My Pug has hemivertebrae. What are the symptoms and treatment options?

Thank you for more information on Boogie! Hemivertebrae can be common in brachycephalic (short nosed) dogs such as the French Bulldog. It is when the bones of the spinal column are abnormally shaped. This leads to the bones not aligning correctly with their neighboring bones, and this in turn causes damage and compression of the spinal nerves. This isn't something that correct itself as he grows unfortunately. It most commonly affects young dogs because the problems arise as their skeleton grows. Without surgery, the skeletal deformity is permanent. It is best that Boogie has the MRI as soon as possible so this condition can be definitely diagnosed and he can be treated. This condition can severely limit both the quality and length of life, so it's important to have it diagnosed early so it can be treated as needed. I hope this helps!

Injuries to the spine or muscles/nerves in the back can sometimes cause symptoms similar to what you are seeing, and pain meds and anti-inflammatory medications are often the first-line treatment for this to help reduce any swelling and let the area heal. Keeping Voodoo calm, quiet, and on leashed-only potty walks may also help with the healing process. If her symptoms are worsening, don't improve with the medication, or she seems in bad pain or distress, taking her back to the vet for additional exam and treatment may be needed.

This is most suggestive of lower spine injury. This is not uncommon in older dogs, where the vertebral canal, or intervertebral disks can pinch the nerve. Treatment is possible depending on the cause of this, so I recommend taking Bandit to the vet for an evaluation. They should be able to identify the cause of this and at-least get him started on medication to relieve pain and hopefully the mobility and incontinence issues. I hope that helps and all is well with Bandit.

Hello, sorry to hear about Paddy. It sounds like Paddy may have a back or neck injury either from a slipped disk or a inflammation. I would recommend restricting his activity and not allow any running, jumping, or rough housing as this can exacerbate any injury until you can see your primary care veterinarian. Monitor for any worsening signs of weakness in his back legs and if you see any of these then have him evaluated sooner. Hope this helps and best of luck.

I would recommend referral to an orthopedic or neurology specialist in order to correctly determine the underlying cause and to establish a management program going forward to maintain her mobility in the future; the longer this goes untreated the greater chance of permanent changes that may not respond to treatment. Weight management, antiinflammatory medications and diets specifically formulated for joint health and mobility (royal canin mobility / hills joint care) are recommended and acupuncture or chiropractic care may also help with the symptoms

There can be many things that could cause this, the most common would be muscle sprain or strain in the hips or back. However, in the case of a Pug (or any breed the a short nose or a very long back) is more prone to having Intervertebral Disc Disease (or IVDD). Mild symptoms associated with a disc issue can present like a pulled muscle. If you see R having this type of issue in the future, I would recommend that she get checked out by a vet as soon as possible. It would also be wise to put her on strict kennel rest (similar to a human on bed rest) so that she can heal quicker. Here is some more helpful information: https://www.sevneurology.com/diseases/intervertebral-disk-disease-ivdd-dogs/

This could be a case of a luxating patella, where the knee cap moved out of its normal location. However that condition generally speaking isn't painful. Pugs can also have herniated disc in their spines causing pain as well as abdominal pain. Even though it may be tempting do not give any human OTC pain medication as it can be very toxic to dogs. If Studd is not better in the next 8-12 hours he should see his veterinarian for an exam.