Vertebral malformations in brachycephalic breeds

Vertebral malformations

For the examination of vertebral malformations, a lateral radiographic view of the cervical and thoracic spine, as well as the thoracic and lumbar spine, is necessary. The entire cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine, including the tail, must be fully visible. The minimum age is 12 months. Sedation or short anesthesia is not mandatory. However, radiation protection rules must be strictly followed. The evaluation is carried out exclusively by the dysplasia commission in Bern.

The submission of documents is done similarly to other dysplasia evaluations via the PetHealthData platform. It is described in detail under the Dysplasia Document section

Projections

• For both projections, the thoracolumbar junction must be included in the image.
• A rotation around the longitudinal axis complicates interpretation and must be avoided. The images are not rotated when the rib heads and transverse processes from both sides overlap.