Wobblers syndrome

[K9 Obedience]

Thanks for the info about Hawthorn hedges. I think you may be right as Hawthorns are everywhere along the paths of the nature reserve where we walk. Shadow is one of those dogs that will munch on anything he considers to be tasty (especially blackberries which he picks himself) He has pulled the hawthorn berries off the twigs and yes they are in flower now. Of course if I see him I tell him "No" but I reckon this is what has happened!!! He has probably licked or chewed vegetation off the bushes. It explains why the vet didn't know what had caused the glands to swell. Kelley, you may think I am imagining it but I am not. This damn dog of mine waits until I have paid the vet nearly £300.00 and then and only then does the lump start to go down.   

Each time something like this happens I tell myself that I will not rush to the vets in future but will wait and see for a few days. Trouble is I am super sensitive with Shadow as always at the back of my mind is that I may not have many months left with him. I know I should not worry and fuss so much but I can't help it and Shadow (being a Doberman) can look so pitiful and walks around giving these melodramatic sighs as if to say, "Help me I'm dying" Course I let him sit on my chair, cook him special meals like lamb and rice, and wrap him up warm. All the time the pesky dog is just having me on!! Should have known nothing serious was wrong by the way he was gobbling down his food (and mine) I am convinced that like all Males he knows how to get what he wants. I should have asked for a refund or even better....Offered Shadow as payment.

I think that it is natural for Ellie to be more clingy and as long as you dont go overboard on fussing her, it will settle down in time. Shadow gets in a right mood if I dare to shut him out of the bathroom. He whines and whinges till I open the door so it is not unusual for a dog to need to see where you are at all times. If you don't like it then be firm and shut her in the kitchen while you pop to the loo. Remember you had months of worry and despair with Miah and Ellie will have picked up on your anguish. She knows that you are still grieving and maybe in her own way she is trying to help you. She is grieving as well and needs reassurance that you are OK. Time does heal Kelley and with the summer months approaching you can all spend time outdoors and soon thinking of Miah will bring a smile to your face rather than sadness.

I believe that all of us that have followed Miah's story here on the forum share your pain. Miah is often in my thoughts.

Don't rush to get another dog until Ellie has settled down. I know you are probably thinking that another dog will play with her but it can do the opposite and make her even more unsettled. Have you got a friend with a dog that you could walk with? If Ellie is interacting with another doggy friend then it could help to boost her confidence. As you say, it does not seem like three months has passed since Miah left. Ellie will still smell her around the home which is probably why she has become clingy. I had the same situation after losing one of my dogs. The others were unsettled for weeks. I had some good advice from a behaviourist who told me to change the room around a bit and introduce something new into the main room where the dogs were. I bought new cheap quilts for them all and amazingly they settled down and stopped sniffing and pacing around. Was it because of the new quilts or because I had cheered up a bit? I will never know for sure but all I can say is the other three dogs did settle down. Give it a try. Maybe just put a new cover or blanket in Ellies bed or one of your items of clothing. You could try a fluffy toy or a new food bowl.

Try not to become too anxious about Ellie so as not to reinforce this clingy behaviour. I'm sure she will be fine soon. Keep smiling.
   
Dog Lover

[Kelley]

Thanks for your advice, I really couldnt help but laugh after you've told me about Shadow's antics.  It's so like all my animals, they're at deaths door and as soon as you get them to the vet they make you out to be a total liar bounding all over.

I'm not actively looking for a dog, just whatever happens will happen, whether it's in 3 months or 3 years.  I'll know when it's the right dog and the time is right.

I bought Ellie a toy, one that didnt have a squeaky in, and she has totally ripped it to shreads.  The largest part remaining is about 1 inch wide and so I guess that idea has gone out of the window.  She must be feeling better as she has managed to catch a crow in the garden, which I get a bit squeamish about, but I leave her to it as I know it's good for her and all natural.

We've been keeping her busy and she's been out for a good few hours each day, and has met a few dogs.  My mum met someone with a Doberman and she ended up bawling on them.  Not too sure how i'd react as I can't imagine seeing one as it will look similar to Miah.  She had to keep Ellie away from it as it was quite nasty and growling at her, but my mum said Ellie was pulling to get towards it and kept looking back at it as she was walking away.  I wonder if she thinks it was Miah?

I've packed some things I wanted to save of Miah's in a shoe box that has included her harness, collar, lead and her favourite toy.  I've also added the cremation certificate, i'm not sure why but it feels nice to know that i've still got a couple of memories of her as I don't just want to lock everything away.  I've also had the pictures below printed onto canvas and they're both up in my entrance hall so I get to see her every day.





