Wobbler's syndrome is a disease of the cervical spine in the area of the neck, in which the spinal cord and spinal cord nerve roots are compressed. This compression leads to neck pain and neurological problems like the wobbly walk that dogs with the syndrome exhibit.
This wobbly gait involves taking short, floating steps with the front legs and a swaying or wobbly movement of the hind legs.
Wobbler's syndrome is a very common cause of neurologic problems in large and giant breed dogs. Medical terms used to describe Wobbler's include spondylomyelopathy, cervical vertebral instability, cervical vertebral malformation, and cervical spondylopathy.
Causes of Wobbler's in At-Risk Breeds
Wobbler's syndrome develops in one of two ways:
- Slipped, bulging or herniated discs
- Bony malformation in the vertebral canal surrounding the spinal cord
Either of these problems can cause the spinal cord and nerve root compression seen in Wobbler's dogs.
The slipped disc presentation is most commonly seen in Dobermans.
Compression caused by bony vertebral malformation is most often seen in other large and giant breeds, including Great Danes, Rottweilers, mastiffs, the Weimaraner, German shepherds, Irish wolfhounds, Bernese mountain dogs and Swiss mountain dogs.
Wobbler's syndrome is especially prevalent in Dobermans, Great Danes and mastiffs. Dobermans tend to develop the disease in middle age -- 6 to 7 years old is average.
In Great Danes and mastiffs, the problem is most often seen in dogs under the age of 3, and these two breeds usually develop Wobbler's from a bony vertebral malformation rather than a disc problem.
Symptoms of Wobbler's Syndrome
Besides the wobbly gait and neck pain, other symptoms of Wobbler's can include:
- Limb weakness and difficulty rising after sitting or lying down
- Partial or complete limb paralysis
- Muscle loss through the shoulders
- Worn or scuffed nails from dragging the foot
- Increased extension of limbs
Wobbler's is usually a slow, progressive disease, except in cases of acute trauma when it develops very rapidly.
Weakness, loss of muscle coordination and toe-dragging usually begin in the rear limbs. Dogs with these symptoms often stand or walk in a crouched position with the head held very low, and suffer intense neck pain. The condition progresses to involve the front limbs, but usually with less severe symptoms.
Diagnosis and Traditional Medical Management of Wobbler's
A definitive diagnosis of Wobbler's syndrome is made through X-rays, myelographs, a CT scan or MRI.
The two primary treatments for Wobbler's are medical management and surgery. Medical management usually involves medications to reduce inflammation and spinal cord swelling.
A study of over 100 dogs at the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine showed that 50 percent of dogs with Wobbler's improve with medical management. About 30 percent remain stable. And for the remaining 20 percent, the condition continues to worsen.
Medical management also means a dog's activity must be severely restricted. Often, cage rest is recommended.
No collars or leashes should be placed around these dogs' necks -- harnesses must be used.
Medical management is typically attempted with older dogs with mild symptoms, and dogs with multiple locations of spinal cord compression.
My Choice of Treatment: Physical Rehabilitation
I believe the best therapeutic approach for Wobbler's syndrome dogs is rehabilitation -- essentially dog physical therapy. Aqua therapy, laser therapy and acupuncture, including electro-acupuncture, can be beneficial for these dogs.
There are also natural anti-inflammatories, Chinese herbs and antioxidants that can be beneficial. But nothing replaces the benefits of physical rehabilitation for canine Wobbler's patients.
Surgery for Wobbler's
If medical management and/or rehabilitation and complimentary therapies are unsuccessful in bringing relief to a Wobbler's dog, the only other option to improve quality of life is surgery. The type of surgery performed depends on the underlying cause of the spinal cord compression.
There are several things to consider when deciding if surgery makes sense, including what technique might be most effective, the number and severity of lesions in the spine, the dog's age, and other concurrent disease processes.
Helping Your Large or Giant Breed Dog Avoid Wobbler's Syndrome
If you own an at-risk breed for developing Wobbler's, I recommend proactive cartilage and disc support -- for example, over-the-counter supplements like glucosamine sulfate and MSM -- very early in your dog's life.
As your dog ages, I recommend progressively more intense support, including egg shell membrane and Adequan. Supplying an oral musculoskeletal support supplement can help keep intervertebral discs supple and resilient.
Maintenance chiropractic care is always a good idea, along with consistent use of a harness instead of collars that place stress on the neck. Helping your pet maintain excellent muscle tone is also very important.
All these steps can help reduce your large or giant breed dog's risk of developing Wobbler syndrome.
Dr. Karen Becker is a proactive and integrative wellness veterinarian. You can visit her site at: MercolaHealthyPets.com.
Her goal is to help you create wellness in order to prevent illness in the lives of your pets. This proactive approach seeks to save you and your pet from unnecessary stress and suffering by identifying and removing health obstacles even before disease occurs. Unfortunately, most veterinarians in the United States are trained to be reactive. They wait for symptoms to occur, and often treat those symptoms without addressing the root cause.
By reading Dr. Becker's information, you'll learn how to make impactful, consistent lifestyle choices to improve your pet's quality of life.
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