Walking Paw-Lightly On Leash
Our canine friends can suffer back pain like humans. The pain is especially prevalent in small breeds like Lhasa apso and Dachshund, there are but bigger breeds like German Shepherds and Great Danes who can also suffer. In special cases the dogs that are overweight are more prone to have back problems than their leaner counterparts. For others, disc injury or degenerative disc disease may be actual problem such problem can cause lost muscle control, extreme pain, nerve damage and paralysis.
A dog's spine is made up of small bones called vertebrae like men. The spine runs from the base of the skull to the end of the tail. There are flexible discs made of cartilage which can provide a cushion between each vertebra. Above the discs and running through the vertebrae is the spinal cord made up of nerve fibers.
A dog that has gone through a disc injury will exhibit symptoms such as yelping when handled, shivering, lethargy, whimpering, inability to urinate, poor appetite, clumsiness, reluctance to climb steps.
On the severity of the clinical findings treatment will depend. Dogs with milder injuries may be treated with steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, cortisone injections, and the rest. This helps to reduce the herniated disc and swollen tissue and at the same time relieves inflammation that has occurred within the spinal cord. Pain medication can be also prescribed.
It may be several weeks before your dog recovers fully whether medical, surgical or a combination of the two treatments is used.