Disc issues among dachshunds are common, and pain management improves their quality of life. Intervertebral Disc Disease, also called ruptured discs, is a frequent problem for dachshunds. According to PetEducation.com, 90 percent of cases are treated with medical management, which includes pain medication. Consult with your veterinarian about medications that will work best for your doxie, as some require blood tests before and during use.
Things You'll Need
- Steroids
- Aspirin
- Heating pad
- Feverfew
- Skullcap
- Glucosamine and chondroitin supplement
Instructions
Administer veterinarian-prescribed steroids to your dachshund. Steroids are not pain medication; however, they reduce inflammation, which can cause pain in the dog. In addition, according to PetEducation.com, steroids also shrink the ruptured disc and swollen tissue.
Give your dachshund aspirin or other veterinary-prescribed pain medications. Consult with your veterinarian before giving these medications, as the doctor needs to determine the dosage and blood tests should be performed prior to administration.
Confine and rest your dachshund as much as possible. In mild cases, crate rest and medical therapy are sometimes all it takes to remedy the disc problem. Massage and heat therapy, such as applying a heating pad to your dachshund's back, may also be useful to your dachshund in relieving the pain.
Administer the herbal remedies feverfew and skullcap to treat the pain naturally. Natural Dog Health Remedies suggests using 12 drops of feverfew tincture or ½ tsp. of its tea for every 20 lbs. in body weight, twice daily. Another option is to combine 12 drops each of feverfew and skullcap for every 20 lbs. of your dachshund's body weight. Administer this mixture three times daily.
Give glucosamine and chondroitin supplements to help repair damaged cartilage, which may provide pain relief. In addition, these supplements are good to give as prevention against disc problems.