Dog with mild case of chiari condition

[sophmayes]

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Hi, I have a dog who is 2 1/2, last year she was diagnosed with a slight malformation of the skull, and her cerebellum is slightly being forced down her spinal chord. Her back end appeared disconnected to the front and she constantly wanted to sit. The vets said she basically has to live with the condition but She is on activait tablets daily and metacam for when she is bad. She seems to be having another flare up of the condition and despite having metacam in the morning she has started yelping/snapping at people when they go to touch her back. she is happy to go up to them but if they move their hand above her she reacts as if she is pain even if they havent touched her. She is strictly on lead work and im unsure what else i can do.She also has a harness instead of a collar in case of pressure.

Firstly I was wondering if anyone has any tips of anything else i can do to help her, or if you know of a dog that has had this condition?

And secondly how can I help her learn people arn't going to hurt her.... i do not want her turning into a snappy dog, I know it is pain related but Im sure its her guarding her back rather than stroking hurting her as she will let people she trusts stroke her without a problem. And she yelps/snaps before people even touch her.

She never used to be like this so this behaviour is not socialisation related. Any help greatly appreciated as I want to do anything to help her.

I am also considering a healer/communicator. I have never had any personal experience and not too sure if i believe it totally but im up for giving anything a go if it might help.......so if anyone can recommend anyone, please let me know!!

thankyou in advance

 

[lurcherman]

oooo this is a tough one first its best not to let people touch her for one if she bites a child wow your in trouble and have you asked your vet how much pain is the dog getting and when its just too much. not knowing about the condition i hope the drugs keep your dog in check. wishing you the very best....

 

[banana]

Oh thats really sad - I dont really have any advice other than what Lurcherman has said..

What breed is she?

 

[sophmayes]

Hi, thank you for your replies. I know she would not ever bite any one.....she was eligible as a pat dog but I never took her as she then got this condition. which is why this is such a shame.....at the moment I tell people about her back and then people don't stroke her, I refuse to muzzle her as it really isn't her fault. She is never away from me so she can't be touched without me there....and like I say I don't let any one stroke her as I don't want her learning she can avoid it.....if that makes sense. If rather her not be stroked by strangers than be muzzled and people think she is dangerous. She really is a sweetie and loves people, but just protective of herself which I completely understand......she is a jack Russell x cocker spaniel

 

[hanneroon]

aaaw, what a shame, poor wee thing. Must be awful for you to see her in pain, and to see her being wary of folk. It sounds like you are doing the right thing by stopping people from touching her, but it must be difficult if she is interested in and friendly towards people.

Some dogs don't like to be stroked on their heads or back fullstop; in doggy body language, it is a threatening gesture, most dogs just come to learn that it is a human way of showing affection (rather than licking their face eww!) mine dodges like a cat if a stranger goes to stroke his head. If a dog is being sad or wary, and i want to cheer it up, i always give it a little scratch under the chin, then you aren't blocking its view of you or behaving in a threatening way, and lifting their head encourages confidence. Maybe you could see if she finds this a bit more agreeable than being stroked, and then encourage folk to do that instead, once you've explained why. It works well because they can sniff your hand first, then get a bit of affection..

My friends whippet screams her head off if you touch her ears, not cos it hurts she just hates it, she is rather elderly now and will scream if you just brush past her head, i always feel dreadful, but she is just doing it to get left alone, it sounds worse than it is.

I hope you find some comfort for her, i've seen acupuncture work on animals and people, and i'm a real skeptic about that kind of thing too. Might be worth looking into, if you've exhausted all the normal medical sot of things. I hope someone on here will/can suggest someone.

Good luck,

 

[sophmayes]

Hi thank you. She will readily let people stroke her head so I just ask people to do that. Its ok for now but as its pain related I don't want to treat the symptom and nothe cause. Is just a shame because she is such an active dog and wants to run and jump and I can't let her. If she does, when she stops she goes very subdued as if she blocks it and then suffers after. I might take her back to vet and see if they can suggest complementary therapy....after all I do pay 20 pound a month so she us insured for life so every thing can get claimed back via insurance. I know it sounds silly but I write like the idea of a communicator top see what they think she feels, although i'm not entirely sure I believe it, some people dear by it and as long as it doesn't hurry her, I think what's the harm. But with these kind if things I think there are loads of bogus people out there which is why I want some body recommended