Vertebral and spinal malformations in small brachycephalic dog breeds: Current knowledge and remaining questions

Pug thoracolumbar myelopathy: vertebral instability, immune‐mediated disorder or a combination of factors?

“…As Rohdin and colleagues suggest, 3,11 it is even possible that hypoxia, similar to observations in human medicine, 17 associated with the brachycephalic conformation has a role to play in the development of spinal disorders in pugs.…”

“…1,2 Although respiratory concerns have been well-documented in these breeds, they are also prone to developing spinal disease. 3 Pugs in particular are vulnerable to chronic and complex spinal disorders. Some spinal disorders that have been associated with the pug breed are spinal arachnoid diverticulum, caudal articular process dysplasia (CAPD) and meningeal fibrosis or constrictive myelopathy.…”

“…Some spinal disorders that have been associated with the pug breed are spinal arachnoid diverticulum, caudal articular process dysplasia (CAPD) and meningeal fibrosis or constrictive myelopathy. 3,4 These conditions can result in characteristic clinical signs of a slowly progressive myelopathy localised to the T3-L3 spinal cord segments without obvious spinal hyperaesthesia, with or without incontinence, in pugs over seven years old. 4 The aetiology of these disorders are incompletely understood and are characterised by overlapping clinical, diagnostic imaging and pathological abnormalities.…”

“…4 The aetiology of these disorders are incompletely understood and are characterised by overlapping clinical, diagnostic imaging and pathological abnormalities. 3 This obviously complicates clinical decision making and has led to the introduction of the term 'pug dog myelopathy'. 4,5 Caudal articular process dysplasia is characterised by one or more vertebrae with absent (aplasia) or underdeveloped (hypoplasia) caudal articular processes.…”