Congenital vertebral anomalies are a group of spine malformations in animals that occurs in the womb. While most of these conditions don’t affect the animals completely, some cause spinal cord compression when the condition causes instability or deformity of the vertebral canal. This condition may alter the number and shape of vertebrae.

Diagnosis is made through x-ray.

Treatment for hemivertebrae is usually done through surgery wherein the spinal cord is decompressed and the vertebrae are stabilized.

Symptoms of this condition depend on the type of congenital vertebral anomaly. Hemivertebrae causes neurological problems with symptoms including limb weakness, paralysis, urine incontinence and spinal pain. Severe spine angulation, spinal canal narrowing, spine instability and fractures of the verterbrae occur with animals suffering from hemivertebrae. Block vertebrae usually shows no symptoms, but can lead to an angle of the spine when left untreated.

Hemivertebrae is caused by the lack of blood supply that causes the vertebrae to not form. Block vertebrae develop when the vertebrae segmentation is improper, fusing the parts of the vertebrae.