Spondylosis

I've had Honey, my Anatolian, for nine years now. She is my best friend and my guardian. I feel very safe with her around. If you know anything about the breed, you understand. If you don't know about the breed, read my article on Anatolian Shepherds. So when she started crying out and limping, it scared me. I knew she was hurting and that something was wrong. I really thought it was hip dysplasia, so did my vet, but it turned out to be something called Spondylosis.

It is a hereditary disease. This means, that it can be passed from parents to offspring. It apparently is more hereditary than hip dysplasia, according to research done in Germany and Switzerland. While that is frightening, it does mean that by selective breeding, it can be selected against. Of course, all puppies of a litter would have to be tested to begin selecting against this trait. This is a slow process, though. If the pups show up with the disease, then those parents would not need to be bred together again, or bred at all. The breeder would have to determine which parent carries the trait, or if both do. So, selecting against the trait can take years.

When I saw Honey's x-rays and the vet began to explain the problem, it was almost overwhelming. This condition actually "bridges" the vertebrae together. It looks like a claw coming out of each vertebrae and in some places on Honey's spine, two of her vertebrae had fused together because of the growth. In one place, there was a fracture in the growth. Apparently, these "bridges" can break causing pain.

This strange calcium growth is a form of arthritis, according to my vet. The treatment he has prescribed for her is the same - a medicine called Deramaxx. While researching the condition, I found that some recommend no treatment, as it supposedly is not a painful condition. But others do recommend medicines like Rimadyl or Romefen. Cartrophen injections are also a suggestion. The basic treatment is to make sure the dog isn't over weight and that he/she gets plenty of exercise. My problem with this is that with Honey, she does act like she's in pain. She is always stiff and sore and very slow moving. If she moves suddenly and twists her back, she yelps. So, I don't quite agree with the publications I've found on Spondylosis.

It is more common to find the condition in female dogs and those of large breeds (which Anatolians are very large). Diet and supplements are also recommended. I give Honey Glucosamine tablets to help with her joints and hips. My problem in giving her medicine is that she doesn't want to take it. I don't care if it is flavored and tastes like liver. She refuses to take it unless I shove it down her throat. I hate doing that, so I've tried putting it in meat like deli roast beef and for a few times, she'd take it. Then she got smart and started eating the meat and spitting out the pills. Yes, my dog spits out pills. I even made a broth and she refused to eat it because she knew the pills were in it. So, I have a long road in giving her the medicine she needs.

Honey seems to have an extreme case of the condition. Most of the reports I've read say that it is very uncommon for the vertebrae to "bridge" together the way Honey's has. Most dogs just have the growth, which is on the lower side of the spine and is usually in the lower half of the spine. But, Honey, her growth is in the upper spine, also. Apparently Honey has had this condition most of her life and just didn't show the symptoms until she began to get older.

I have a personal belief - no scientific proof - that trauma may also play a role in developing this condition. About four years ago, Honey fell into our swimming pool. It was early spring and we had just taken the cover off of it. The water had not been cleaned yet and it was still very cold. My daughter had happened to stay home sick from school that day, so I had left Honey outside so her barking would not bother her. We believe Honey had been in the pool for at least 45 minutes to an hour before she was found. We have no idea how she managed to fall in, maybe trying to get a drink, that will always be a mystery. But by the time my daughter and mother was able to get her out of the pool, she was very cold and stiff. They had to warm her with towels and a hair dryer. Ever since that day, Honey has had different health issues. She came down with a severe virus a week or so after the incident, she seems to lose control of her bladder at times and the diagnosis of the Spondylosis. Just this week, I had to take her to the vet because her front left ankle joint is swollen and she can barely walk. My vet said it is probably an injury from running in the yard. But, it just seems that her health has gone downhill since her pool accident. Whether it is related to her developing Spondylosis, I can't make an educated guess on that, since I'm not a doctor.

My suggestion to dog owners, especially of large breeds, is to watch for these symptoms:

* lameness
*back pain
*muscle atrophy
*stiffness/soreness
And of course, be tuned into your dog. You can tell if he/she is in pain or not. Know how your dog usually moves, listen to him/her if he/she yelps. The best thing is to always be fully aware of how your dog is feeling.

If you have concerns, talk to your vet and request x-rays. It's expensive, but for true dog lovers, you know you'll do it.

For those looking into buying a puppy, please do your research. Buy from a good breeder. When I bought Honey 9 years ago, I wasn't fully educated in what I should look for in a breeder. When we went to pick her out, the man was a farmer who had bought a pair of Anatolians to guard his livestock. Well, he bought them when they were eight months old. This is too old for Anatolians. They must start out with a family at a very young age in order to bond. Anatolians bond with the livestock in order to guard them well. This man didn't do his research. He bought the pair thinking they'd be great to guard his livestock and they wouldn't. They were too old. So, in his eyes, these dogs were a waste of money. He decided to breed them and sell pups to make up for his loss. That was the sole purpose of his two dogs. To breed every heat. That alone is very dangerous and goes against all common sense of breeding. More than likely, he bought these two from a poor breeder as well. Whoever sold him the dogs should have known they wouldn't protect his livestock. So, if you go into buying a puppy uneducated, there is no telling what you'll end up with. If I had been better educated nine years ago about dogs and breeding, I never would have bought Honey. I don't regret it, because I truly love her, but I just know she didn't come from a healthy line.

I hope this has helped you in understanding the condition. Extreme cases are not common, but always be on the lookout for your pet or your future puppy!