Hemivertebrae (Spinal Deformity Linked to the Screw Tail) in Dogs and Cats

Hemivertebrae (congenital vertebral malformation)

A congenital spinal deformity in which one or more vertebrae form as a wedge shape instead of their normal cylindrical shape, causing the spine to twist or bend. The same genetic trait responsible for the desirable “screw tail” in breeds like Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, Pugs, and Boston Terriers can also cause hemivertebrae higher up the spine, where it can compress the spinal cord.

Symptoms

Often no symptoms at all — many cases are discovered incidentally on X-rays
Weakness or wobbliness in the hind legs
Visible curvature of the spine (scoliosis)
Urinary or fecal incontinence
Back pain
Symptoms, when present, typically appear and worsen during puppyhood before leveling off once the spine stops growing

Causes

A congenital malformation of vertebral development
Directly linked to the genetics behind the “screw tail” trait, selectively bred for in Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, Pugs, and Boston Terriers
Also documented as an inherited trait in German Shorthaired Pointers and German Shepherds
Hemivertebrae in the tail itself is not a problem, since no spinal cord runs that far down

Treatments

Mild cases with no symptoms usually require no treatment at all
Rest and anti-inflammatory medication for mild spinal cord irritation
Surgery (spinal decompression and stabilization) for dogs with significant spinal cord compression and progressive symptoms
Anesthesia for surgery carries extra risk in these breeds, since they’re often also affected by BOAS

This condition is common in the following Dogs & Cats

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