MULTIPLE EXOSTOSIS IN DOG: A CASE REPORT

Multiple exostosis (ME) is a disease that can affect the musculoskeletal system of different species. In canines, it presents benignly and infrequently, but also its etiology is still poorly understood. ME has been described in dogs after the growth phase as being related to an alteration of the EXT1 or EXT2 genes, associated with the secretion of heparan sulfate, a connective tissue component necessary for developing cartilage and bone. We report a case of multiple exostosis in a six-month-old Akita dog. Some clinical signs such as thoracolumbar pain, ataxia, and paraparesis, were detected. The patient manifested an increased patellar reflex in the lower limb and bilateral patellar dislocation during the examination. Thoracolumbar tomography revealed a thickening of the L1 vertebra, indicating an aberrant bone formation in the spinous process in its distal region, which caused spinal cord and nerve root compression. Decompressive corpectomy surgery removed abnormal bone growths, improving the symptoms.