Surgical outcomes of six bulldogs with spinal lumbosacral meningomyelocele or meningocele.

Objective: To report the surgical treatment and outcome of six bulldogs with spina bifida (SB) and meningocele (MC) or meningomyelocele (MMC).

Study Design: Case series.

Animals: Five French bulldogs and one English bulldog with MC or MMC.

Methods: Medical records of dogs with spinal MC or MMC diagnosed by MRI at two institutions between 2013 and 2016 were reviewed for surgical treatment and outcomes.

Results: Meningocele was diagnosed in two dogs, and MMC was diagnosed in four dogs. A lumbosacral dimple was noted in all dogs along with neurological deficits most commonly consisting of urinary and fecal incontinence (n = 6) and mild/moderate paraparesis (n = 3). Dorsal laminectomy was performed in all dogs to allow dissection of the meningeal sac to the vertebral column defect. In dogs with MMC, nerves were repositioned and protruded meninges were removed prior to suturing remaining meninges. Adhesions and filum terminale were resected in two dogs with suspected tethered cord syndrome. Urinary and fecal incontinence improved in two dogs and remained unchanged in four. Paraparesis improved in two dogs.

Conclusion: Surgical treatment resulted in partial improvement of the urinary and fecal incontinence (2/6 dogs) and paraparesis (2/3 dogs) or stable neurological condition (3/6 dogs), with only minor temporary complications.

Clinical Significance: In the absence of published data comparing surgical and conservative treatment of puppies affected by SB and MC or MMC, early surgical treatment can be considered to prevent deterioration of neurological signs and, eventually, facilitate improvement of neurological signs.