Prevalence and breed predisposition for spinal diseases in pugs and French bulldogs

Pugs and French bulldogs (FBDs) are commonly presented for spinal disease. The aim of this study was to define the most common spinal diseases in both breeds.

This was a monocentric retrospective study including pugs and FBDs presenting with clinical signs consistent with spinal disease between 2010 and 2022. The information collected included signalment, onset of clinical signs, presence of spinal pain, progression of clinical signs, presence of urinary or faecal incontinence and neurological examination findings.

A total of 439 FBDs with 448 diagnoses and 106 pugs with 125 diagnoses were included in the study. A total of 272 (62.0%) FBDs had an acute onset of clinical signs, and 79 pugs (74.5%) had a chronic onset. The most common disease in the FBD population was acute intervertebral disc extrusion, with 377 diagnoses (84.3%). The most common diagnoses among pugs were spinal arachnoid diverticula (SADs) (n = 30, 24.0%) and chronic intervertebral disc protrusion (n = 30, 24.0%).

This study was limited by its retrospective nature, meaning that there was not a standardised diagnostic protocol.

This study confirms that FBDs and pugs are affected by different spinal disorders. While FBDs are mostly affected by acute intervertebral disc extrusions, pugs are more often affected by SADs and chronic intervertebral disc protrusions.