Wobblers Syndrome in Dogs...any experience?

[stevo68]

G'day All,

As many of you will know, I lost my 4 legged mate "Benz" back in April. We now have 'Diesel" who came from the same blood line as "Benz" and has grown into quite a large pup :D. He is another Shepherd, 7mths now and weighing 36kilos, beautiful personality.

For a while I thought he may have been a bit wobbly with his legs ( Shepherds have a history of Hip Dysplasia) but was told all ok by vet, moreso he was gangly. About 3 weeks ago, poor buggar got nailed by a tick and into the vets. He came out the other side looking like a large rat :). Pics of him below, one playing with the Bengal and the other shaved from head to toe :eek:.

During recovery, I noticed that the wobbliness in his rear legs was very noticeable. Bit like if you have been on the turps and your legs cross over as you try to walk, well that is what his rear legs are like. Mind you doesn't stop him running and playing with the kids and myself, or having a go at the neighbours dogs. Over a thousand dollars later for tick recovery, then Xrays for hip dysplasia, it seems he may have Wobblers Syndrome, which is a neurological disease. Definition as follows:
Wobblers syndrome is caused by a narrowing or malformation of the spinal cervical (neck) vertebrae which causes pressure on the spinal cord by the lower cervical (neck) vertebrae due to either a malformation of the vertebra or a malocclusion (when the vertebrae do not come together properly). This causes anywhere from a mild, to a severe affect in the dogs gait.. Other conditions can mimic the symptoms. The only definitive diagnosis of Wobblers Syndrome or Spondololithesis, is a mylogram where dye is injected into the spinal column and then the neck is flexed and x-rayed.

So has anybody else had experience with this for one of their animals. Apparently it is quite rare in Shepherds, but is linked to large breed dogs and apparently horses as well. Any feedback would be appreciated. At this stage it is back to vets on Monday to do the mylogram, so fingers crossed for a good outcome :(

Regards

Stevo

[Redback]

G'day All,

As many of you will know, I lost my 4 legged mate "Benz" back in April. We now have 'Diesel" who came from the same blood line as "Benz" and has grown into quite a large pup :D. He is another Shepherd, 7mths now and weighing 36kilos, beautiful personality.

For a while I thought he may have been a bit wobbly with his legs ( Shepherds have a history of Hip Dysplasia) but was told all ok by vet, moreso he was gangly. About 3 weeks ago, poor buggar got nailed by a tick and into the vets. He came out the other side looking like a large rat :). Pics of him below, one playing with the Bengal and the other shaved from head to toe :eek:.

During recovery, I noticed that the wobbliness in his rear legs was very noticeable. Bit like if you have been on the turps and your legs cross over as you try to walk, well that is what his rear legs are like. Mind you doesn't stop him running and playing with the kids and myself, or having a go at the neighbours dogs. Over a thousand dollars later for tick recovery, then Xrays for hip dysplasia, it seems he may have Wobblers Syndrome, which is a neurological disease. Definition as follows:

So has anybody else had experience with this for one of their animals. Apparently it is quite rare in Shepherds, but is linked to large breed dogs and apparently horses as well. Any feedback would be appreciated. At this stage it is back to vets on Monday to do the mylogram, so fingers crossed for a good outcome :(

Regards

Stevo

Nowdays it's rare but used to be very common in Shepards, it has been bred out of them, but there are still cases of it in some dogs that come from some dog breeders.

Inquire at your local vet, don't know if it can be fixed or not, he will know, i hope it turns out to be positive, i'm a dog lover too.

Baz.

[stevo68]

Nowdays it's rare but used to be very common in Shepards, it has been bred out of them, but there are still cases of it in some dogs that come from some dog breeders.

Inquire at your local vet, don't know if it can be fixed or not, he will know, i hope it turns out to be positive, i'm a dog lover too.

Baz. Thanks mate, most of the information on the net seems to relate the syndrome to mainly danes and dobermanns, then the larger type dogs. Vet concurred that rare now days in Shepherds. I know the breeding of the dog as my previous boy was via the same bloodline through top breeders. Another member on here is a vet and helping me with some information too.