Passing on all our best wishes to Shadow, hope he's still ok!
Kelley

[K9 Obedience]

Nice to hear from you Kelley. I don't know what is happening but I do not get an e mail fron dog explorer to tell me there is a reply to my posts. I think it is lovely that you keep a few of Miah's things. Shadow still has lumps in his neck. The vet is adament that they are swollen glands. One side went down and the other was swollen up within a couple of days. I am not too worried as Shad's seems OK in himself. He wobbles quite bad some days and fell over as he was peeing. I have noticed that on bad days he also drags his rear feet. Wobblers and swollen glands aside he is as gormless as ever. I had a bit of a respite from his whining and moaning when the weather turned hot but since the rain started and the temperatures dropped again he is back to huffing and shivering. Couldn't stand it any longer so I bought him a double winter quilt (Bargain from Morrissons supermarket reduced to £4.00) He is quiet again now. How are you coping up there in the North with all the rain and flooding? Does Ellie mind walking in the rain? Ah well, roll on the summer that they keep forcasting. Keep smiling Kelley and stay in touch.

Dog Lover     

[Kelley]

It's great Shadow is doing well.  I know exactly how you mean with the gormlessness - you really cant beat a dobie for that!

Ellie is not impressed at all with the rain, you've probably seen the news and it's particularly bad in Yorkshire.  Our garden doesnt have grass anymore, it's just a swimming pool 

She just point blank refuses to go out in it and will only wee if you take the golfing brolley out with her  seems Miah's spirit lives on 

And i've got some news...well sort of...I've been approached by someone at work who has asked me if i'd be interested in taking on a 1 yr old Dobie as a foster dog who hasnt had the best start in life.  I've said no, I hope it's the right decision.

This person volunteers at a local animal shelter and has been alerted to this as a cruetly case, the dog has already had a litter and suspect scars on her that could be burns.  They don't have enough kennel space and are desperate to get her out of where she is.
I've just told them to tell me when they get a home for her.

We've also had some more bad news too, my friends horse was put to sleep last week due to old age but it come as such a shock.  We practically shared each others horses so it was a hard week as I was the one who took her to the equine hospital. I really hope this is it now with the animals as I need an emotional break! In the last 5 months i've lost my old pony, Miah and now her, and have spent so much money at the vets I feel I could have shares in it.

Please keep updating me on how Shadow is doing as it's great to hear that after a year he's still fighting the Wobblers!

Big hugs
Kelley

[K9 Obedience]

Kelley

Gosh you are certainly having a rough time of it. Poor you! Sounds like you need a long holiday somewhere warm. Actually we had a whole day of sunshine yesterday. Whoopee. I thought that I would take all the dogs on a really long walk to relish the sunshine. Half way round the lakes Shadow decided he was too hot and flopped into some long grass. I left him to snooze while the other dogs had a swim. When Shadow next graced us with his presence he had a huge lump on his back. I am not kidding. This is a major lump. I looked over to where he had been sleeping and hanging above was a big conical nest of the biggest wasp looking things I have ever seen and my goodness did they look angry as they darted around. For the first time ever I was ahead of the dogs as we all raced back home. The collies thought it was great fun and kept leaping up to nip my nether regions. Shadow loped alongside me huffing and puffing and I swear he was looking at me as though to say, "Mad Woman" Back home I bathed the lump in bicarbonate of soda. Is that right? I can never remember if wasps are alkaline, bees acid I know its bicarb for one and vinigar for the other. Anyway Shadow is not bothered by the swelling and I dare say that while he was having his "Dobe Siesta" he never even noticed what stung him....

I think you did the right thing not taking on the rescue Dobe. It is hard enough to keep one step ahead of any Dobe let alone one with "problems" I hope she has been rehomed with at least one family member that understands the way a Doberman's mind works. Poor creature. Supposedly under the new Animal Welfare Act, inspectors and the police are going to be tougher on animal abuse. I dont believe that anything will change until the courts commit to tougher and longer sentances. Lock them up for good I say!

Will talk more another time...work calls. Take care and I hope the rain stops soon.

Dog Lover

[Big Dog]

We just posted a news video about alternative pet care treatment which includes the story of a Doberman with Wobblers Syndrome who has done well with acupuncture according to her owner.

She is ten and under care for some time.

It is on our home page but may have moved off by the time you read this so the direct link to the story is here:  Wobblers Syndrome Treatment With Acupuncture

[Kelley]

Hi Big Dog

Thanks for adding it, I've got this set up now to let me know when there's a message so I dont miss out.

I've tried to watch but am still finding it very hard to view dogs with Wobblers as it reminds me so much of Miah and how much I miss her.  I only got to the point where it showed the dog trying to get up to greet the acupuncturist and had to stop it.

I'm still missing her so very very much and as it's quickly getting closer and closer to the year anniversary of her death the dread of what is coming up is starting to kick in.  I think of her everyday, as she was one in a million and i'll remember her everyday for the rest of my life.

Not sure if K9 has mentioned but i've rescued another Dobe called Freya who is an absolute sweetie, we've not had her long but she has settled in so well.  I've mentioned her in my posts above as I said no at first as at first I couldnt focus on anything but Miah, however I know I cant have her back and hopefully she is whole and waiting for me at the bridge, so until I see her again, I decided I could help with this poor dog who needed a chance.  She has had a pretty bad start in life and only saw grass for the first time a few months ago, even tho she's now 2.  She came with some unexplainable burn scars on her face and from her behaviour she has been attacked by another dog as she is very nervous and doesnt know how to react.  We've had her at an adult training course and she's improved so much, i'm just waiting for the summer to start her on the intermediate and possibly agility.

