Spondylocostal Dysostosis (Comma Defect)

Spondylocostal Dysostosis (Comma Defect) is a severe skeletal growth disorder that results in a shortened body and an abnormal ribs and spine. This variant of the disorder, also called Comma Defect due to the abnormal body shape it causes in affected puppies, occurs in the Standard Schnauzer and Miniature Schnauzer. Comma Defect is lethal, resulting in stillbirth or death shortly after the puppy’s birth. It is caused by a recessive mutation to the gene HES7.