Regards

Stevo

[dirtdawg]

lol the pic of the poor fella shaved looks funny though

[stevo68]

lol the pic of the poor fella shaved looks funny though
Yes, he does look like a huge rat, bit hard to get used to him, especially my 4 yr old. He wouldn't go near him at first :D, but I told him it was still our Diesy Boy, and we have to love him all the same,

Regards

Stevo

[Tank]

QUOTE:For a while I thought he may have been a bit wobbly with his legs ( Shepherds have a history of Hip Dysplasia) but was told all ok by vet, moreso he was gangly. About 3 weeks ago, poor buggar got nailed by a tick and into the vets. He came out the other side looking like a large rat :). Pics of him below, one playing with the Bengal and the other shaved from head to toe :eek:.

A tip on Ticks, I live in a high tick area and we were always racing our dogs off to the vets every time they got a tick @ $80 a pop, had to go to a different Vet one day and he said not to remove the tick or go to a Vet and have him remove it and get a needle. his tip was leave the tick on for a couple of days and then remove it and unless the dog is falling over, DONT get the needle, as it removes any immunity that the dog may develop.
So I followed his instructions and after a few months my dogs aren't bothered by Ticks, if you leave them on for a few days (not long enough for the dog to get the staggers) and then remove them the dog tends to build up an immunity, started doing this 15 years ago and have not lost one dog to ticks, yet the neighbours that take their dog to the Vet, have the tick removed and get the needle have lost 3 or 4 dogs to ticks, I wouldn't do it to a very old or very young or feeble dog, anyway check it out with a Vet, I think there's some on this Forum, Regards Frank.

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Stevo

There is not much you can do about it other than love him as a mate.

My Pug dog, came from the breeder as a companion for my Pug bitch. Over the next few weeks I noticed he was always falling over and wouldn't go down stairs. Off to the vet, then the vet specialist it turns out he has a similar nerve problem to wobbler's syndrome in the cerebellum and spine called a Chiari malformation. It affects his balance and the nerve conduction to his hind legs, he doesn't know where they are and hence an unusual gait and falling over. There is no treatment.

The option was to return him to the breeder where he would have been put down. He was a good friend to our other Pug and the separation would have caused fretting at least for a while, so we kept him. We made a ramp for him to run down to the back yard and he didn't die at around 12 months which was a risk.

The ramp went when he became more confident with the steps, in fact he does a superman impression, front legs out as if flying and waits till he lands. (Lets hope he doesn't try it on a staircase with more than 4 steps! :oops2:)

Now 3 years later he is a happy feller who doesn't know he is disabled and although he occasionally falls over he just gets ups and keeps doing what ever his mind is set on doing. He is a bundle of laughs and a good and faithful friend. (That's him in my avatar) :)

Diana

[stevo68]

A tip on Ticks, I live in a high tick area and we were always racing our dogs off to the vets every time they got a tick @ $80 a pop, had to go to a different Vet one day and he said not to remove the tick or go to a Vet and have him remove it and get a needle. his tip was leave the tick on for a couple of days and then remove it and unless the dog is falling over, DONT get the needle, as it removes any immunity that the dog may develop.
So I followed his instructions and after a few months my dogs aren't bothered by Ticks, if you leave them on for a few days (not long enough for the dog to get the staggers) and then remove them the dog tends to build up an immunity, started doing this 15 years ago and have not lost one dog to ticks, yet the neighbours that take their dog to the Vet, have the tick removed and get the needle have lost 3 or 4 dogs to ticks, I wouldn't do it to a very old or very young or feeble dog, anyway check it out with a Vet, I think there's some on this Forum, Regards Frank. With Diesel he already had the wobblies and at 6mths old not worth the risk, interesting to know though.


Stevo

There is not much you can do about it other than love him as a mate.

My Pug dog, came from the breeder as a companion for my Pug bitch. Over the next few weeks I noticed he was always falling over and wouldn't go down stairs. Off to the vet, then the vet specialist it turns out he has a similar nerve problem to wobbler's syndrome in the cerebellum and spine called a Chiari malformation. It affects his balance and the nerve conduction to his hind legs, he doesn't know where they are and hence an unusual gait and falling over. There is no treatment.

The option was to return him to the breeder where he would have been put down. He was a good friend to our other Pug and the separation would have caused fretting at least for a while, so we kept him. We made a ramp for him to run down to the back yard and he didn't die at around 12 months which was a risk.

