| Doberman : Wobbler’s syndrome | | | | Commonly seen in older Dobermans, from 3 to 8 |
| The Doberman Pinscher, bred to be an | | | | years of age, it is known to have affected |
| outstanding guard-dog, is very energetic. The | | | | smaller dogs as well. The younger dogs may |
| Doberman, unfriendly and ferocious as it might | | | | often die as a result of this disorder, as they are |
| seem, loves to be physically close to its family | | | | less capable of coping with it. The spinal cord |
| members. | | | | compression occurs mostly in the vertebrae c5, |
| Highly intelligent, fearless and loyal, the Dobe | | | | c6, and c7. |
| needs an owner that is willing to discipline him | | | | There are treatments to take care of this |
| without being afraid of him. He needs to be | | | | disorder but it depends on the severity of the |
| properly socialized to prevent over-protectiveness. | | | | spinal compression. Cortisone treatment helps |
| This breed needs consistent mental stimulation | | | | reduce inflammation of the spinal cord, while |
| through positive reinforcement to stay happy and | | | | acupuncture is said to work as a pain relief. |
| in good health. | | | | Chiropractic adjustment too cannot be ruled out |
| The Doberman is generally healthy. You would | | | | but it might lead to severe complications in certain |
| hardly ever find him giving in to temperature | | | | cases. |
| differences or to mild ailments. All it takes are | | | | In severe cases, surgery would be the most |
| quick medication and appropriate exercise to get | | | | plausible resort, but one is advised to always to |
| him back on his feet. | | | | go in for a MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) |
| However, cervical spondilytis due to fusion of | | | | before doing a surgery. |
| neck vertebrae and compression of spinal cord, | | | | An alternative to surgery is Gold Beads Implant, |
| commonly referred to as the “Wobbler’s | | | | when magnetically charged gold plated |
| syndrome” might affect this dog. This | | | | Beads are implanted in the dog wherever pain |
| disorder is rampant among these dogs and | | | | needs to be relieved. |
| starting with the hind legs, it might even lead to | | | | The major cause of Wobblers Syndrome is yet |
| complete dysfunction of all four limbs. | | | | to be known but some of the causes aregenetics, |
| The common symptoms are a wobbly gait, | | | | conformation of the neck, malnutrition, or injury. |
| (which gives the disorder its name), a stilted | | | | Preventative breeding can be an option but |
| manner of walking on the front feet, a dragging | | | | because dogs don’t show symptoms before |
| of the hind feet, severe neck pain and the neck | | | | their breeding age, it cannot be entirely relied on. |
| hanging in a downward position. | | | | Therefore, one can only gather complete |
| These symptoms might even grow into the | | | | information on Wobblers in Pedigrees and thus, |
| worst possible situation where the dog would be | | | | breed responsibly, so that one can get a perfectly |
| rendered completely motionless. | | | | healthy Doberman later. |