Spinal cord disorders in dogs are extremely serious and require examination by a veterinarian. In some cases, a disorder will only necessitate prohibiting a dog from strenuous exercise. In other cases, prescription drugs and corrective surgery are the only viable treatments. Since the prognosis can dramatically change the treatment, it is important that owners relay physical symptoms to their veterinarian to help attain an accurate diagnosis.
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Wobbler Syndrome
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Wobbler syndrome, also known as cervical spondylomyelopathy, afflicts larger dogs such as Great Danes and middle-aged Doberman pinschers. In this disorder, a constricted spinal canal compresses the spinal cord too tightly. This disorder is degenerative if not treated immediately. A loss of coordination first occurs in the hind legs. Thereafter, the extra pressure applied to the back of the spinal cord can cause severe pain and damage to the hind cervical vertebrae. Paralysis of the hind legs can occur without treatment and can even spread to the front legs. The best treatment for wobbler syndrome is corrective surgery that will decompress the spinal cord. The procedure removes damaged disc tissue during the procedure and stabilizes the vertebrae.
Intervertebral Disc Disease
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Intervertebral disc disease is a result of damage to the tissue that separates the intervertebral disc and the spinal cord. This damages the intervertebral discs through excessive wear or possible ruptures. The tissue that separates the disc from the spinal cord can also rupture, causing extreme pain. Neck pain, inability or unwillingness to walk and muscle spasms are effects of the disorder. If a dog has a mild case of intervertebral disc disease, veterinarians will sometimes suggest that the dog rest for several weeks in order for the dog's body to repair the damaged tissue. More severe cases require medication and corrective surgery. Smaller dog breeds called chondrodystrophoids are susceptible to the disease since they have a form of dwarfism. Common examples of chondrodystophoid breeds are beagles, dachshunds and cocker spaniels.
Chronic Degenerative Myelopathy
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Chronic degenerative myelopathy is caused by a erosion of nerve impulses in the spinal cord. The effects of inadequate nerve impulses will be a loss of coordination in the hind legs and will lead to weakness in the hind limbs and then paralysis. This disorder is most common in German shepherds and in middle-aged medium-sized dogs. There is no known treatment for this disorder. If a dog has this disorder, veterinarians will either prescribe medicine to slow down the progression of the disease or help owners adjust in order to make the dog as comfortable as possible.
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