Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Common spine birth defects in French Bulldogs, English Bulldogs
By Bertram, Simon et al.·Published in Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association·2019·Department of Clinical Science and Services, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Congenital malformations of the lumbosacral vertebral column are common in neurologically normal French Bulldogs, English Bulldogs, and Pugs, with breed-specific differences.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that many French Bulldogs, English Bulldogs, and Pugs have congenital (present at birth) malformations in their lower back that don’t always cause noticeable problems. In fact, over half of the dogs examined had some type of vertebral malformation, with Pugs showing a higher rate of a specific type called lumbosacral transitional vertebrae. These issues can be linked to how their tails are formed, with more severe tail malformations associated with certain vertebral problems. If you have one of these breeds, it’s important to discuss any back issues with your vet, especially if they show signs of discomfort or mobility problems.
People also search for: French Bulldog back problems · Pug congenital spine issues · English Bulldog tail malformation
Abstract
Congenital vertebral malformations are common findings on diagnostic imaging of the vertebral column in "screw-tailed" brachycephalic dogs. The aims of this study were to evaluate the prevalence and anatomical characteristics of lumbosacral congenital vertebral malformations in French Bulldogs, English Bulldogs, and Pugs presenting for problems unrelated to spinal disease, as well as possible associations with the degree of tail malformation, lumbosacral intervertebral disc herniation, or spondylosis deformans. In this retrospective cross-sectional study, CT scans of vertebrae L6 to S3 and of the coccygeal vertebrae were reviewed for type of congenital vertebral malformations (hemivertebrae, block vertebrae, lumbosacral transitional vertebrae, and spina bifida), lumbosacral intervertebral disc herniation, lumbosacral spondylosis deformans, and degree of tail malformation. In 76 (51.0%) of the 149 included dogs (53 French Bulldogs, 37 English Bulldogs, and 59 Pugs) at least one type of congenital vertebral malformations was found, with lumbosacral transitional vertebrae being the most common (34.2%). There was a significantly higher prevalence of lumbosacral transitional vertebrae (54.2%) and lower prevalence of hemivertebrae (1.7%) in Pugs compared to English (13.5% and 24.3%, respectively) and French Bulldogs (26.4% and 32.0%, respectively). Tail malformation was significantly more severe in dogs with evidence of hemivertebrae. Congenital vertebral malformations are a common finding in the lumbosacral vertebral column of French Bulldogs, English Bulldogs, and Pugs. These anatomical variances need to be considered when interpreting diagnostic studies and when planning for neurosurgical and neurodiagnostic procedures. Furthermore, this study suggests a possible association between the degree of tail malformation and lumbosacral hemivertebrae.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31050057/