Common symptoms of Wobblers Disease in dogs - Family - Pets

Wobblers disease is a serious group of medical conditions of malformation of cervical vertebrae in neck and spinal column that results into weakness and a change in gait. It is a syndrome also known as spondylolithesis. This disease is also known by other names like cervical spondylomyelopathy, cervical vertebral malformation and cervical vertebral instability. Wobblers disease results into spinal cord compression, inter-vertebral disc protrusion, malformation of vertebrae, articular facets and ligaments. This disease is most commonly noticed in dogs and horses.Wobblers disease in dogs is usually found in larger breeds like great Danes, Borzoi, Basset Hound, German shepherd, St. Bernard, Boxer, Dalmatian, Samoyed, Bullmastiff, Old English sheepdog, Chow chow, golden retriever, Labrador retriever, fox terrier, beagle, Weimaraner, Rhodesian, Ridgeback and Dobermanns. The most common breed affected by Wobbler disease is Great Danes. The main reason for wobbler disease is unkn own but there are different theories that stand for explaining Wobbler disease like stenosis that is narrowing of vertebral canal is a common cause of wobbler disease ultimately causing degeneration of dorsal articular facets and thickening of ligaments and joint capsules. Genetic inheritance is also a major factor of this disease. It has been seen that the disease develops easily in over fed large dog breeds that grow rapidly. It is a gradually progressing disease that is with time the degeneration and thickening progresses.Common symptoms of this include ataxia that is in coordination, weakness, neck pain, downward flexed neck, and herniation, exaggerated and stiff gait. The hind legs are first affected and become weak after which the front legs develop the similar symptoms gradually. Diagnosis of Wobbler disease can be done by X-ray analysis, CT scan, myelography and magnetic resonance imaging. These different analyses depict different conditions like X-Ray show narrow di sk spaces and malignant vertebrae. Myelogram shows stenosis and MRI reveals spinal cord compression. Veterinarians advise different therapies on the basis of state of condition. The different therapies used are administration of corticosteroids that is anti-inflammatory therapy, cage rest for dogs or surgical procedures. Surgery is the most common used way to treat Wobbler disease as it alleviates the compression of spinal cord and provides stability to the vertebral column. There are different surgeries performed like ventral slot technique, ventral stabilization and dorsal decompression. Apart of surgery, electro-acupuncture also provides relief and techniques like minimizing movement of neck by use of neck brace and confinement that is cage rest also helps.