Just wanted to say a HUUUUUUUGE thank you to you and everyone on here who helped me through the most difficult time in my life.

Best wishes,
Kelley

PS. I've attached a pic of Freya just so you can have a nosey as she is a Fawn/ Isabella Dobie, which is quite rare here in the UK, and people keep thinking she is a cross breed.

[Big Dog]

Hi Kelley,

I recall your mentioning Freya before and I'm so very glad for the both of you that you found each other.

Thanks very much for posting the beautiful pictures of her - she is stunning and has a wonderful quality behind those eyes - no matter what her past was.

While I hope this site and our little pack is more often called on to share the joy of puppies, travel or agility wins, being there for each other during difficult times is where the real value is to be found I expect.

I noticed this thread has been "read" some 13,000 times - so I hope it has helped all who post here and just visitors seeking information and advice.

Are you brave enough to upload some of these pics to the picture gallery?    If you want to try and need help just ask.

By the way, even if you need to cover your eyes during the Wobblers sequence there is more to that video - and others that will follow - sad - useful and funny. So when time permits take a look again or visit the new link off the home page for the dog news videos.

Warm regards,

Craig

[K9 Obedience]

Hi Kelley...Shadow here     

Freya certainly is a lovely looking girl and such beautiful colouring. I too am thinking a lot about Miah cos I know how upset you will be. Keep smiling Kelley, Freya needs you now. Shadow is still muddling along. His arthritus in his front leg causes him to limp around now especially in this cold damp weather. I have just watched Big Dogs video link on acupuncture and I am going to do some research to see if it can help with arthritis. Shadow cannot take the Zubrin anymore as the drug causes him to have rectal bleeding even when I reduce the dose to 100mg. He also has blood in his urine quite often. The vet examined him for prostate and gave him the all clear  and wanted to do loads of tests but I declined. As you know I haven't got insurance for Shadow and I am keeping what little cash I have got in a pot towards treatment for the Wobblers. I wanted him to start hydrotherapy but for that he needs to be up to date with his vaccinations and he isn't. I am not going to have him vaccinated anymore after doing a lot of research into the dangers of over-vaccinating a dog. So many studies and sientific research has been carried out that proves there is no need for yearly boosters after the dog has had all its first year vaccinations. So i am going to win the lottery and buy my own hydrotherapy pool,     

Havent been in touch for awhile as life has been really hectic and I have been devoting all my spare time to researching and writing. The pace has slackened off now so I will stay in touch. Take care of yourself and the dogs. 

dog lover

[Kelley]

Happy new year! 

Great to hear from you again.  I've only just checked on here as I’m finding it hard again to refer back as there are a lot of painful memories on here that still strike a chord.

Christmas has been hard too as I brought the tree out and just thought 'last time I had this up Miah was still here' and so it ended up sat for a couple of days without any decorations on until I could face it again.  As you can probably guess from the time of this post (1am) I’m not sleeping too well either. I can’t believe that in just 10 weeks it’s already a year since we lost her. 

I'm so pleased Shadow is muddling along; it's always a bit depressing through winter so it's great to hear he's managing with his Wobblers. 
Something that I’ve read is that a dog with Wobblers lived until it was 12 and it has been suggested that its down to TTouch massage, I’ve not heard much about it but the main part is that you massage your dog in small one and a quarter circles into your dogs skin.  It seems to really relax Ellie and Freya; they love it and go into a little trance so it's something that I might look into more.

I full agree about the vaccinations and after having Ellie done as a pup and then again at 3 I've not had them done since and (touch wood) she hasn’t ever had anything wrong.  I'm now going to do the same with Freya, and maybe give another booster in 3 or 4 years and then stop with her.

I'll do a deal and if I win I'll set up a pool for hydro too, but I'd love to fund more investigation into preventing Wobblers in the first place before any symptoms occur.  Unlikely I know as it's hereditary but I’d love to try and stop at least one dog/ person going through what we have and no doubt it will involve ££ along the way as everything always seems to do.

Freya is doing really well and the only thing I'm trying to control is to stop her going too far away from me when we’re walking.  She’s fine on the small park and bridle paths etc but when we get near the farms she goes off into the fields and disappears.  She always comes back but it’s just that worry that she might get caught or hurt and not be able to.

I've attached a pic of her and Ellie sulking after I took them out in the rain around the park when neither wanted to go.  Once i'd borught them back and rubbed them down Ellie sprawled on Freya's bed so she dragged Ellies over…



They are getting on really well now and although Ellie pretends not to be bothered by her she still has a play before we go home.

Well i'm going to go let the dogs out for one last time and then try and get some sleep.  Best wishes and everythings crossed that Shadow has a little improvement
Kelley