Wobblers Disease in Dogs
In wobblers disease the neck bones press on the spinal cord causing inflammation and restricting the flow of signals between the brain and the legs, making the dog walk abnormally. It is also called cervical stenotic myelopathy or CSM.
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Breeds
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Young great danes and older doberman pinschers are the dogs most commonly affected but it is also seen at different ages and in other large breeds.
Signs
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At first your dog will develop a weird way of walking with its hind legs; the paws are not placed firmly and accurately on the ground and may knuckle over so that the dog appears to stagger or wobble as it walks. As the condition progresses the dog will start to make exaggerated stiff movements with its front legs like a soldier goose-stepping and then eventually become quadriplegic with a floppy paralysis of all four legs. The condition is not painful and dogs are usually bright and alert.
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Diagnosis
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Your veterinarian will take x-rays of your dog's neck to check the shape and position of the bones or vertebrae. He will then perform a myelogram in which he injects a special dye into the spinal column which outlines the spinal cord and shows if there is any compression or narrowing due to the pressure of the vertebrae.
Treatment
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All dogs are given drugs to relieve the swelling of the spinal cord where it is being pressed by the vertebrae, these may be steroids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). If the signs are mild then the dog may be maintained on drugs alone but most are sent for surgery. The surgery aims to relieve the pressure on the spinal cord by reshaping and stabilizing the vertebrae and changing their relative positions. Metal rods and screws or special resins may be placed along the spine to achieve this.
Recovery
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Dogs are given painkillers for a few days and may be placed in a padded collar so that they cannot move their head and neck excessively. The dogs who were able to walk before surgery can go home after a few days and are restricted to a few short walks on a harness and physiotherapy each day for two to three weeks. Dogs who were unable to walk before surgery are hospitalized, placed on padded beds and given intensive nursing support with regular controlled swimming to maintain their muscle strength until they can walk again. These dogs usually start to show improvement within days and all dogs can steadily improve for up to six months post-surgery, however some dogs may retain an abnormal gait.
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References
- Photo Credit Dobermann image by Manuel Weber from Fotolia.com
