greatdaneservicedog @ 10:01 pm
Another serious disease afflicting young adult Danes is Wobbler’s disease. There is compression of the spinal cord from a skeletal abnormality or instability in the cervical spine. The vertebrae of the neck pinch the spinal cord, causing symptoms of weakness, lack of co-ordination, wobbliness (hence, the name), and a strange scuffling walk. It doesn’t seem to be a painful disease, for the dog at least, though they can be confused or frightened. They seem almost drunk, though they are alert and responsive.
X-rays alone cannot give a 100% diagnosis of Wobblers. A myelogram, which is a fancy xray using a dye to show where and how severe the cord compression is, is both expensive and risky. Dogs can have allergic reactions to the dye, they can suffer damage to the spinal cord, and the cost will be $1000 or more. Deciding whether or not to do this, it is wise to ask your vet that if the myelogram worth the risk.
Treatment for Wobblers often involves corticosteroids to reduce the inflammation and swelling. Often there is also the use of pain meds, though why I’m not sure unless it is for the arthritic changes in the spine. Spinal surgery is usually a “last resort”, and costs for a dog the size of a Dane runs into the several thousands. If there are complications from the surgery, you could easily shell out $10,000.
The surgery doesn’t repair the nerve damage that is done–it only prevents more damage from happening. The surgery is not a “fix” nor is it without risk. Some newer treatments include specially implanted beads http://www.durkesanimalhospital.com/Default.aspx , physical therapy, or homeopathic remedies. Each dog is different, each owner is different, so all the various treatment options need to be thoroughly discussed. Please do check out the link in the blogroll to a Wobbler’s support group. They are building a database, and they know the ins and outs of this disease first hand.
I would recommend not being “ideological” about treatments, ignoring traditional medicine in favor of alternative treatments or vice versa. With a disease as degenerative and difficult to treat as Wobblers, take a “whatever works” approach. Combinations of both traditional veterinary care and alternative treatments are what is called “integrated” medicine.
My brother’s sweet harlequin bitch, Ashleigh has Wobblers. She has her good days and her bad ones, being 9 years old. They cannot afford even the cost of routine steroids, but her quality of life is still good. For now. Many Danes with Wobblers will live several more years, even untreated, though the disease will continue to worsen. Eventually, your big friend will suffer near paralysis, forcing you to either provide round the clock care or euthanize.
Like dysplasia, there is a genetic component and an environmental component to the onset and progression of Wobbler’s disease. A diet high in protien, calcium, and phosphorous can severely affect the skeleton of a Dane, and so I will say it over and over: NEVER TRY TO FORCE GROWTH IN A GIANT BREED DOG. You are creating a huge threat to your dog’s life for the sake of having the “biggest dog on the block”. Let them grow slow and steady, and they will reach their full potential size without as much risk to their long term health. And you will still have the biggest dog on the block!
A PERSONAL PLEA: Unless you can verify that the extended family tree of your dog’s bloodlines, both father and mother, do not have the inheritable diseases, PLEASE do not breed them. Wobbler’s disease, cancer, and Bloat in particular don’t generally appear until well past the onset of sexual maturity. Bloat is the number one killer of Danes, and having a parent who bloated increases the puppy’s risks as much as fourfold. And be just as diligent about the dog or bitch you wish to breed with.
These diseases can very quickly become epidemic in a breed, in only a few generations. And in Danes, many inherited and deadly diseases are epidemic, waxing and waning through the generations. Just because your dog or bitch doesn’t show signs of Wobblers, cancer, bloat, or dysplaysia doesn’t mean they don’t carry and pass on the genetic risks. Every single puppy from every single litter carries a 25% chance of developing an illness their parents either developed or carried the genetic risks for.
PLEASE DO NOT BREED DOGS THAT HAVE COMMON AND DEADLY ILLNESSES IN THEIR FAMILY HISTORIES. You as a casual pet owner really do not need to be breeding your dogs, as there are so many unwanted dogs available in rescues and pounds, and also from professional breeders who take great care in producing puppies that are exceptional representatives of their breeds.
Because you love your dogs and think they are terrific, isn’t a reason to breed them.This is especially true if you cannot verify the extended family veterinary history. We as dog owners have the responsibility not to perpetuate suffering in the creatures we love, however unintentionally. And breeders have the responsibility to their puppy buyers not to sell the heartache and sorrow of an untimely lost love along with the puppy.
