Lots of factors can contribute to the back pain that your pet dog is experiencing. Some of the conditions that cause this discomfort are injuries, weight gain, arthritis, and infection. Other causes may be a ruptured intervertebral disk, meningitis, trauma, or cancer. You can read more about the causes of back aches when you click here.
Although most canines can handle a slightly aching back, some breeds are more likely to feel worse when they experience severe arthritis. Some of these types that can have worse symptoms include French bulldogs, pugs, and dachshunds. If you have these breeds or suspect that your pet is suffering from back pain, you should limit all its activities and visit your veterinary doctor as soon as possible.
Here are some of the things that you may need to do after visiting the vet. Note that you should follow all recommendations and instructions involving activities, medication, diet, and more.
Some Relief to Dogs’ Back Pain
Traditional Medications and Prescribed Pain Relievers
Some of the conventional medicines prescribed by vets and used by many pet parents are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories or NSAIDs. They can provide fast relief from discomfort. Some use them to control inflammation after any surgical procedure. You must follow your vet’s instructions on how to administer NSAIDs. If they are misused, they can cause adverse effects to a canine’s body.
Some breeds may experience some temporary sense of relief after taking pain medications or other natural pain relief methods. They may go back to being physically active with lots of running and jumping even if the cause of back pain hasn’t been addressed yet. The increase in movement can further exacerbate any injuries or medical conditions that your pet is experiencing, so you must prevent them from becoming too active while still giving them medications.
Note that many people consider it unethical to leave a dog suffering and to withhold treatment to limit its activities. It would help if you administered pain killers and other medication whenever you can. To prevent the canine from being hyperactive, you may need to get them moving under your watch. Most vets will recommend a prescribed pain killer and recommendations such as walking with a leash to keep your furry friend active
There are other options out there, and some use cannabidiol oil for pain relief. CBD oil is highly recommended for dogs with pain, which may come as a surprise if you don’t know much about it. If this is the case, you might want to do some research to learn more about how beneficial it can be. You can visit sites like https://petcbdcommunity.com/cbd-oil-for-dogs-back-pain/ to know more about CBD and dogs’ back pain. CBD or cannabidiol oil can affect your dogs’ endocannabinoid system and enhances their tolerance for back aches. Some won’t even feel that they have aching backs, and those who have lost their appetites can get them back in a week. You can laern about some tips for CBD administration for dogs.
Others try their luck on a nutritional supplement to aid in faster healing from arthritis and other conditions. However, you should first get approval from your vet before giving the canine pills that you think will aid in their recovery.
Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy works similar to that of physical therapy except for the exercises that are required to perform it. The dog is commonly submerged in water since its buoyancy will reduce any pressure on the dogs’ joints. This allows them to deliver a series of motions and gain strength while minimizing potential fractures.
Some studies prove that hydrotherapy is effective in reducing back pain and pressure because it stimulates blood flow. The more blood that goes through the affected area, the faster the healing will be encouraged.
Physical Therapy
The process of physical therapy aims to strengthen the weak spots of your pet. Some owners go to an expert physical therapist for animals to stretch out some tight limbs and to help their dog’s body to heal naturally. Most of the time, physical therapy seemed to work according to some pet parents. Others claimed that they didn’t need painful and expensive surgery for their dogs after undergoing physical therapy.
PT is in many forms and shapes. You can ask your veterinarian to refer you to a specialist that can develop an exercise plan specific to your canine’s needs. It would be best if you only went to a licensed and trained physical therapist for animals to make sure that you are relieving your pet’s ache. Some apply heat or ice in the affected limb to help with a speedy recovery.
