Two of the more common injuries or conditions in dogs are canine disk diseases and muscle strains. Canine disk disease is the most common neurological condition affecting dogs, while muscle strains are the most prevalent form of soft tissue injuries. While canine disk disease tends to be breed specific, muscle strains affect all types of dogs. Both conditions will affect the ability to move and cause pain, but they have symptoms that differentiate them from one another.
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Canine Disk Disease
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Canine disk disease is the primary neurological condition that affects dogs. It is a spontaneous, degenerative, genetic disorder that tends to affect specific breeds such as the dachshund, poodle and cocker spaniel. The vertebra of the spinal cord are separated and cushioned by disks. These disks have two parts: the outer shell and the center of the disk. The center of the disk is a soft membrane. In canine disk disease, the outer shell of the disk spontaneously breaks down and disintegrates and allows for the soft center to squeeze out of the disk. This puts pressure on the spinal cord and disrupts the normal transmission between the spinal cord and the nerves that relay messages throughout the body.
Stages of Symptoms
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The result of the pressure on the spinal cord is a breakdown in the transmission process and pain. Where the disk rupture occurs, will determine what symptoms the dog will have. Also, the severity of the rupture will determine the severity of the symptoms. Canine disk disease is broken down into four stages. The first stage, stage 1, is mild pain that can be self correcting with rest and inactivity. The dog may limp or show lameness. Stage 2 is moderate to severe pain in the neck or lumbar region. The dog may have difficulty urinating at times. Stage 3 is partial paralysis of the limbs. The dog may have staggered and uncoordinated movements. The final stage, stage 4, is complete paralysis and severe pain. Depending on the amount of damage, the dog may need rest, anti-inflammatory medications, or even surgery to correct the disk disease.
Muscle Strain
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A muscle strain is a soft tissue injury and can occur in the torso or any of the limbs. It is very common in dogs. It can occur as a result of exercise or trauma. Dogs that are overweight or inactive can also be prone to strains. Usually with canine disk disease, the symptoms will occur and worsen over a period of time because it is a degenerative condition. In the case of a muscle strain, symptoms appear right away. A dog may yelp when the injury initially occurs. He may show signs of pain such as panting, immediately after the injury. The dog may limp or favor one limb, depending where the strain occurred. There may be swelling in the affected area. Canine disk disease affects both sides of the body, whereas a strain will just affect the injured side or limb. A strain in the torso may cause the dog to arch its back. All of these symptoms will usually resolve themselves with inactivity and rest.
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