PLEASE SPAY OR NEUTER YOUR PETS.
I have a Great Dane 11 mo. old he started a week ago limping one hind leg went to vet he gae him a cortizone shot and it got better for a few days . Then he started limping both back legs and very unsteady he can not stand on our hard wood floors.
Reading your article I am afraid it is woblers we are having x-rays in two days my vet says they may or may not tell us what is up but he thinks we should try. It is ither that or a very expencive MRI at WSU.
I have a great dane! He was diagnosed with Wobbler in age of 7 months. I have put him to small walks only, no other activitys, changed his food to adult dog food (less calcium) reduced his food for 30% and putted 1 meal out (2 instead of 3). After 3 months we started to run and make some exercises, we started the ring dresure and dog shows. He has become some great titles! and I think he is recovered (hope so).
That’s wonderful! I’m so glad he’s recovered enough to enjoy a full life with you. -Lisa
This mornig we had to take out dane to the vet. They tool us he might have wobblers…but he acts more like he’s dizy or light headed, falling over or stagering, after running normal for 40 yrds or so…..as he staires at you and his head just floats and he looks dayzed…is this wobblers or could this be something else… they also think it could be cardiomyopathy?…dose anyone have any ideas…
Oh my, poor guy. The sudden weirdness of gait does sound like wobblers, but usually the dog is still very aware of themselves and alert. Scared or confused by what’s happening to them, but not dazed. I have a couple other ideas besides wobblers for you to ask the vet about if it helps.
1) does the head tilt at a funny angle? Checking out the inner ear might be worth a try: if the inner ear isn’t adjusting to his running about, he could lose his balance.
2) brain tumors can also cause sudden spells like this, coming and going unpredictably and sometimes disappearing altogether for awhile before returning.
3) some forms of epilepsy can cause the dazed look and lack of body control, often setting in during periods of activity or excitement,
4) and heart issues also can affect stamina, but not affect their awareness, so I would consider small strokes, called TIA to be more likely than cardiomyopathy. (trans-ischemic attacks).
Hopefully this helps give you other things to talk to your vet about. On the blog is a link to a yahoo group for owners of dogs with Wobblers, who are very knowledgable about the disease, and sometimes Wobbler’s “look alike” illnesses.
Since some possible causes of your dogs’ problem can be treated, if your vet suggests you take him to a veterinary college and you can afford it, I definitely would. Do keep us updated if you want?
Truman, my Blue GD almost 11 years, was diagnosed with possible wobblers @ Univ of Fl small animal clinic ,6 years ago.
I was there treating my female dane for bone cancer. When she passed, I noticed Truman hanging is head, and slipping alot on floor and even collapsing. He was 5 @ the time, & also had a broken leg @ 3mo old. He has a plate W/ screws holing it together. I changed his food to Eagle holistic and cooked for him from that day on. Limited his exercise to whatever he wanted and synomvieG3 granules, thats it. He is still around, but now slowing down & losing weight. Vet put him on prednisone and I see an improvement, but I notice his paws curling now. Knockles to the ground in back, which is where he broke his leg. He eats what I cook for him and only wants to do his business outisde and come right back in. He lays around all day & night except to eat. He was panting some before steriods, & still after. I don’t think he’s in pain, but not real happy. When he is not happy he cries usually, and he is not doing that. I will not put him under anestesia, he has a terrible time with it, but I am sick over what do next for him.
Since his broken leg @ 3months, he was a cuddly couch potatoe, so he continues living that way, but losing muscle mass and getting weaker. I really don’t know what else to do!
Hello,
I have a 5 year old male Dane named Cosmo. In recent months we have noticed his back legs shaking or quivering. His legs quiver when he first stands up, or if he stretches out when he’s sleeping they will start shaking a bit. It only last for a few seconds. Other than that he seems normal. He is running up and down the stairs, jumping in bed, and rough housing with his sister. His gait is normal. He is not showing any signs of pain either. The shaking is definitely becoming more pronounced. We walk everyday for about 20 min and now people are starting to ask “why are his legs shaking?”
We are going to take him in for x-rays and blood tests. Anyone out there ever experience this? I really don’t think it’s Wobblers.
