Congenital and developmental malformations of the vertebral column range from incidental findings on a thoracic radiograph to lesions that compress the spinal cord and paralyse the dog. Three patterns matter most for the exam: thoracic hemivertebrae in screw-tailed brachycephalic breeds, atlantoaxial instability in young toy breeds, and cervical spondylomyelopathy (wobbler syndrome) in large and giant breeds. The skill being tested is the same in each: match the signalment and neurological localisation to the lesion, and know when a malformation is relevant rather than incidental.
Key facts
Congenital spinal malformation (hemivertebrae, cervical spondylomyelopathy, etc.) at a glance- Species and system: dog; vertebral column and spinal cord.
- Thoracic hemivertebrae: French Bulldog, English Bulldog, Boston Terrier, Pug; very common and usually incidental; clinically relevant ones cause kyphosis and a T3-L3 myelopathy.
- Atlantoaxial instability (AAI): young toy breeds; dens or ligament defects; neck pain and C1-C5 myelopathy.
- Cervical spondylomyelopathy (CSM, wobbler): disc-associated form in middle-aged Dobermans; osseous-associated form in young giant breeds; "two-engine" gait.
- Imaging: radiographs show the bones; MRI shows whether the cord is compressed; CT gives the best bony detail for surgical planning.
- Not zoonotic and not reportable. Several malformations are inherited, which matters for breeding advice.
What's inside
12 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnoses
- Treatment and management
- Prevention
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
Read the full study guide
The full guide is part of every NAVLE plan, with diagnosis and treatment tables, figures, a quick review and self-test questions. Start a free trial to try the question bank, or log in if you are already a member.