Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
French Bulldog puppy with painful back lump linked to spina bifida
By Kopke, Matthew A et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc·2019·School of Veterinary Science·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Dermoid sinus type VI associated with spina bifida and tethered cord syndrome in a French Bulldog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 4-month-old French Bulldog was brought to the vet because he was in pain and didn't want to move. The vet found a tubular structure on his back that was connected to deeper tissues. After imaging tests, they discovered he had a dermoid sinus (a type of skin defect) linked to spina bifida (a spinal cord issue) and tethered cord syndrome (where the spinal cord is abnormally attached). The dog underwent surgery to remove the sinus, and he fully recovered, showing no signs of pain or issues three months later.
People also search for: French Bulldog back pain · dog dermoid sinus treatment · spina bifida in puppies
Abstract
A 4-mo-old French bulldog was presented with acute onset pain and reluctance to move. A tubular structure arising in the dorsal thoracic midline and extending from a cutaneous orifice into deeper tissues was palpated on physical examination. Computed tomography with sinography revealed a dermoid sinus associated with spina bifida at the level of T3-T4. On surgical exploration, the dermoid sinus was found to communicate with the dura. Histology confirmed the diagnosis and classification as a type VI dermoid sinus. The pain response and hyperesthesia were suspected to be the result of tethered cord syndrome. Complete resolution of clinical signs was appreciated post-surgery, with the patient still free of clinical signs 3 mo later.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30734666/