Intervertebral disc abnormality in dogs refers to the fibrocartilaginous structure between the vertebrae. Due to trauma, obesity or aging, the intervertebral disc ruptures, causing the nucleus pulposus material inside to deform and protrude, compressing nearby nerves, causing pain and inconvenience in movement.

Hazards:

It can cause swelling and pain in dogs, radiating pain from the sciatic nerve, numbness and pain in the lower limbs, muscle atrophy, difficulty walking, etc.

When the condition is severe, the dog's ability to urinate and defecate completely is completely lost, and the lower limbs are paralyzed.

Symptoms:

When cervical intervertebral disc prolapses, the head and neck may become inflexible, painful during movement, forelimb weakness or hemiplegia, or even respiratory paralysis.

When the thoracic intervertebral disc prolapses, the function of the forelimbs is not affected, but the hind limbs have difficulty moving or even paraplegia, and defecation and urine are affected;

When the intervertebral disc in the lumbar spine is abnormal, the hind limbs are dragged, painless, and incontinent.

Treatment:

1. When a dog shows symptoms of paralysis, he should seek medical treatment immediately to avoid delaying the condition.

2. When moving, put sheets etc. under the dog to help lift it so that the body is in a lying position and the head is stretched to keep breathing smooth.

3. Drug treatment is suitable for dogs in the early stages of the disease. It can reduce inflammation and relieve pain. It can also be combined with acupuncture and massage therapy of traditional Chinese medicine.

4. In severe cases, surgical treatment can also relieve the compression on the spinal nerves.

Prevention:

1. If your dog is a long-bodied dog such as a corgi, dachshund or basset hound, please try to avoid letting the dog engage in strenuous exercises such as jumping that place too much burden on the waist;

2. Weight management is very important! Do not feed uncontrollably. For these longer dogs, maintaining an appropriate weight can reduce the burden on the spine;

3. The wrong way to hold the dog will increase the burden on the waist. The best way is to let the dog lie on the arm, support the hind feet with the other hand, and hold it in a parallel manner!