Thanks very much,
Angie and Cosmo
Hi Angie,
My 4yr old Dane was diagnosed with Wobblers just over a year ago. He was a very active pup… but had some small issues including being very clumsy and shaking like you are describing. His gait was also a bit off, but it was not until he was 3 that we really started to notice how much touble he was having. He began falling, struggling to jump or go up/down stairs & he couldn’t finish our walks without being exhausted. He was literally dragging his paws on the concrete! If it is Wobblers that Cosmo has, the Xray probably won’t show much. I would ask your vet if they know of anyone who specializes in Danes or Wobblers. We have been able to mostly stabalize our Danes Wobblers with limited activity (let him do only what he can), diet, and the use of steroid treatments as needed. Our vet has been so proactive and wonderful helping us handle this. Hope that helps.
Thank you so much for your input. Cosmo went today for x-rays but unfortunately couldn’t get them, he will have to be sedated and he had just eaten the hour before they were unable to do the x-rays at todays visit. Our vet did an orthopedic exam and didn’t see any signs of Wobblers. Neck good and gait looked normal. She did see stiffness in his hips. At this point if the blood work comes back clean she’s pretty certain it’s arthritis or hip dysplasia. We’ll know more when he goes in early next week for full hip and neck x-rays. Feeling a little better now.
Thanks for sharing.
I have been raising Doberman for about 30 years and we encounter the same maladies. Dobes get Wobblers, dysplacia and on and on. My only reply to you is that the breeding of theses dogs has increased the occurance of these diseases and there is not much you can do about it. It has been said that you should know the complete breeding history of your line but my experience says that is all but impossible. Impossible because of the greed of the breeders. I have encounted falseifide pedigrees and phony registrations and on and on. The AKC will tell you in a flash that they are a club only and rely only on the word of the breeder. There is no Policeing of the breeding that is truly reliable. You might think that paying thousands for a dog with guarantees removes the risk but that simply is not the truth. Read the guarantee closely, even if it’s enforceable for years to come you will still have only civil legal recourse and that isnt likely to happen. I hate to rain on your parade but the treatment for may of the ills today are only temporary. Steroids are great temporay relief but have you read up on the side effects of steroids. Try reading up on Prednisone, it will scare you. Just because your dog’s legs shake at times does not necessairly mean he has Wobblers. If he does there isnt much you can do anyway, just dont let him suffer. Dont rush to judgement and question everything your vet says. These days the vets are as greedy as the breeders. Dont just go along with every suggestion they make, it will break you and your dog will still pass on eventually. I have two on Predisone right now, I know it wont cure anything but it eases there suffering. About the blood test, why are you taking blood, what are they hoping to find in his blood? Wobbler isnt determined by blood test. Limedisease maybe, do you suspect Lime? Get my point? The vet is going to run as many test as you will allow.
I wish you good luck Angie & Cosmo and if you like you can respond directly to me. My guess is that you are a young couple and quite attached to your pet. That makes you vulnerable to the pittfalls. I’ll bet no one told you the problems having a Dane you are likely to encounter.
Hi Dennis,
Thanks for your input. Cosmo is going for x-rays next week, he has to be sedated. After an orthopedic exam our vet is almost certain it’s hip dysplasia or arthritis.He has noticeable stiffness in his hips. She wanted to do a blood test to check for thyroid and possibly Addisons disease. He hasn’t had his blood checked except for his annual heartworm test so we thought it was a good idea to check for everything. I haven’t even started to check into treatment (meds) for arthritis or dysplasia. She did recommend we start him on Glucosamine. We’ll get the final diagnosis next week after the x-rays.
Thanks.
Hi,
I came across your message. I have a 5 year old great dane, Tucker, whose hind legs shake similar to your dog. I was curious if you have an offical diagnosis. Tucker’s hind legs shake most of the time. He doesn’t seem in pain but it seems to annoy him some times. Also, his sister has wobblers which seems completely different.
Hi Heather,
Thankfully our vet was correct in his diagnosis in believing the meds were causing her intestinal discomfort. Per his recommendation, as soon as we took her off the Metronidazole, she was back to normal. I’ve also stopped all the extra supplements (except the joint & Salmon oil supps) and put her on a lower protein food. Sorry, I wish I could have provided you with more as far as input for Wobblers.
