Vet Med - Czech, 2025, 70(10):369-378 | DOI: 10.17221/30/2025-VETMED

Prevalence of lumbosacral transitional vertebrae and association with hip dysplasia in Rhodesian Ridgebacks in GermanyOriginal Paper

SK Slunsky1, P Slunsky2, E Fort3, L Brunnberg4
1 Neurological Department, Small Animal Hospital, AniCura Tierklinik Haar, Haar, Bavaria, Germany
2 Department of Surgery and Orthopaedics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
3 Joint Research Unit for Epidemiology and Translational Surveillance, Claude Bernard University Lyon, Villeurbanne, France, Claude Bernard University Lyon, Villeurbanne, France
4 Department of Veterinary Medicine, Small Animal Clinic, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Congenital anomalies affecting the spinal column are frequently observed in certain dog breeds. One such condition occurs at the junction between the lower back and the sacrum, where vertebrae exhibit mixed structural characteristics. This retrospective study analysed imaging records of Rhodesian Ridgebacks collected over 28 years, selecting only those that met strict positioning standards for evaluation. A total of 2 012 cases were analysed using established classification methods, identifying three distinct structural variations: a typical junction, a bilaterally altered morphology, and an asymmetrical form affecting one side. The prevalence of these variations was 7.4%, with symmetrical alterations found in 5% of cases and asymmetrical alterations in 2.4%. Statistical analysis did not reveal a significant association between these anatomical variations and canine hip dysplasia (CHD) (P = 0.170 0). These findings support previous research indicating that there is no direct link between these structural variations and joint disorders in this breed. The study represents the most extensive investigation of its kind in this canine population, highlighting that such vertebral variations are frequently observed in routine radiographic screenings, but despite decades of research, consistent clinical correlations remain elusive – underscoring the need for further systematic investigation.

Keywords: breed-specific conditions; canine orthopaedics; imaging diagnostics; musculoskeletal research; spinal malformations; vertebral classification

Received: April 18, 2025; Revised: August 5, 2025; Accepted: August 7, 2025; Prepublished online: October 29, 2025; Published: October 31, 2025  Show citation

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Slunsky S, Slunsky P, Fort E, Brunnberg L. Prevalence of lumbosacral transitional vertebrae and association with hip dysplasia in Rhodesian Ridgebacks in Germany. Vet Med - Czech. 2025;70(10):369-378. doi: 10.17221/30/2025-VETMED.
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