A herniated disc can be a painful condition in both humans and canines. In canines, it is a little more complicated because of the different alignment of the vertebral bones. It is often a cause for disabilities, including back pain, and can lead to paralysis. A herniated disc can happen due to injury (in which case its commonly referred to as slipped disc, although the disc does not slip) or gradual degeneration of the bones. The fibrous outer coating of the vertebra breaks down, causing the inner gel-like substance to move upwards and compress the spinal disc, causing great pain.
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Affer the Surgery
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Post-operative care for your canine has to be a well-balanced mix of medication, exercise and other kinds of care such as rest, post-operative preventive care and periodic checkups. Your dog will be able to go home from the vet's office within a few days after the surgery is complete, and your vet will advise you of all of the steps you must take in order to ensure proper recovery for your canine.
Care At Home
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The first important aspect of post-surgical care is to make sure the dog is put on a dose of painkillers. These usually consist of analgesics, steroids and muscle relaxants. It is important to stick to the schedule that the vet advises. Your dog should be kept on complete bed rest for a full month after surgery. The only movement it should be allowed to make is getting up for excreting. If necessary, you can crate your dog to ensure that he doesn't move excessively. Passive and active physical therapy must be administered. Passive therapy should consist of flexing and extending the joints of your dog's hind limbs 20 times three to four times a day. Active therapy involves helping the dog to get to normal standing position over time.
There is a correlation between herniated disc paralysis and the bladder. Usually, in such cases, bladder control is lost. Normally, when the hind legs return to normal, this function improves by itself.
You also must watch out for infection. Some common signs include redness, swelling and oozing at the site of the surgery. Bedsores have to be prevented. This can be done by using a soft bed and turning the animal over frequently. Finally, it is important to take the animal to the surgeon at least once every two weeks after the surgery for a few months. All these steps ensure that the dog is able to walk again painlessly.
Building Strong Bones
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Use of some substances that are known to prevent occurrence of a herniated disc in the future can be a useful part of the post-operative care regimen. Two such items are particularly useful --glucosamine and chondroitin. These are naturally occurring substances that act as building blocks in bones and are available as supplements. They are easy to administer and are an excellent means of rebuilding bones. These are especially useful in long-term prevention in young and older adult dogs.
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