Merlin is our 11 month old Fox Red lab puppy. Ever since we brought him home at 7 weeks old he seamed a little clumsy. He was always tripping and falling down and sometimes he would just flop. When he was about 6 months old we had him checked out at our vets. Vet said to wait and see if he will grow out of it. Jump to last week, and the vet took x-rays of his neck and said we should see a specialist. They took a MRI and found he has Syringomylia. It is a congenital defect in his spine. It is very rare in Labradors, as this is only the second case the doctor has seen in twenty years. It has damaged his spine in one spot up to 80%. Vet said it will not get worse but we have to be careful with his neck as he will be paralyzed if he ever hurts his neck at that spot. Merlin lives a full and happy life as he is in no pain. He just has a little limp and can`t really jump. He came from a good line and the vet said the breeder did nothing wrong. It`s just one of those things. I am posting to let other people know that things like this happen, but we still have a great addition to our family.
Our puppy is sick
- Thread starter LAGA
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You sound like the perfect family for that dog. He will get the love, care, and attention a special dog needs. Labs are awesome, I had a Lab mix for just shy of 12 years. He had gotten a brain tumor which made him suddenly become clumsy almost as if his feet didn't know where they should be placed. It was very sad.
Enjoy your dog, my bet is as he matures his brain will be able to compensate even more, and he will enjoy a long life with a caring family!
Enjoy your dog, my bet is as he matures his brain will be able to compensate even more, and he will enjoy a long life with a caring family!
Love your doggie!
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Very sorry to hear that. Defects do crop up in the best of lines. Apparently you have avoided older training methods that stress the dogs neck. Keep up the good work.
I hope Merlin can live a long and happy life.
Im just throwing this out there. It might help. They do have chiropractors for dogs. I know chiropractors have been great for me. I just went to a dog competition where dogs were running through an obstacle coarse. Well there were several dog chiropractors there and it seemed like a lot of the owners were using their services. I know nothing about your dogs condition but I wish you and your dog the best. I know how great dogs are!
Thanks for your concerns. Yes there are chiropractors for dogs. We even had a few adjustments done to him before we found out what he had. Syringomylia is a build up of flood in the spinal column which destroys the spinal cord. If he has any kind of injury to his neck he can be paralyzed or even die. I do not want someone moving his neck around.
Sorry to hear that. Good luck, he needs your help and care.
I feel sure with the care and concern that you have shown for this animal will be rewarded with years of returned love and loyalty to you and your family. There may well be a reason that one of "the least of these" type of dogs was sent to you.
Of all the creatures on earth I can think of none that has a higher capacity to love and be loved, than a dog; a man could learn a lot about love from his dog.
Will Rogers summed it up best:
"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went."
Of all the creatures on earth I can think of none that has a higher capacity to love and be loved, than a dog; a man could learn a lot about love from his dog.
Will Rogers summed it up best:
"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went."
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