunnberg, Leo (WE 20)

Loderstedt, Shenja

Quelle

Vet record : journal of the British Veterinary Association

Bandzählung: 190

Heftzählung: 1

Seiten: Artikel e509

ISSN: 0042-4900

Sprache

Englisch

Verweise

URL (Volltext): https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/vetr.509

DOI: 10.1002/vetr.509

Pubmed: 34021609

Kontakt

Klein- und Heimtierklinik

Oertzenweg 19 b
14163 Berlin
+49 30 838 62422
kleintierklinik@vetmed.fu-berlin.de

Abstract / Zusammenfassung

Background:
Congenital vertebral body malformations (CVBMs) have retro-spectively been investigated in British and American canine populations. Thisstudy prospectively evaluates occurrence, localization, type and characteris-tic of CVBM along the entire vertebral column in a cohort of French Bulldogs,English Bulldogs and Pug dogs from Germany.

Methods:
Prospective clinical and radiological screenings for CVBM wereperformed in brachycephalic dogs presented for reasons unrelated to neuro-logical problems. Neurological and orthopaedic examinations as well asradiographs in two orthogonal planes of the entire vertebral column includ-ing the tail were performed in all dogs. Cobb angle and vertebral stepwere determined. Associations between CVBM, tail malformation, neuro-logical deficits and occurrence of concurrent orthopaedic diseases wereinvestigated.

Results:
A total of 707 VBMs were identified in the whole vertebral columnof 169 of 265 brachycephalic dogs. The most common types of CVBMs wereventral wedge shape (48%), dorsal wedge shape (14%) and shortened verte-bral body (14%). A new type of malformation was investigated: dorsal wedgeshape vertebrae. There was significant association between severe tail malfor-mations with CVBM. Neurological deficits were significantly associated withventrolateral wedge shape, dorso lateral hemivertebrae, Cobb angle>30%and vertebral step≥1.75 mm. Orthopaedic conditions were not significantlyassociated with CVBM.

Conclusion:
Kyphotic Cobb angle and vertebral step are radiological findingsassociated with neurological deficits. We propose severe tail malformation asan easy and accurate selection factor for determining breeding dogs.