Osteological features in pure-bred dogs predisposing to cervical spinal cord compression

Relative to body size, midsagittal and interpedicular diameters of the cran ial and caudal aspects of cervical vertebral foramina (C3-C7) were found to be significantly (P < 0.05) larger in small breeds than in large breeds an d Dachshunds, and also larger in Dachshunds (P < 0.05) than in large breeds . This condition increases the risk for spinal cord compression resulting f rom relative stenosis of the cervical vertebral foramina, especially in lar ge dogs, and this is also exacerbated by the typical shape of the vertebral foramina (i.e. dorsoventrally flattened cranially and bilaterally narrowed caudally). Within large dogs those breeds highly predisposed to cervical s pinal cord compression were Great Danes (the breed with the smallest midsag ittal vertebral foramen diameters from cranial C6 to cranial T1) and Doberm an Pinschers, because of the most strikingly cranially dorsoventrally narro wed cone-shaped vertebral foramina at C6 and C7. The existence of a small m idsagittal diameter in the cranial cervical spine was a high risk factor pr edisposing to spinal cord compression in small breeds and Dachshunds. Remar kable consistency was noted between the spinal level of the maximum enlarge ment of the spinal cord which previously was reported to be at C6, and the site of maximum enlargement of the vertebral canal currently stated in Dach shunds and small breeds. In large breeds the maximum enlargement of the ver tebral canal tended to be located more caudally at the caudal limit of C7. The average age at which large dogs were most susceptible to noxious factor s causing abnormal growth of the pedicles was determined to be 16 wk.