The ramp went when he became more confident with the steps, in fact he does a superman impression, front legs out as if flying and waits till he lands. (Lets hope he doesn't try it on a staircase with more than 4 steps! :oops2:)

Now 3 years later he is a happy feller who doesn't know he is disabled and although he occasionally falls over he just gets ups and keeps doing what ever his mind is set on doing. He is a bundle of laughs and a good and faithful friend. (That's him in my avatar) :)

Diana Great stuff, was just watching Diesel outside with my 4 yr old, where ever he goes, Diesel goes with him. When he saw me, he came running in his own current special way :eek: to say g'day then back off to "look" after my son :D. I have had some good advice from another member here ( a vet) so hopefully soon will know some outcomes. My main fear was if it were dysplasia, back when I was a child I had a shepherd who had it and in those days, the answer was the needle :(.

Regards

Stevo

[DaveS3]

My main fear was if it were dysplasia, back when I was a child I had a shepherd who had it and in those days, the answer was the needle :(.

Regards

Stevo

I have a Curlry Coat Retriever who is suffering from this (hip dysplasia) at the moment.
Upon vets advice, next week is looking very grim for him if he doesn't show much improvement.

Hope your mate gets better.

Dave.

[stevo68]

I have a Curlry Coat Retriever who is suffering from this (hip dysplasia) at the moment.
Upon vets advice, next week is looking very grim for him if he doesn't show much improvement.

Hope your mate gets better.

Dave.Hey mate, until I found out this was something else, I was pretty set on it being dysplasia and did a lot of research on the topic. I don't know if you have/ haven't, if not google it as dependant on the degree of dysplasia there are medical and surgical options. Of course, there can also be financial considerations as well. Good luck your way too. How old is your dog?

Regards

Stevo

[DaveS3]

Hey mate, until I found out this was something else, I was pretty set on it being dysplasia and did a lot of research on the topic. I don't know if you have/ haven't, if not google it as dependant on the degree of dysplasia there are medical and surgical options. Of course, there can also be financial considerations as well. Good luck your way too. How old is your dog?

Regards

Stevo

Its def hip dysplasia, been diagnosed twice and it is also fairly common amongst labs / retrievers.
He is now 12 - was first diagnosed when he was 6, and recovered fairly well. He had a relapse when he was 10 and from then on has been OK.
He doesn't seem to suffer from much pain, but he has arthritis now and is developing a a trachea problem (also common) and with the change in temperature down here recently has taken a turn.

Not much we can do, he's had a good life thats for sure.

Dave.

[stevo68]

Its def hip dysplasia, been diagnosed twice and it is also fairly common amongst labs / retrievers.
He is now 12 - was first diagnosed when he was 6, and recovered fairly well. He had a relapse when he was 10 and from then on has been OK.
He doesn't seem to suffer from much pain, but he has arthritis now and is developing a a trachea problem (also common) and with the change in temperature down here recently has taken a turn.

Not much we can do, he's had a good life thats for sure.

Dave. Hmm still tough, the dog I lost to dysplasia as a boy was only a pup. My previous shepherd who I had for 8 yrs was killed in a car accident and this young fella came from my previous dogs 1/2 sister and the grand mother was the mother of another shepherd I lost to all things...a grass seed that got into her blood system and took out her spine and legs :(. Again, good luck with it all, I thought he may have been a pup,

Regards

Stevo

[Tank]

With Diesel he already had the wobblies and at 6mths old not worth the risk, interesting to know though.

Great stuff, was just watching Diesel outside with my 4 yr old, where ever he goes, Diesel goes with him. When he saw me, he came running in his own current special way :eek: to say g'day then back off to "look" after my son :D. I have had some good advice from another member here ( a vet) so hopefully soon will know some outcomes. My main fear was if it were dysplasia, back when I was a child I had a shepherd who had it and in those days, the answer was the needle :(.

Regards

Stevo
Stevo, just to clarify, as I said wait till your dog is fully developed, maybe 2 years, and it requires you thoroughly check the dog for ticks EVERY day. I started by leaving the first found tick for 24 hours, with close monitoring, then check the dog regularly and remove any ticks in the first week after that. After a week the next tick can stay on for say 36 hours, then go 2 weeks removing all ticks as found each day. then you can go to 48 hours, eventually the dog will become immune. When I worked at Mary Kathleen up near Mt. Isa there was a red Kelpie that was the Camp dog, every couple of days he'd come up to our Donga and we would pull 20 to 30 or more ticks off him, some were as round as a 10c piece, he was totally immune, good Luck with your Mate, hope he recovers OK, Regards Frank.
P.S. CHECK WITH YOUR VET FIRST, SEEMS MONGREL DOGS FARE BETTER THAN PEDIGREE DOGS, ALL MY DOGS WERE BLUE CATTLE X KELPIE X TERRIER, MAY BE A FACTOR.

