Canine Spondylosis

[Pom]

I've just found out my 4 year old dogue de bordeaux X boxer Madeline has Canine spondylosis.

I've been reading about it on the net but was wondering if anyone has had experence managing this?

[Dogsfevr]

Yes .

Keep the dog lean.

Keep them as fit as possible & make sure they move around especially winter

Pick a bed that is comfy but flat(we used a top range mattress as trampoline style beds make them worse.

I use bowen monthly

I always ensure the dog has it's coat on when cold ,this can even apply in summer with air cons.

We do use the pentasan(SP) injections .

I also use natural & have found the rose hip tablets to work very well but aren't cheap but again it is case by case.

My dog has coped very well

[Pom]

Thanks for that showdog.

I'm relieved it's something that can be managed.

We noticed she was having problems getting up and was randomly yelping when she walked about 4 weeks ago.

The vet origanlly thought it was her hips, arthritis or hip dysplasia and had her on Cartrophen injections and tablets.

She was xrayed today.

I'll buy her a coat this weekend, not sure how I'll go keeping it on her.

Would a snoozer bed be ok, between her and my boy they've ripped apart every bed I've gotten them (including a sofa)

[Dogsfevr]

hard when there bed eaters,thankfully mine loves his creature comforts.

You can only do so much when the dog doesn't co operate but the main thing would be avoiding sleeping on cold floors as much as possible.

I also have a heat bag for human backs that i use if he is having a bad day .

I guess i am lucky that my dogs issues didn't appear till 7/8 yrs & we believe it is due to an injury .

My boy is 10 this year,40kg,still runs the property,,plays,gets short walks etc etc.

His last X rays the vets can't figure out how he is walking as it is so bad but he does ,this is where i truly believe bowen has made the biggest difference because keeping the front healthy is so important .

Yes he sometimes struggles to get up but there is alot of dog BUT he is living a very happy,functional life & doesnt miss out on anything.He lives like its a normal day .

Yes sometimes he over does it but he has also learnt when to give himself time out but i figure each day is a bonus & he can enjoy .he loves his lounge chair so his mattress is placed there so he can sleep on that or it is a step to the chair to make it easier.

He does live with other dogs so he is kept very active

Agree with RML on coats,my boys has coats for the varying weather,he has a light weight for when its warm but with a breeze/summer air con up to his big fleecy rugs, iwill double rug early am/pm.

Edited July 1, 2010 by showdog

[OSoSwift]

I have/have had two dogs with it.

The first one was my Dobe bitch.

She was training for agility and obedience and we had been away for a weekend of trials. SHe had seemed a bit quiet and had actually refused a jump so I was watching her to see if something showed up. TWo days later I went to get her out of bed and she couldn't stand up. I got her back end up and she fell over. I freaked as you can imagine!

I took her straight in andshe was xrayed. She had Sponalosis. She had a course of Prednisolone and was weaned off that and was fine.

I managed her by retiring her immediately from training and certainly no jumping. She had always worn a coat and had a warm bed, but I made her a warmer coat for winter. She had as much free exercise as she wated (our house yard is 5 acres) and lead walks as well. She would go to the beach and we just made sure she didn't go mad chasing birds or anything like that.

She was on Glucosamine, Fish oil and Evening primrose and regular acupuncture. She maintained that really well and died from DCM at 8 and a half.

The second one is my old Stafford. His is more an old age thing and he has nerve damage due to Spinal Arthritis that is encroaching on his spinal cord His has gone past maintenece things -which he still gets- and is once4 every second day Prednisolone. He has Tramal incase he has a painful episode.

He also had a bad heart and is on medication for that.

He also gets Fish oil tabs, evening primrose, Ester C, Glucosamine, Vit E.

He wears two coats when it is cold and has a 9volt pet bed that stays on all nihgt and in the day if it is cold. He has free exercise but we no longer take him for walks as he is unable to go to far due to his heart, and his legs get a bit wobbly as well.

He is however looking better than he was 12 months ago, so who knows, we may have him for another 12 months!

I agree keeping them off hard cold floors is half your battle. MAkes sure their back stays warm, put two coats on them if you need too. Acupuncture worked well for all my oldies, and we now due Bowen as well. Lots of low impact exercise is the go as well, keep them supple, but don't pound their back.

Good luck and hopefully he is under control very soon it is so hard to see them in pain.

[FHRP]

I have a 12 year old dog who was diagnosed with Spondylosis 2 years ago. Amazingly he was competing succesfully in agility just days before he was diagnosed, he never ever refused or struggled to jump! His only sign was discomfort on rising, especially in the mornings. He was of course retried from all agility immediately.

My boy is on Joint Guard and like others have stressed, kept warm. Even with heating in the house, at this time of year he wears at least a light coat nearly 24/7. He sees the chiropractor every month and has various drugs depending on his level of discomfort - previcox, tramal, codeine & valium. It's a case of finding what your dog responds best too. I have to admit with his age, I am less concerned about the long term affects of these drugs than I would be if he was young. I tried acupuncture with him but he did not tolerate it unfortunately. I have a ramp into my car and steps for him to get onto my bed and the couch, although he will still jump up at times. He moderates his own exercise pretty well now and most of his walks are off lead, although at times I do have to step in and make him slow down. He needs regular exercise and I have found when he is uncomfortable the best thing is to let him walk around, moving really helps.

We had been managing the issue very well until earlier this year when he had a bad 'episode'. Before then drug use had been minimal. Thankfully we seem to be through the worst of it and back on to maintenaince. Re-xraying showed progression of the disease as expected.

Sorry to hear of your dogue diagnosed so young. I know of many dogs who have lived a good life for many years with the condition. It does seem to be a very individual thing though.

[Sonic]

I have a 13-1/2 y.o. Lab with it. He doesn't get anything for it unless he looks like it's troubling him and then I put him on Metacam for a few days. This has served him well so far and he is still able to come walking with us for over an hour each day and can still jump into and out of the car.

He is a bit wary when the other dogs are running near him but apart from that he doesn't complain.