My dog has Wobblers. What are the best non-surgical treatment options?

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Wobbler's syndrome is instability or compression of the spinal cord in the neck, leading to neck pain or lack of communication between the brain and the limbs, leading to an 'ataxic' or drunk looking gait/walking. From the image Pablo looks like he has something wrong or some pain, however I cannot tell from the image if it is Wobblers. I recommend a visit to your vet, or a consult with a neuro or surgical specialist. An MRI or CT is usually required for diagnosis. Best of luck with Pablo!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Nidge! There is no surgical management for arthritis sadly. It is managed with non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, joint supplements (Dasuquin, Adequan), keeping the dog lean and fit, other pain modalities (tramadol, gabapentin), alternative treatments like accupuncture, chiropractics and laser, physical therapy. I hope this helps and I wish Nidge the best!

Wheelchairs are generally indicated when a pet has trouble walking and can no longer use the back legs very well. If this is the case for Sara, then a wheelchair may be beneficial. Otherwise focus on providing pain medication and joint supplements. Also focus on daily, low impact exercise such as a daily walk and swimming which will help to maintain muscle mass and stability. If you have additional questions, please feel free to post.

I'm so sorry that you and your Bella are going through this. I recommend speaking to your veterinarian about financing options such as CareCredit that may allow you to have the surgery performed, as the surgery would give her the best chance at walking again. Also contact your local Humane Society/shelters to see if they know of other companies that provide financing options. If surgery is not an option for you, I recommend you look into pain management and crate rest through your veterinarian, and contact a veterinary acupuncturist immediately. In some cases acupuncture and rehabilitation/physiotherapy can help restore at least some function in dogs with IVDD. Time is of the essence in IVDD cases, so please look into treatment right away, preferably via immediate surgery. Best of luck to you both. See the links below for more information. http://www.tcvm.com/Resources/FindaTCVMPractitioner.aspx https://www.carecredit.com/

There is more you can do for Dexter. He may improve with acupuncture for the neurological deficits and it can relieve his pain and help him relax and enjoy life. As far as the walking goes getting him specific exercises to retrain his legs will improve his walking. If there is a veterinary rehabilitation center near you they should be able to help you with these exercises and get you in touch with an acupuncture veterinarian. If they offer hydrotherapy, walking in the underwater treadmill will improve his strength and gait. Many dogs do get better so please continue with the medication and seek out some alternative treatments if you can. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Dexter.

The alternative to surgery is time, physical therapy, and pain medications. I would recommend starting with an examination by a vet to determine what the issue is and if it is starting to cause neurologic deficits. The vet can help determine the best course of treatment and supportive therapies to keep Buzz comfortable. It is also important to do cage rest (the doggie equivalent of bed rest) if you think that he is having another bulging disc.

I would suggest asking your vet for more potent treatments if he is having this hard of a time getting around. Poor guy. : ( The best treatment for severe degnerative joint disease is by giving your pet multple medications. Adequan injections are a top of the line treatment that your vet should hvae in the clinic. Ask about pricing and dosage frequencies associated with this medication. It helps with pain and inflammation and appropriate fluid in the joint space. Also your pet should be on 1-2 pain medications, including Rimadyl and Tramadol. All of these medications work well together to help control pain and inflammaiton. And lastly you should consider getting Stew on a joint supplement. My top pick here is Dasuquin joint supplements found on Amazon.com. It contains 3 ingredients: glucosamine, MSM and chondroitin, which all help support the joint and cartilage. Multiple drug treatment for dogs with degnerative joint disease is a staple for pets and often is the most successful versus just relying on just one medication. They all work synergistically with each other and can help achieve decent mobility for your pet. https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951467 Best wishes with Stew moving forward. I hope that he is able to gain the majority of his mobility back soon! Take care.