Doberman Rescue of New Mexico

Wobblers Disease (CVI)

Wobblers Disease, also known as Spondololithesis or Cervical Vertebral Instability (CVI) is caused by the compression or malformation of the lower cervical vertebrae. The disease form of the syndrome is most prevalent in Dobermans and Great Danes, but is relatively rare overall. Like Arthritis in humans, individual dogs can either have early onset of the disease, like Rheumatism, or develop the condition starting in older age with increasing severity over time.

Symptoms include an affected gate starting in the rear legs and becoming more obvious in all movement as the condition progresses. Dogs may appear drunk or drugged and have a particularly hard time turning sharply or getting up from a prone position.

Causes are attributed to many things, including genetics, fast growth rate during puppy-hood, stress due to prolonged collar/leash pressure and possibly bending to eat at ground level. Individuals that are most likely to develop the condition have the typically sought after muscular long necks that are seen in Dobermans and Great Danes. Feeding large dogs like this with elevated food bowls and using a harness instead of collar
is suggested to help prevent development of CVI.

Diagnosis and treatment are difficult and carry no guarantees. Veterinarians can do some physical tests to look for signs of Wobblers as well as X-rays, but Mylograms (dye injected into Spinal column and X-rayed) are the most revealing and expensive. In some cases surgery can help to correct the problem.

Doberman Rescue of New Mexico has taken in 4 elder dogs for hospice with this condition. There is no pain involved, only a slow degradation of motility. Accupuncture can alleviate the symptoms as well as Chiropractics. Doberman Rescue of NM has never taken in a true Wobblers Disease Doberman, though we have met a couple of these very special pups.