roach back?

[kimberlypost]

I have a 1 year old neutered male, who in the last month or so, has developed a rounded back or "roach back." I have researched on the internet to determine long term health issues, but am unable to locate anything. He is very active and in otherwise great condition (per vet). I have not taken him in for X-rays, but will do so on Saturday. I am trying to become as informed as possible ahead of time, so that if the vet suggests treatment, I can make the best possible decision. Has anyone else had this experience, and if so, were they able to treat it in any way. Also, does anyone have an older dog who developed this early, and what are the (if any) health issues you have incountered? Thanks for your help!

 

[Lael]

This is new information to me; I'd also like to hear about any problems associated with it.

Cat & Lael

 

[anbuh]

This may not be your dog's problem but Chaos has Spondylosis, (deposits between the vertebrae) He has had a "hunch back" since he was a puppy, we did not find out he had Spondylosis until he was x-rayed for something else. Not a lot can be done aobut it, sometimes surgery can help by scraping the deposits but it usually comes back. I give Chaos gluchosamine and chondroiton.
here is a site that has pictures and information.
anbuh

http://www.lbah.com/Canine/X-Rays.html

 

[Ozzie]

That's an interesting link, anbuh.

Kimberlypost:

I've owned several Boxers over the years but have never had a problem like you're describing with such a young dog.

What I have experienced is watching an older dog (he was 8-9 yrs. old at the time) taking a spill from jumping up on a fence and then landing on his rear end. He started to encounter arthritic problems not long after that fall and that's as far as I'll go with that story...

...but the reason I mentioned the story at all is there's one thing I never did for that poor old guy that I'd just like you to keep in the back of your mind just in case you're not appeased by the veterinarians: Doggie Chiropractors.

That's just a thought...hopefully your vet will solve the problem right away! Good luck to you guys and let us know how things go!!

Bob.

 

[anbuh]

Chaos is not affected by the Spondylosis. We found out about it because he went totally lame after taking Clavamox, which it turned out may have given him
Acquired Myasthenia Gravis, he definately has it, It is a very rare disease that makes it so that nerves don't tell muscles what to do. His original vet told me the Spondylosis was causing him not to be able to walk, but when I looked up the symptoms(which there were alot of them that were being ignored) Chaos's did not match. Needless to say, I took him to several more vets until the one which was 400 miles away finally got it right.
He is fine now on meds, but the lameness had nothing to do with his spine.........weird but true.
anbuh

 

[ringwise]

My 6 year old male Boxer, Tango, has a roach back. I've never really been concerned about it, and really just consider it a slight physical flaw. It has never affected his health, and he's in terrific shape.

He trains and competes in agility, jumping 24 inches with ease. He also runs with my husband while my husband mountain bikes. They average 8-10 miles on their rides. He's never been lame (except for tearing up his pads on occasion) and hasn't gotten worse.

Laurie Buckley
Shingle Springs, CA

 

[kimberlypost]

Thanks for everyone's input. From what information I COULD find, it seems (at this age, anyway) to be a physical flaw (which doesn't bother me). I just want to make sure it doesn't affect him later in life, if I can prevent problems.