[JohnE]

Stevo
I would have thought by now the resident vet would have come on, he must be off the site.
Having worked them for years never heard of wobblers syndrome. I guess you had your HD xray done when you bought the dog. One of my work mates had a shepherd that had grade 4 hips, the dog was not expected to get past the training course. Grade 4 for a police dog is a no no. Anyway Anzac got through the training course and worked for many years, then saw his retired days out quite well and mobile, he died early last year at 12.
The secret, as told to me by an by a vet, was to keep the muscle mass up, ie the dog needs to be fit and healthy and have regular exercise. This tightens the muscles which reduce the amount of slack in the joint.
While your suburban pets have a different exercise regime to the working dog, you can accomplish the same by regular, regular walks of a good duration.
My first dog made it to 12 years old he succumbed to the complications of myelopathy,( sort of had a massive stroke) where the myelin sheath around the nerves fails to produce adequate signal to the hind legs.
Here is a link for that, that explains it.( thats what could be wobblers???)

http://www.balgownievet.com.au/1_com_deg_myelopathy.htm

When my dog first went down, the best he could do was drag himself around the back end didn;t work at all, in 8 weeks he taught himself to walk again, how, by balancing on his front legs and the back legs moved due to muscle memory. I was already fitting him out for a sled. My vet was not as surprised as me,she told me that very fit dogs can do it.

Now that you live in paradise, as tank said daily checking should be the norm till your dogs develop some sort of immunity. At the start of the season last year, I was averaging 30 ticks off each dog per day and that was in august.( for the sceptics, I have them all in a jar of metho)
Seeing you only an hour up from me, you may benefit from using these ,i have used these particular collars for years now and know they work, I have 4 doggies so vigilance sometimes takes a holiday.

http://www.petshed.com/articles/all-about-preventic-collar.html

when you search the active component,


The TICK Detach collar contains Amitraz! Amitraz is a powerful compound that inhibits the tick from "feeding" on your dog. The tick's sharp barbed mouth parts become paralyzed and cannot pierce the skin. For attached ticks, they detach! In both cases, Amitraz is lethal to ticks.

It takes approximately three days from the start of the "feeding" before a disease is transferred. If the tick detaches or dies before this time, Lyme Disease or other infections are not contracted. TICK Detach will remove 95% of ticks after 24 hours and 100% within 48 hours so your dog is safe from Lyme Disease. Amitraz mixes with the natural oils of your dog's skin and spreads from head to tail. Amitraz remains on the outside of the dog and penetrates the ticks ectoskeleton. The tick does not need to bite your dog to be killed.

I know this may be a bit long winded but i hope it helps you and your mutts.
Just to add what tank said, the easiest way, when you find the first tick, is wait for about 3 hrs, then kill it with fly spray,use a tick hook and remove it, for each successive tick you find leave it on for an extra hour and so on. A suggestion don't go over 24 hrs.
I have done the same with our cat and he is fine.


john

[MrsMcRover]

Awww How cute is the Puppy :D. Hope everything works out. I adore our boys. :D

[stevo68]

Hi JohnE and Tank,

Thanks for that excellent information, I will definately take on board and look up those collars, and remember info re: Ticks. They never actually found the tick on Diesel, hence why he was shaved head to toe, to try and find it. Oh and resident vet has been PMing me with some great stuff/ information in respect to Wobblers Syndrome,

Regards

Stevo

[mittadisco]

For any interested in ticks here is a good site: Tick Alert (http://www.tickalert.org.au/)
For Paralysis Tick (same site). (http://www.tickalert.org.au/ixholdet.htm)

Paralysis Ticks by petalia (http://www.petalia.com.au/Templates/StoryTemplate_Process.cfm?Story_No=56)

This probably should be under a separate title. If you live in a non paralysis tick area and have never taken your dogs (or in fact cats or other pets - including chooks - I kid you not) into tick country - ie especially coastal bush areas of queensland and SE Australia, but intend doing so this summer - beware :exclam::exclam:- you need to be fully conversant with ticks BEFORE you leave your Paddington terrace, or your Yarralumla mansion and hop into your D3HSE or any LR, and head bush. Consult your vet!