Our 12-year-old Dachshund Tyler has strained his back twice before, chasing squirrels in our back yard and he's done it again. He did have a vertebrate issue in his neck that required surgery, so I know the difference between disc slippage and a back strain. Just like you get a back strain by bending over or lifting something you shouldn't, dogs do, too. Tyler's issue is a back strain since he's done this before and it's the same symptoms: Back legs tensing up very tightly which means it's treatable (he's using a heating pad, pain medicine, and on restricted activity). Today's blog is a helpful sharing of information from Elwood Veterinary Hospital and our experiences with our Dachshunds.
OUR EXPERIENCES:
1) In 2021, Tyler couldn't lift his head up without yelping in pain. He was a Grade 3, and needed surgery on his neck. That corrected the problem and eradicated the pain. Here's the link to the story on how I noticed Tyler's Neck Injury and the surgery and recovery that followed: https://rob-tom-dolly-franklin.blogspot.com/2021/02/tylers-ivdd-neck-surgery-how-i-noticed.html
2) Back in 2014 when our Dachshund Franklin was alive, he jumped off a chair and was immediately paralyzed. He experienced Grade 4 or 5 in the chart below. He had immediate surgery *Surgery MUST happen very quickly* Franklin had to re-learn how to walk, and we had to put our hands on his tummy to help him pee. He became fully functional again, months afterward. Here's the link to the story on his surgery and recovery: https://rob-tom-dolly-franklin.blogspot.com/2014/09/our-dog-franklins-surgery-for-herniated.html
BACK INJURY SYMPTOMS: Dogs with acute back pain appear stiff and often yelp when moving or being touched. They can also tremble, pant and seem unsteady on their legs. Chronic back pain on the other hand may only show up as talking more time than usual to get comfortable.
MUSCLE STRAIN
When we find spasming back muscles in dogs, it’s very often due to IVDD – the herniated disc triggers the spasm.
It is possible for dogs to strain their back muscles through overexertion or injury. This usually settles down quite quickly with rest.
DISC DISEASE: BY GRADE
The symptoms of IVDD depend on where the bulge occurs and what it presses on. In mild cases, there may just be some pain over the site of the herniation. In severe cases, the spinal cord may be compressed enough to cause paralysis. A grading system has been developed for dogs:
Grade 1 (Pain only) – affected dogs are able to walk normally but show signs of pain (eg reluctance to move, reluctance to jump, shivering, crying, muscle spasms and/or a tense abdomen). It usually resolves within a few days
Grade 2 (Ambulatory paresis) – affected dogs display pain and can walk but are weak and wobbly in the back legs. They may cross their back legs when walking, splay out, knuckle over or stumble in their back legs
Grade 3 (Non-ambulatory paresis) – affected dogs can move their legs and wag their tails but are not strong enough to support their own weight and walk
Grade 4 (Paralysis) – affected dogs have no voluntary movement in their back legs
Grade 5 (Paralysis with no ‘deep pain’) – these dogs are unable to move or feel their back legs
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Grades 4 and 5 are generally considered surgical. Lower grades are usually managed medically, but may be considered for surgery if not responding to treatment.
About 15% of herniations occur in the neck, with the rest occurring in the lower thoracic and upper lumbar spine. The most common sites for disc herniation are between the 11th and 12th thoracic vertebrae and between the 2nd and 3rd lumbar vertebrae.
FULL ARTICLE THAT EXPLAINS HOW DISC DISEASE WORKS: https://www.elwoodvet.net/back-pain-dogs#:~:text=When%20we%20find%20spasming%20back,down%20quite%20quickly%20with%20rest
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