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Vertebral Malformation
  • Description
  • Signalment
  • Clinical Features
  • Neurolocalization
  • Genetics
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This disease is characterized by vertebral malformations. Examples include block vertebrae, hemi-vertebrae, or butterfly vertebrae. Neurologic signs occur as a result of spinal cord compression secondary to abnormal vertebral morphology. Compression primarily occurs along the dorsal and lateral aspects of the spinal cord, but can occur anywhere.
Age of Onset: Any age can be affected
Sex Predisposition: Any sex of animal can be affected
Clinical Course:
​Variable – may progress over time
Clinical Signs:
Posture and Appearance
Cervical scoliosis

Movement
Ataxia
Cervical torticollis
Hypermetria
Hyperreflexia
Paresis
Tetraparesis (ambulatory and non-ambulatory)

Proprioception
Proprioceptive deficits

Spinal Reflexes
Hyperreflexive or absent spinal reflexes

Special Functions (e.g. respiration; urination)
Fecal incontinence
Urinary incontinence

Painful Reactions
Cervical hyperesthesia

​Other
Vetebral malformations have shown some association with the development of discospondylitis (Grapes et al., 2024)​​
Spinal cord
Autosomal revessive DVL2 gene mutation associated with screw-tailed phenotype and association with formaiton of vertebral malformations

For breed specific genetic testing follow the link below: 
labogen.com/en/genetic-diseases-dog/robinow-like-syndrome-dvl2/#:~:text=In%20English%20Bulldogs%2C%20French%20Bulldogs,contributes%20to%20the%20brachycephalic%20p​
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