Schiff-Sherrington Syndrome in Dogs

Schiff-Sherrington syndrome occurs when lesions form on your dog's spinal cord. Often, these lesions are caused by a back injury or a herniated disk. The syndrome tends to come on suddenly. A dog with Schiff-Sherrington syndrome may have difficulty walking or performing his usual activities. Symptoms can be severe, and your dog will need veterinary attention to survive.

  1. Symptoms

    • Schiff-Sherrington syndrome commonly causes paralysis in one or more of the dog's legs. Some dogs with the syndrome sit with their front legs extended rigidly or have difficulty walking or standing. Your dog may be able to walk, but with an abnormal gait; others may be unable to walk or stand at all. Dogs suffering from Schiff-Sherrington may display pain-related symptoms, including whining or crying.

    Diagnosis

    • Schiff-Sherrington syndrome can be reversed, but not without dedicated and appropriate veterinary care. Take your dog to the veterinarian immediately if you see symptoms of Schiff-Sherrington syndrome and follow your vet's recommendations and instructions regarding care of your dog. Some vets will refer your dog to a specialist in orthopedics or canine neurology. Schiff-Sherrington syndrome is typically diagnosed using a combination of physical examination, blood tests, and CT or MRI scans. You can help the diagnosis by giving your veterinarian a full and accurate health history for your dog.

    Treatment

    • Treatment options for Schiff-Sherrington syndrome include steroids or surgery. The sooner after trauma or disk injury your dog can receive prednisone injections from a veterinarian, the better. These steroid shots can reduce swelling in the affected areas and reduce the severity of symptoms. Surgery can remove the affected discs or lesions. Your dog's age, medical history and current state of health will be factors in deciding whether surgery is appropriate.

    Outlook

    • Schiff-Sherrington syndrome can be reversed in many cases. Even though a sudden onset of paralysis or problems standing may make you fear the worst for your dog's future, timely medical intervention can restore normal function in many cases. However, if your pet does not improve after aggressive medical intervention or surgery, you may need to consider whether putting her to sleep would be the kindest option in the long term.