I have a 2 year old (almost 3) male great dane who was diagnosed with Wobblers (or so the vet thinks) when he was around 13 months. Our vet recommended thought that is what he had and sent us to a surgery center that specializes in orthopedics and CVI problems. The vet there pretty much confirmed his condition. He, like most of you have said, did not recommend a mylogram because it is so hard on their bodies. He is on prednisone and it seems to help. I also switched his food to Eagle Holistic Select and I have seen an improvement in his behavior and his movement as well. Does anyone else have any helpful tidbits of information? I would be willing to try ANYTHING that would help him feel more comfortable. The main problem I have with him is that he will not walk on a floor. He fell down (and hit hard) around the time he was diagnosed with Wobblers and to this day.. he will not walk on a floor. We have carpet runners all down our halls and rooms just so he can walk. ANy suggestions?? Danes are such wonderful dogs – it is terrible to see them with this problem. He loved to swim, play ball, and dance with me.. now he is unable to do all of those.
Elaine, I am sorry for your baby’s problem, but don’t let him see your sadness and gloom. Changing his food to Eagle Holistic is great and maybe you can find a holistic doctor to treat with acupuncture, even massage that you can do yourself. Rub his legs up, keeping blood flowing towards his heart. Hip rubs also, my guy loved it. He would wack me when I stopped rubbing. I took his choke chain off also and he didn’t wear a collar for 6 years, not such a great idea if your yard is not gated, but a loose, light collar. Let you puppy be a couch potatoe, no more dancing, but swimming would be helpful with a preserver, just in case. Maybe the wobblers will not progress and be mild, it is possible. I personally think surgery is brutal recovery for them. I don’t like steriods either, but sometimes we have no choice. Check his liver every 3months if he stays on pred. My guy also fell once and was terrified to walk on wood again, so we did the same thing and bought a bunch of runners. He will get use to staying on the runner. They are so smart, he just doesn’t want to fall again. They are more careful than us. Good luck and enjoy every moment with positive attitude. Danes are so sensitive and aware of our feelings, scares me sometimes, but in a good way.
Good Luck!!
My blue dane, Duncan was diagnosed with wobblers about 16 months ago. I opted against surgery and tried accupuncture, massage, etc. I changed his diet to Solid Gold Holistic (basically a low protein). The vet put him on Vetridisc and Dasuquin. Then I bought rug after rug and runner after runner. He was managing, but worried about it all. Then the acupuncturist (who is also a vet) recommended a product called canine corta-flx. It is another glucosamine product, but one that has had successful clinical trials on dogs – is proven to work in other words. Within 3 weeks of using the liquid version, I saw a distinct improvement. He has improved ever since and now the runners are all put away and he chooses to lie on the wood floor again. The vet was shocked when he saw him again last month. He couldn’t believe how well he was moving. It has been a “miracle drug” for Duncan. http://www.corta-flx.com. The bottle says it is sold to veterinarians only. Hope this helps.
I don’t have a great dane or doberman but Stella my three year old Saint Bernard just got diagnosed with Wobbler syndrome. She is 140 lbs and was slipping all over our tile floor, finally stopped trying to get up. We got her up, to the vet, and after prednisone she can walk now. I’m hoping for the best but worried. I can’t find much in terms of support groups–I’d love to be part of this one even though she’s not the typical breed for this.
Like I said in the email, Wobblers can affect any dog regardless of breed. I so very much hope Stella gets back on her feet and has a happy life despite her condition. Here’s the link for everyone to the support group: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/wobblerssyndrome/
[...] restricting nerves and causing neurological problems. There is a test to determine if in fact it is Wobblers, but that test is $2000 and if it was determined to be Wobblers, the surgery would be an additional [...]
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Wow, so many false statements left here on this comment list regarding treatment of wobbler dogs that I can’t even begin to address them all. I would just like to put it out there that surgery is a very good treatment option for these dogs. It has a high success rate. I’ve had direct correspondence with people who chose surgery and those who chose gold bead implants. Hands down, the surgical outcomes have been much better off than those who used gold beads. To join a support group for dogs with a variety of neurological issues: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/neurodogs I can also be reached at my yahoo email as jwoschultz
I have a Great Dane who has Wobblers and bloated all before the age of 2 years old. His breeder has breed his sister from the same mother but different father. The bloodline has been destoried. The father of my Dane still sells his stud fees on-line and he has the genes. Is there some where to report this so others don’t have to go through the expense and heartbreak of this disease. I would not want anyone to breed with this male nor purchase the puppies that have been recently born from this breeder. Please provide more information if possible. Thanks
I have an 8 month old dobie female who all of a sudden started having a hard time getting up. It seemed she was hesitant to sit up, and more so to stand up. Once up though, she runs, trots, still plays, holds her head just fine, and goes to the bathroom just fine. I have to disclose she is being treated for Kennel cough and Giardia (was at puppy boot camp for 3 weeks), so she’s one three different meds. Could it be gastrointestinal discomfort due to all the meds she’s on? I thought I was doing the right thing by feeding her a large breed puppy food (Wellness), and giving her supplements. But after reading up on wobblers, I’m worried. I’ve contacted her vet and scheduled another appt. Any other suggestions on what it could be if not wobblers?
