Hello everyone

Willis (Great Dane) has gained weight for the first time in his life and its started to make his back legs look a bit funny... Couple of things I have noticed:

His back is sloping and his legs are held like those GSD's in the pics with HD look - if thats makes sense?
I tickled his back between his shoulders and his backend dipped away from me, well collapsed really
He's got a bit of a bunny hop - always has had but doesn't affect him...he doesn't fall over or anything

So, of course, I've got the warning lights going off... could it be wobblers? Do wobbler syndrome dogs have it from birth?

Just got this feeling things aren't right - he's 7 now, coming up 8 I think and I am wondering whats going on :(

wobblers is generally diagnosed at an early age.

Sounds like back pain - could be caused by arthritis, could be hips (though I think you said he's been scored, didn't you?), could even be kidney pain.

I would get him checked out, it could be one of many things.

A couple of other things to look for with wobblers, is a slight head shake, also when they need to pass a stool they can't crouch down very far and their back legs would be wide apart.  Wobblers or CVI ( cervical vertebra imbalance ( sp ?? ) ) is to do with the neck and not the back.

I hope he's OK.

bunny hopping isn't a sign of HD, my dogs with low hipscores all bunny hop.

Sadly i have experienced a form of wobblers with my darling girl (not great dane) We were very worried by 5 months old and she was diagnosed by 6 months.

If your dane is nearly 8 then i would say he is just acting a little elderly bless him, but would be a good idea to get him checked out, he may have some arthritis and if so then keep his weight in check if you can

Hope he is ok :)

I agree with perrodeagua bunny hoping isnt a sign of HD, i too have a couple of dogs that do it and have perfectly good hip scores.

It may be worth visiting a mctimoney chiropractor, they are very gentle and also do massage (well my one does) mine is very good with her hands and worked out Alfies pelvic problem straight away which the vet never managed to do !

Claire, you beat me too it.  I was going to suggest a chiropractor and maybe some canine massage afterwards and/or some physiotherapy.

Hmmm... I don't have much faith on Chiros. I spent a fortune on them for myself and my horses (at least £600!) and they cured nothing - yet I lost weight and trained at the gym, working my back and no more back pain! Sorry, don't mean to rubbish the idea as I was a big believer at first. Physio is not a bad idea though - thanks.

Its not so easy to get him checked out, we have to sedate him to take him to the vet, but will prob get my vet to come look at him. He was hipscored as a youngster. Maybe he is just feeling his age :(

I'm very lucky as the 3 times I've taken dogs to a chiro (2 different dogs) I've seen an improvement in their condition, both chiropractors were McTimoney and its very gentle, one Edinburgh based, the other Staffordshire based.  Mia is reknown for not having a lot of patience but even she will sit & stand for ages whilst she is manipulated.

My old girl does the same sort of thing when you gently stroke her down her back - when you reach her loin her knees buckle and she slowly sinks into a sit, which is something she usually finds difficult. I don't know if it hurts her or tickles or what, but it's only been happening in the last year to 18 months. And she stands with her hind legs right underneath her rather than behind, so she looks almost like a doorstop!

If you find out the reason for Willis doing it, perhaps you'd let me know in case it's the same for Beattie? I'll do the same for you if I find out too!

Last year my chiro worked wonders for Alfie, I had loads of people approaching me asking how I had improved his movement so much -  he even did some winning Alfie loves it, he is such a tart he loves the attention !

Like ChristineW I had great success with the McTimoney Chiro.  My old Dobe male had a de-hydrated disc in his neck, which looked very mcuh like wobblers until we had him MRI scanned and the disc showed up.  We used to take him to the Chiro, and was remarkable the effect it had on him and it lasted for a long time too.  However each dog is individual.  I've have just done a TT Touch Workshop  which is a form of canine massage, I am trying to help my Basenji out with problem, but I can see that it might be beneficial for all sorts of things.