Editing Rhodesian Ridgeback (section)

===Dermoid sinus===
Dermoid sinus is a congenital neural-tube defect that is known to affect this breed. The dermoid is often likened to a thin "spaghetti strand" beneath the skin. Puppies should always be screened at birth by the breeder and veterinarian, and the examination repeated as the puppies grow before they go to their new homes. This is done by palpation of the subcutaneous dorsal midline from the base of the skull to the insertion of the tail. Surgical removal is an option for affected neonates, puppies and adult dogs. All affected dogs, even those surgically corrected, should be spayed or neutered and never be bred, since surgical dermoid sinus removal can be extremely cost prohibitive, and because many unremoved dermoid sinuses will eventually abscess. Abscessed dermoid sinuses will be at best a recurrent, painful problem, and if the sinus communicates with the tissues around the spinal cord, cause meningitis and often death. However, it has been shown that supplementation of folic acid to the diet of the brood bitch before mating and during pregnancy reduces the incidence of dermoid sinus.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rrclubsa.com/a_health.htm |title=Health Issues RRCSA |publisher=Rrclubsa.com |access-date=2011-10-24 |archive-date=5 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705030451/http://www.rrclubsa.com/a_health.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> One study on the Swedish population estimates that 8-10% are affected.<ref>{{Cite journal | last1 = Hillbertz | first1 = N. H. C. S. | title = Inheritance of dermoid sinus in the Rhodesian Ridgeback | doi = 10.1111/j.1748-5827.2005.tb00295.x | journal = Journal of Small Animal Practice | volume = 46 | issue = 2 | pages = 71–74 | year = 2005 | pmid =  15736812}}</ref> Slightly less than 5% of Rhodesian Ridgebacks were reported to be affected with the condition in a US breed club survey.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rrcus.org/rhodesianridgebackhealth/resources/overviewgeneticdesease.html|title=Overview and Prevalence of Genetic Defects in the Rhodesian Ridgeback|last=Roethel|first=Cynthia|publisher=RRCUS Health and Genetics Committee|access-date=25 February 2012|archive-date=27 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127205957/http://rrcus.org/rhodesianridgebackhealth/resources/overviewgeneticdesease.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>