Back Problems in Dogs |
Back problems are a factor of life for many dogs that lead an active lifestyle as there is always a chance they're going to over stretch themselves.
Most of the times these are seen as short lived periods of the dog arching his back and shoulders, having difficulty moving and standing up and generally looking unhappy. In these cases confinement with rest and relaxation will treat the problem.
There are times sadly though when things are much more serious.
Intervertebral Disk Disease (IVD):This disease causes the disks in the dog's spine to protrude into the spinal cord. This leads to the dog being in pain and is unable to jump or feed normaly. |
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Severe cases can cause paralysis and lack of bowel control.
This is a condition that can strike any dog but is most commonly seen in those breeds which have short thick legs such as Dachshund, Shih tzu, Beagle, Pekingese, Bull dogs and Basset hounds. It is thought to be linked to the genetics of these dog breeds but can also be acquired through injury.
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Prevention: Dog breeds with a long back or very short legs are the most at risk of Intervertebral Disk Disease and before you purchase a puppy you need to check whether there has been any history of the condition in your pups family. Even if there has, there is no guarantee that your pup will develop the disease.
There are a couple of things you can do to keep your dog healthy and fit: |
- Keep your dog at the correct weight for his breed to reduce the pressure on the back.
- The same as with humans if your are going to be doing any strenuous exercise have a perioid of warm up before hand, for example go for a short run before attempting any agility jumps.
- Keep training sessions short for older dogs that have a back condition as sitting or lying down repeartedly can make the pain worse.
Treatment: If your dog is showing signs of having any back condition take him to the vet immediately. Often the best treatment for a bad back in dogs is the same as with humans. Lots of rest and relaxation. You may need to confine your dog to a puppy pen to keep him from bouncing around and just take him out for short walks, no more than 10mins, every few hours to relieve himself.
Painkillers and anti inflammatories will help to keep him comfortable while he is confined.
As a last resort and in the most sever cases of IVD your dog may need to have corrective surgery but your vet will advise you on this.
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