Angela, I suggest no supplements or meds other than than the meds directly pointed at the syndrome. The food you feed should have all the vitamins necessary and you may be administering so much as to be toxic and aggravate the condition. How’s her weight? Is she heavy…I’ll guess she is. Recently there was some food on the market that aggravated what is being called wobblers. I found that a two week treatment of steriods woked well for my Dobes but be aware that steriods are believed to be carcenogenic. Do your homework (as you are doing now) and don’t let the vet lead you by the nose, if you know what I mean. Vets love to jump to conclusions and run unecessary test. Even if they diagnose wobblers they can only medicate even though some butchers want to operate. Use caution, cut out the supplements and, keeep her weight down and limit her exrecise until she improves is my suggestion. Eight months is too early for this problem to manifest you may have a serious condition. I further suggest that if you have a university in your area that has a vet department you consult them. We have LSU in my area and they are wonderful and not necessarily motivated by the money involved. Good luck!
DH
I have just found out that my great dane has wobblers he is only 9 months old. I thought that he was just clumsy.The older that he is getting the more things are happening,he has just started to walk on his knuckles with his front legs.Its not all the time just every now and then.Sometimes when he is running or walking his back legs go out from under neath him.He is always falling down and slipping on any surface.Is there anything that can help that doent involve the surgury.
We had the same problem with our female dane at age 2 and were discouraged with the few treatment options. We tried prednisone and three years later it is still working (knock on wood). She runs and plays with her brother without any stumbling.
I have a 7 year old dane with wobblers who has seemed to compensate pretty well with her limitations. She has the choppy, slow walk, falling at times, until she sees a motorcycle and then she’s off like a flash so I don’t think she’s in a lot of pain. The problem now though is a big one. She is dropping stools and doesn’t even seem to realize it. Does anyone know if putting her on prednisone will help this? I don’t want to put her down but after months of cleaning up her bed and floor (which is in the kitchen area) most every day, I’m not sure how long I can do this.
I found your feedback on Wobblers very interesting. We lost our first Great Dane just short of 2 years of a massive heart attack. Needless to say, I was devastated. I had always wanted a dane, and after months of research, we finally chose one from a reknowned kennel, registered, did everything right.
Anyway, my grief was all-encompassing, then a friend mentioned a great dane litter that she heard about. I said NO, right away, but couldn’t stop thinking of it. Finally, I went to look at them, fell in love with Spencer, brought my husband, and we were the proud parents of a non-registered harlequin boy. Because we live in a rural area, I opted at the same time as he was neutered, to have his stomach sewn in place so that he wouldn’t get bloat.
When he was 11 months, he developed weakening in the back end. Within a week, he progressed from a slight movement in the back end, to not being able to stand up while pooing , walking like he was drunk and having to be helped up and down the stairs.
We live in British Columbia, Canada, and our vet urged us to take him to Washington State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital for a definitive diagnosis. I took him the next day and they did an MRI on him. He ended up having his neck fused. It was a major operation and recuperation was slow and painful.
He was 3 years old in September, and is doing well. He does not take any more medication, (I have steroids for him if he gets a flare-up, but it is hard on his kidneys and he goes pee constantly).
He still has emotional effects from the trauma of it all, and drags his back feet, is clumsy,constantly scraping his legs and feet. He can’t walk on pavement, or his nails bleed. His world is quite small, and he is not socialized very well, but he seems quite happy, and is spoiled rotten.
I will not ever get another Great Dane, I love the breed, but wasn’t prepared for the heartache at such young ages.
If you suspect Wobblers Disease, get it diagnosed as soon as possible, because the damage done cannot be reversed, but can be slowed down or stopped for a time.