alwayshadpets

Zeus, my daughters` dog was diagnosed yesterday with Wobblers. Zeus is 91/2 and has been a healthy dog. His sire died of complications of Wobblers at the age of 11. Zeus had a romp in the snow and the next day he was limping. We all thought he sprained his foot. It did not get better. Turns out it is his neck.
My understanding of Wobblers is that it is the narrowing of the spinal vertebrae and that puts pressure on the spinal cord.Treatment is needed to prevent possible paralysis. Zeus is on steroids and some other meds (he was put on these late yesterday afternoon). Further treatment will be determined today. The tough part is he is to be kept quiet and he cannot go upstairs. He sleeps upstairs in bed with my daughter and her husband--has since he was a baby-so this is going to be tough. My daughter has young children and is expecting a baby next month. Timing is not good.
Anyone have any thoughts on this disease and the prognosis with him being 91/2 years old?

lyngr

Awww. Poor guy.

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Well.. hoodle dangle doodle!

katekev04

Alwayshadpets, My red doberman has wobblers, At about 3 to 4 months he was becoming paralized-couldn't get up without falling down. I live in Western NY and there was no one around that could help. My old vet said surgery, which he told me that it would cost around 4 to 8 thousand and a 25 percent chance he would never walk again. My wife was researching on the internet and found a woman named Christy and her dobe Sylivia. We emailed her and she told us about a vet in Marion Indian named Dr. Durkes who invented these gold bead implants at the accupuncter points in the neck. I thought it was complete bull but I had to make the drive. It was $1000 dollars and my dobe only stayed for eight hours. He had his neck wrapped for six weeks. Now, my dobe is 2 and a half years old and he's running, jumping and can get up with no problem. Thank God for him! If you want anymore info pm me. There is hope!

tragas

I feel for you, as I know it well my first ever doberman in Toronto had wobblers, she lived with it 3 years after it diagnosed, I had no choice but to put her down at age 10,
Although back then the Vets' didn't perscribe anything, I noticed if it was humid or very stressed she was worse, Diet plays a huge roll i think also as I saw a huge change , when she first was diagnosed she couldn't stand up to pee or eat, she was laying down period, then i changed her diet, mostly raw back then and she was up and running around 9 day's out of 10, Huge difference. This helped her for over 3 years and was almost back to normal give or take a few rough day's out of the month.

At her age of 10 i was going through a very bad divorce, she just went down hill over night wouldn't eat, was very stressed and just went totally downhill practially overnight, 20 day's alter , I had to put her down it was the best for her, as she got pretty bad.

VaBtrfly

I lost my 6 year old female to Wobblers many years ago. At the time, the surgery available was much less effective than it is today. Still, it shouldn't be entered in to lightly. It takes a very long time for the dog to recover and even if successful, the dogs quailty of life is never quite the same.

In my case, from onset to end, it was about 15 months. I didn't opt for surgery and instead took a holistic approach... acupuncture, water based exercises, diet with extra supplementation, etc. All of these things kept her active up until the last 4 days of her life. I also relied on my vets expertise for the pain management end of the deal. She was extremely comfortable (although a bit unhappy with her more restrictive lifestyle, lol.)

Many cases of Wobblers can present quite differently which is why nailing down specific treatment plans can take some time and much effort on the part of the owner and the vet. There are also many levels of functionality from one dog to the next. Some Wobblers dogs have pain while others loose mobility without the pain. It would be hard to make any prognosis because of this. Obviously the common thread is the loss of quality of life for the dog as well as the owner.

You can find loads of information on the DPCA breeders education site.

Article Menu - DPCA Breeders Education, Doberman Pinscher Club of America, Dobermans, Clubs, America, USA

I'm sure you've already seen it but wanted to add the link anyway.

It is odd how it sometimes comes about out of the blue. My Keely-Girl woke up one morning with her back hunched up like a Halloween cat. There seemed to be no precipitating injury or stressor. Other than the genetic weakness of her cervical spinal column. This is why I am not an advocate of traditional choke training collars. The use of this collar in dobes is never a good idea simply because it's difficult to know which dog will be adversely affected by it. Of course this is merely my opinion, so please people.... DON'T SHOOT! LOL.

At any rate, I'm sending best wishes and good thoughts to your granddoggy and his family. Please keep us posted.

Take care,
VB

BackInBlack

I cant be of any help, but I am really sorry to hear this. I hope that the treatment helps. Best Wishes from NC.

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KCFilley

I don't know anything about Wobblers and hopefully Reddobes and Kim will chime in shortly. I just wanted to tell you that I'm so sorry this happened, especially with your daughter being due. Thank goodness she and Zeus have you in their lives.

All the support and best wishes possible coming your way.

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If ya git ta thinkin' yer a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around. Cowboy wisdom.

Dobemom2b

Just wanted to wish you all the best.

Reds

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Brotherly Love

Goathawg

Have had two dogs with wobblers and both have responded well to accupuncture.

My first dobe with it began to show signs at about age 5.5. Accupuncture for about 6 months then Rimadyl kept him going with a reasonably good quality of life until 10.5 when he finally got down and couldn't get up. Another thing I think contributed to his long survival period was getting another dog which forced the old dog to exercise & be competitive.

My current rescue is 9.5 and got down in the rear to where he wouldn't even paddle his feet if you lifted his hind end. Therapy of accupuncture & Adequan injections and he his running & playing with our younger dogs. I can't overstress how important I think exercise is if you can get them mobile again.

Be positive. I know from experience that relatively successful outcomes are possible. Wish the best for your dobe.