The German Shepherd is among the breeds most prone to pathologies of the lumbosacral spine. The aim of the study was to examine how the presence of spine pathology affects the shape of the lumbar spine and dimensions of individual vertebrae. Mathematical analysis consisted of three measurements for each lumbar vertebra. Based on the analysis, it was concluded that there was a correlation between the height of the first five vertebrae and the occurrence of the lumbosacral transitional vertebra (LTV). It was also shown that spondylosis manifested most often with a change in the distance between individual lumbar vertebrae. There was no correlation between the incidence of spondylosis and the height of the vertebral canal. In conclusion, the presence of a LTV significantly changes the dimensions of other vertebrae in the lumbar spine, which can lead to other pathological changes in the vertebral column.

The lumbosacral region of the spine is the most susceptible to pathology in large breed dogs. The most common pathologies of this segment include intervertebral disc disease, distortion of vertebrae, narrowing of the lumbosacral canal and congenital defects of the spine. The aim of this study is to develop a mathematical model describing the height of each lumbosacral vertebra in the dog in relation to the position of the vertebra. For the mathematical analysis we used the results of two measurements for each lumbar vertebra. The first measurement was made from the top of the spinous process to the center of the spinal cord. The second measurement was made from the center of the body of one vertebra to the center of the body of the next one. It is possible to determine an approximate mathematical model that would be uniform for the entire species and would connect the height of the lumbar vertebrae with their location for every breed of the domestic dog. Despite the considerable differences in the constitutional type (small, medium and large breeds), the morphology of the lumbosacral region of the spine exhibits similar proportions. Therefore, it is possible to assess an anomaly of this spinal region objectively. These findings suggest that it is possible to determine an approximate mathematical model that would be uniform for the entire species. The present study was carried out as part of a larger project. This particular work is a pilot study.

The lumbosacral region of the spine is most susceptible to pathology in large breed dogs. The most common pathologies of this segment include intervertebral disk discopathy, distortion of vertebral vertebrae, narrowing of the lumbosacral canal and congenital defects of the spine. This area is most commonly affected by physical trauma or aging-related conditions leading to a wide range of symptoms, such as pain and loss of mobility.

Hemivertebra is a kind of changed vertebra in the spine characterized by uneven vertebral body formation, which can cause curvature of the spine. It is an inherited congenital defect found in both humans and animals. This defect occurs predominantly in brachycephalic breeds, such as French Bulldogs, English Bulldogs, Pugs, and Boston Terriers. The aim of the study was to analyze the prevalence and the degree of development of this pathology in a selected population of French Bulldogs (n = 58), English Bulldogs (n = 9), and Pugs (n = 14). The occurrence of hemivertebrae was evaluated on X-rays performed in lateral and ventral-dorsal projections. Depending on the dog’s size, the voltage ranged between 76 and 54 kV, and the current ranged between 16 and 20 mAs. Hemivertebrae were found in 73% of dogs. The largest number of them were found in French Bulldogs and the fewest in Pugs. In 14% of dogs with confirmed malformation, neurological symptoms occurred. This study indicates that hemivertebrae is a developmental disorder most common in French Bulldogs, and the least frequent in Pugs. However, Pugs, more often than other breeds evaluated here, were diagnosed with hemivertebrae causing neurological disorders. In the thoracic segment of the spine, a hemivertebra usually affects Th5, Th6, Th7, Th9, and Th10. Due to the large prevalence of wedge-shaped vertebrae in brachycephalic breeds, radiographic examination for the presence of this defect is recommended in breeding dogs. Further uncontrolled proliferation of this defect may permanently damage the gene pool of these breeds.