The wobbliness certainly sounds like Wobblers. Ordinary X-rays can sometimes pick up on spine abnormalities (misaligned vertebrae or narrowed spaces between the disks), but often a myelogram is used to make a definitive Wobblers diagnosis because it can show a narrowing in the vertebral canal itself. An MRI may be even better. But those are both expensive.
The other symptoms could be related to something else.
Being overweight despite attempts to lower his weight does sound like hypothyroid, and skin problems, including sores that won't heal, can be a symptom--has he had a complete thyroid panel done? To get a really good reading on that, tests are usually sent away. Michigan State University Vet School is considered the gold standard for this kind of testing, I believe. If hypothyroid is present, you would see a high TSH and a low T4 on the tests.
Cushing's typically can cause thyroid problems, too, and there are some tests which are generally abnormal with the disease. But like thyroid disease, that diagnosis just indicates there are certain symptoms and lab test abnormalities, The diseases can have several different causes, which may need additional testing to diagnose.
The area between his toes where he has been licking sounds like he may have developed a lick granuloma too. Dogs will sometimes lick at the same place on their feet and wrists, perhaps because of a thorn or some kind of irritation initially (which could be related to a spinal problem), but only manage to make the area even more irritated --> more licking --> more irritation--> more licking.....and so on. Dobes already have a tendency to OCD, and this kind of thing can become a habit very quickly.
But I am NOT a vet! All I can do is spout out some general info to you. The orthopedist you are seeing should be able to recommend definitive tests for his lameness. Skin problems can be more difficult to diagnose--you might want to ask if it would help to bring a dermatology specialist into the picture, especially if there is the possibility that you have more than one thing going on. It may be that you need the kind of testing that is typically not done by a general practitioner. Unfortunately, the more uncommon the test, the more likelihood that it will be very expensive. That is why vets will often recommend some basic treatments to see if they have any effect before going further into it with more complicated tests.
Best of luck that you can figure out what is going on and find a good treatment for it. There's not much that is worse than not knowing what is going wrong with your dog's health. I hope you get some answers, the sooner the better.
The other symptoms could be related to something else.
Being overweight despite attempts to lower his weight does sound like hypothyroid, and skin problems, including sores that won't heal, can be a symptom--has he had a complete thyroid panel done? To get a really good reading on that, tests are usually sent away. Michigan State University Vet School is considered the gold standard for this kind of testing, I believe. If hypothyroid is present, you would see a high TSH and a low T4 on the tests.
Cushing's typically can cause thyroid problems, too, and there are some tests which are generally abnormal with the disease. But like thyroid disease, that diagnosis just indicates there are certain symptoms and lab test abnormalities, The diseases can have several different causes, which may need additional testing to diagnose.
The area between his toes where he has been licking sounds like he may have developed a lick granuloma too. Dogs will sometimes lick at the same place on their feet and wrists, perhaps because of a thorn or some kind of irritation initially (which could be related to a spinal problem), but only manage to make the area even more irritated --> more licking --> more irritation--> more licking.....and so on. Dobes already have a tendency to OCD, and this kind of thing can become a habit very quickly.
But I am NOT a vet! All I can do is spout out some general info to you. The orthopedist you are seeing should be able to recommend definitive tests for his lameness. Skin problems can be more difficult to diagnose--you might want to ask if it would help to bring a dermatology specialist into the picture, especially if there is the possibility that you have more than one thing going on. It may be that you need the kind of testing that is typically not done by a general practitioner. Unfortunately, the more uncommon the test, the more likelihood that it will be very expensive. That is why vets will often recommend some basic treatments to see if they have any effect before going further into it with more complicated tests.
Best of luck that you can figure out what is going on and find a good treatment for it. There's not much that is worse than not knowing what is going wrong with your dog's health. I hope you get some answers, the sooner the better.
