Cervical vertebral instability (wobbler syndrome) in the Doberman.

Observations based on the case histories of 39 dogs and bitches (38 Dobermans and 1 Great Dane) diagnosed as "wobblers" are presented. Cases diagnosed at a young age were shown to have cervical vertebral instability particularly at the C6/C7 articulation. Older animals showed a variety of secondary degenerative lesions. Treatment by fenestration of intervertebral disc was effective in cases which showed only vertebral instability but was much less effective in older animals with associated degenerative changes.