Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Kyphosis and scoliosis from thoracic spine birth defects in dogs
By Dewey, Curtis W et al.·Published in The Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice·2016·Department of Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Kyphosis and Kyphoscoliosis Associated with Congenital Malformations of the Thoracic Vertebral Bodies in Dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A small-breed dog with a noticeable hunch in its back was diagnosed with congenital malformations of the thoracic vertebrae, which caused kyphosis (curvature of the spine) and scoliosis (sideways curvature). These issues can lead to neurological problems, but many cases are mild and go unnoticed. For dogs that require surgery to correct these spinal deformities, the outlook is generally positive, with many dogs recovering well after treatment.
People also search for: dog back problems · small breed dog kyphosis treatment · congenital spine issues in dogs
Abstract
Congenital malformations of the thoracic vertebral bodies are commonly encountered in veterinary practice. These anomalies are prevalent in juvenile and adult small-breed dogs. These anomalous vertebrae typically result in various degrees of kyphosis and scoliosis in the region of the abnormality. They are thought to occur following developmental errors during embryonic or fetal vertebral segmentation and ossification; most are incidental. This article focuses on those anomalies of the thoracic vertebral bodies that lead to clinical signs of neurologic dysfunction. Based on a limited number of reported cases, the prognosis for surgically managed dogs with thoracic vertebral body abnormalities is favorable.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26704660/