Canine Degenerative Disc Disease

Canine degenerative disc disease is a painful, life-altering condition that is basically a breakdown in the spinal discs. For pet lovers watching their beloved dogs in serious pain, it can seem overwhelming, but there are ways to help your dog through this difficult condition. Knowing what canine degenerative disc disease is and what causes it is the first step in understanding what your dog is going through.

  1. Typical Age of Onset of Degenerative Disc Disease

    • Canine degenerative disc disease often strikes dogs between three and seven years of age. After onset, the condition worsens. It is a lifetime condition that is not reversible. In some cases, the disease can be stabilized or treated, but never eradicated. The acceleration of the disease if left untreated is steady and fast. Working with a qualified veterinarian can help alleviate some of the symptoms of canine degenerative disc disease and slow down its progress.

    Physical Types Affected

    • The most commonly affected animals are dogs with very long backs, such as Dachshunds, or very heavy, large dogs, such as Great Danes.

    Hereditary Tendencies

    • The disease has a tendency to be hereditary, but it is also linked to breed types that have the physical characteristics associated with the disease.

    Signs and Symptoms

    • Dogs that are in the beginning stages of canine degenerative disc disease often become lethargic and tired because of the pain they experience moving about. The disease can strike the neck area, the back or both. Other signs include a stiffened gait, areas that are painful to the touch, crying, lack of appetite, shivering, dragging the hind legs and even complete paralysis.

    Care and Treatment

    • At the first sign of a problem, you need to keep your dog as quiet as possible. Use a crate, if necessary, or other confined area that is large enough so that she can lie down, but small enough so that she can't move around very much until you can seek the help of a veterinarian. Early stages may be treated with simple confinement. Any jumping should be avoided at all costs, including jumping up on furniture, because that will aggravate the condition. Advanced stages may be treated with surgery to immobilize the affected area. Other holistic types of remedies, such as acupuncture, have proven to be effective in the beginning stages.