Chest Bone Deformity in Dogs

This deformity almost always shows up in puppies when they are born, and it may get worse or it could fix itself during growth. Your puppy’s chest should form an outward curve, rather than a flat or sunken chest. Chest bone deformity is a deformation of the chest and ribs, which can cause a smaller space for the heart and lungs. This may lead to serious breathing and heart abnormalities, so the deformity should be treated as soon as possible. It the deformation is mild, there is usually no need for treatment of any kind, but you should set an appointment with your veterinarian if you suspect your puppy may be suffering from pectus excavatum or pectus carinatum.

A chest bone deformity is a genetic malformation in the chest. There are two types of chest bone deformities: pectus excavatum (funnel chest) is a separation of the sternum and cartilage, thorax narrowing, and unusually shaped ribs causing a flat or sunken chest. Pectus carinatum (pigeon breast) is a chest bone and rib disfigurement causing the chest to bow outwards into a point instead of a curve. Both of these disfigurements can cause serious compression of the lungs and heart.

Symptoms of chest bone deformity depend on whether your puppy has pectus excavatum or pectus carinatum.

Pectus excavatum

• Narrowing of the chest on one or both sides
• Flat or sunken chest
• Panting or heavy breathing due to compressed lungs
• Coughing
• Heart murmur
• Erratic heart rate from compressed heart
• Blue tint to skin and mucus membrane (cyanosis)
• Curving of the spine (scoliosis)
• Loss of appetite
• Throwing up food and water
• Losing weight
• Exhaustion
• Unable to walk

Pectus carinatum

• Bump or point on chest
• Chest that bows outwards
• Difficulty walking
• Breathing difficulty
• Disfigured limbs
• Umbilical hernia
• Dental problems
• Appetite loss
• Wheezing
• Vomiting
• Weight loss
• Inability to exercise
• Digestion problems
• Blue tint to skin and mucous membranes (cyanosis)
• Depression

 Types

Pectus excavatum is a genetic deformity of the chest bone, which causes the narrowing of the ribs and an indented or flattened chest. Pectus carinatum describes the congenital deformity of the chest bone causing the breast to bow outwards.

Chest bone deformity is almost always a hereditary disorder, which shows up more often in males rather than females. Both pectus excavatum and pectus carinatum are already present at birth, but may not be visible until your puppy shows symptoms of breathing difficulty and failure to thrive. Pectus excavatum is much more common than pectus carinatum, which is quite rare in puppies. Those that are most affected by these disorders are:

• Boston Terrier
• English Bulldog
• French Bulldog
• Shih Tzu
• Pekingese
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

If available, it is helpful to give your veterinary caregiver a complete medical background and history of illnesses of the mother and father of the puppy. The veterinarian will do a complete and comprehensive physical examination on your puppy to determine the extent of the deformity and whether it is causing the symptoms you have described to him. Although your veterinarian can usually tell just by looking at your puppy, he will need to get some tests done for a concrete diagnosis. These tests can include:

• Complete blood count (CBC)
• Packed cell volume
• Blood gas and chemical panel
• Glucose analysis
• Urinalysis
• Urine specific gravity
• Digital radiography (x-rays) of the chest and abdomen
• Electrocardiogram (ECG)
• Echocardiogram (EKG)

Some other tests that may be done are an ultrasound to check for heart disorders, a CT scan and MRI to further investigate the chest deformity.

The treatment that your veterinarian chooses for your puppy depends on which type of chest bone deformity he has and how severe it is. If the deformity is mild and is not compressing any major organs such as the lungs and heart, there is no need for treatment. The veterinarian will just want to monitor your puppy to make sure the lungs and heart do not become compressed as your puppy grows.

Corrective splints can be used if the deformity is not severe enough for surgery. A surgical procedure to remove the deformed part of the chest bone and replace it with a cast made of fiberglass may be performed. The cast will be made by fitting it to your puppy’s chest and then attaching it to your puppy’s sternum with sutures. This surgery is relatively new and is usually only done on puppies if they are over three months old and the deformity is severe. 

Physical therapy is usually necessary whether your puppy has surgery or not. This kind of deformity can correct itself as the puppy grows so the veterinarian may suggest you wait and try physical therapy for a few months before getting splints or surgery. 

Antibiotics and pain medication are usually prescribed if the veterinarian suspects any kind of infection.

An important part of any treatment is to follow your veterinarian’s instructions and to bring your puppy back for check-ups. If surgery has been done on your pet, providing a quiet place to rest will be an important part of his recovery. As with any medical condition, be sure to contact your veterinarian if you have any concerns or feel that your dog is not well.

Chest bone deformities can be expensive to treat. To avoid high vet care expenses, secure pet health insurance today. The sooner you insure your pet, the more protection you’ll have from unexpected vet costs.