Spondylolisthesis in Dogs

Causes

• Wobbler syndrome occurs because of a deformity of the vertebrae in the neck of the affected dog. With wobbler syndrome, the opening of the spinal canal is abnormally smaller than what's needed. That results in pressure along the spinal cord.

  The condition is often a congenital defect of the dog and as the dog grows, the condition will worsen.

  Any breed of dog can develop this condition, however more than eighty percent of all cases of affected dogs reported tend to be either Great Danes or Doberman Pinschers.

Common Symptoms

• Veterinarian Race Foster of Drs. Foster & Smith, in an article for peteducation.com, notes that symptoms can appear at any age and that most dogs will begin to display symptoms prior to four years of age. However in Great Danes the symptoms appear earlier than in Doberman Pinschers. The most common sign of wobbler syndrome is when the dog begins to avoid any movement of the neck, such as bending. There may also be mild to severe pain when the dog's neck is touched or your dog may display symptoms of pain without any contact whatsoever.

Additional Symptoms

• According to veterinarians practicing at the Southern California Veterinary Specialty Hospital, following the neck, dogs who suffer from wobbler syndrome will also begin to show signs of trouble with their hind legs. That is soon followed by problems with their front legs. You may notice that your dog has an altered gait and may be swaying from side to side whenever she walks. Eventually, weakness will spread to both sets of legs and your dog may have difficulty with general movements of the limbs.

Treatment

• Treatment will vary based on the severity of the dog's condition and whether or not the correct condition is identified by the veterinarian. Medications such as anti-inflammatory and pain medications can be used in order to relieve pain and swelling in the neck along the spinal cord. Surgery is also an option for dogs who are suffering from wobbler syndrome. In surgery, a portion of the vertebrae can be removed or there can be alterations made to the spinal cord. Both of those surgeries will provide additional space and alleviate some of the pressure to the spinal cord. However, there is no guarantee on recovery or the life expectancy of the dog following surgery.

Paralysis

• According to veterinarian Race Foster, dogs who do not receive treatment may eventually suffer from partial or total paralysis. Once paralysis occurs, there may be few---if any---treatment options available for the dog. If you suspect that your dog has wobbler syndrome or has displayed any of these symptoms, it is important that he gets to the veterinarian as soon as possible.