Infiltrative Spinal Lipoma in a Canada Goose (Brantacanadensis)

An adult Canada goose (Branta canadensis) was presented unable to walk. On physical examination, conscious proprioception was absent in both legs, and motor function was decreased. The bird did not improve with supportive care and was euthanatized and submitted for postmortem examination. Sagittal sectioning of the spine revealed an intradural growth causing segmental deformity of the lumbosacral spinal cord. The growth was diagnosed as an infiltrative spinal lipoma. Infiltrative lipomas are locally invasive, benign tumors that can be found in any host tissue. They have been documented in small and exotic companion animals, including birds; however, this is the first report of an infiltrative lipoma in the spinal canal of a bird or free-living wild animal.