Open spina bifida characterisation in a dog foetus

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Developmental Biology
• Comparative Pathology

Background:

• Open spina bifida is a rare congenital malformation in animals, with limited documented cases in dogs.
• Existing literature lacks comprehensive imaging, clinical, and pathological descriptions of this condition in canine populations.

Observation:

• A Poodle presented with twin pregnancy, where one fetus exhibited signs suggestive of vertebral malformation and open spina bifida with myelomeningocele.
• Post-natal examination revealed a dorsal midline cutaneous defect and congenital vertebral anomalies affecting multiple spinal segments and the scapula.

Findings:

• Histopathological analysis confirmed open spina bifida and identified concurrent abnormalities in various internal organs.
• The study provides a complete characterization of canine open spina bifida, integrating pre-natal imaging with post-mortem anatomical and histopathological findings.

Implications:

• This case report establishes a precedent for diagnosing and characterizing open spina bifida in dogs.
• The detailed findings contribute valuable data to veterinary neurology and teratology, aiding future research and clinical understanding of spinal malformations.