Natural Remedies For Dog Back Pain

Just like people, dogs often suffer from back pain. This is true of both energetic puppies and aging canines, and as a result, dog back pain is a frequent ailment.

Back problems can range in severity from muscle spasms after an intense round of physical activity to inter vertebral disk disease, caused by genetics or environmental factors.

Although any long-term problems should be referred to a veterinarian, it is important to inform yourself about ways to recognize, treat, and prevent dog back pain.

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Signs and Symptoms

Because your canine friend is unable to tell you where it hurts, you must keep a close eye on his or her movements to recognize signs of back pain. Lethargy, poor appetite, and urinary incontinence are all signs that something is wrong in general.

Watch for changes in both movement and personality; a pet in pain will walk differently and be more hesitant to climb stairs, and he or she may even become more aggressive or withdrawn. To find out if the problem is stemming specifically from dog back pain, look for uneven wear patterns of the toe nails to see if he or she is favoring one side of the body.

Look also for stiffness of the neck, a reluctance to turn or raise the head, and an arched back. Feel your pet’s neck and back to see if there is an painful response in a certain area. When your dog rises, look especially for weakness and wobbliness and whether it occurs on only one side of the body.

Treatments

One of the most important treatments for dog back pain is to limit activity. This includes limiting intense play, long walks, and stairs. Older dogs may also need to be crated and carried outside to use the bathroom to limit spinal movement.

Dogs will naturally avoid movements that hurt, but it is difficult to make them understand that they need rest in general to prevent further injury. Veterinarians may prescribe anti-inflammatory medications or muscle relaxers, but use these with care.

If the dog back pain is caused by cancer or paralysis from a disk disease, then surgery or chiropractic therapy may be necessary.

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Prevention

The best medicine, however, is always prevention, and there are numerous ways to prevent dog back pain before it occurs. First, do not pick up your pet using only his or her front legs; use two hands and support the back under the ribcage.

Use a harness instead of a collar to avoid sudden jerking of the neck. To prevent reinjury, consider using a chondroitin supplement to help repair cartilage. Helping your pet get the proper amount of rest will keep back pain from coming back and give him or her the chance to be active with you and live a long life.