Disease Description: A developmental abnormality where the spinal cord does not form completely.
Inherit Mode: In the Weimaraner, the mode of inheritance appears to be co-dominant with variable penetrance. The trait is lethal in the homozygous state (ie. a pup inherits the defective gene from both parents).
Disease Symptom: Clinical signs usually become evident around 4 to 6 weeks when puppies begin to walk around. The signs seen with this condition vary with the severity of the spinal cord malformation. Most commonly you will see a "bunny-hopping" hind limb gait with or without other hind end abnormalities. The condition is non-progressive (does not get worse) and mildly affected animals - those with a tendency to bunny-hop and a slightly awkward gait - can lead a fairly normal life.
Disease Cause: -
Disease Diagnose: Diagnosis is made based on the clinical signs and by ruling out other possibilities with the aid of tests such as x-rays and cerebrospinal fluid analysis. Diagnosis can also be made on post-mortem, where a veterinary pathologist will find microscopic abnormalities typical of this condition.
Treat Method: There is no treatment. The condition will not get worse.
Breeder Advice: Affected animals should not be bred.
Disease Description Source: Link
| Disease Name | Other Name | Mode of inheritance | Link ID | Possible OMIM ID | Gene |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spinal dysraphism | - | Autosomal Recessive | - | NKX2-8 |
| iDog Breed Number | Breed Name | Personality | Height | Weight | Breed Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CB252 | Weimaraner | Friendly, fearless, alert, obedient | 63.5-68.6 cm (male), 58.4-63.5 cm (female) | 31.8-40.8 kg (male), 24.9-34 kg (female) | Germany |
| CB253 | Welsh Springer Spaniel | Happy, upbeat, family oriented; reserved but not shy with strangers | 45.7-48.3 cm (male), 43.2-45.7 cm (female) | 18.1-24.9 kg (male), 15.9-22.7 kg (female) | United Kingdom (Wales) |
| 2013 |
Safra,N.,Bassuk,A.G.,Ferguson,P.J.,Aguilar,M.,Coulson,R.L.,Thomas,N.,Hitchens,P.L.,Dickinson,P.J.,Vernau,K.M.,Wolf,Z.T.,Bannasch,D.L.: :
Genome-wide association mapping in dogs enables identification of the homeobox gene, NKX2-8, as a genetic component of neural tube defects in humans. PLoS Genet 9:e1003646, 2013. Pubmed reference: 23874236 . DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003646 . |
| 2012 |
Allett,B.,Broome,M.R.,Hager,D.: :
MRI of a split cord malformation in a German shepherd dog. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 48:344-51, 2012. Pubmed reference: 22843830 . DOI: 10.5326/JAAHA-MS-5780 . |
| 1995 |
LeCouteur, R.A., Child, G. :
Diseases of the spinal cord W.B. Saunders Co., Toronto. S.J. Ettinger and E.C. Feldman (eds.) Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine, pp. 629-696 |
| 1995 |
Ruberte,J.,Añor,S.,Carretero,A.,Vilafranca,M.,Navarro,M.,Mascort,J.,Pumarola,M.: :
Malformations of the vertebral bodies and the ribs associated to spinal dysraphism without spina bifida in a Pekingese dog. Zentralbl Veterinarmed A 42:307-13, 1995. Pubmed reference: 8578905 . |
| 1992 |
Bailey,C.S.,Morgan,J.P.: :
Congenital spinal malformations. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 22:985-1015, 1992. Pubmed reference: 1641930 . |
| 1991 |
Vandenbroek,A.H.M.,Else,R.W.,Abercromby,R.,France,M.: :
Spinal Dysraphism in the Weimaraner Journal of Small Animal Practice 32:258-260, 1991. |
| 1982 |
Engel,H.N.,Draper,D.D.: :
Comparative prenatal development of the spinal cord in normal and dysraphic dogs: embryonic stage. Am J Vet Res 43:1729-34, 1982. Pubmed reference: 6756221 . |
| 1982 |
Engel,H.N.,Draper,D.D.: :
Comparative prenatal development of the spinal cord in normal and dysraphic dogs: fetal stage. Am J Vet Res 43:1735-43, 1982. Pubmed reference: 6756222 . |
| 1976 |
Draper,D.D.,Kluge,J.P.,Millerw,J.: :
Clinical and pathological aspects of spinal dysraphism in dogs. Thessaloniki 1:134-137, 1976. |
| 1974 |
Neufeld,J.L.,Little,P.B.: :
Spinal dysraphism in a Dalmatian dog. Can Vet J 15:335-6, 1974. Pubmed reference: 4434313 . |
| 1973 |
Klaus,B.: :
[Picture report. Spinal dysraphism in a German shepherd]. Berl Munch Tierarztl Wochenschr 86:95, 1973. Pubmed reference: 4732250 . |
| 1972 |
Confer,A.W.,Ward,B.C.: :
Spinal dysraphism: a congenital myelodysplasia in the Weimaraner Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 160:1423-1426, 1972. Pubmed reference: 5023160 . |
| 1967 |
Geib,L.W.,Bistner,S.I.: :
Spinal cord dysraphism in a dog. J Am Vet Med Assoc 150:618-20, 1967. Pubmed reference: 5339905 . |
| 1965 |
Foster,S.J.: :
A case of sternal dysraphism and two cases of suspected congenital diaphragmatic hernia in the dog. Vet Rec 77:1112-4, 1965. Pubmed reference: 5318050 . |
| 1965 |
McGrath,J.T.: :
Spinal dysraphism in the dog, with comments on syringomylia Pathologia Veterinaria 2:1-36 (Supplement), 1965. Pubmed reference: 5893238 . |