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Disc disease has the potential
to lead to lifelong neurological problems. Therefore, treatment
should never be delayed. Once treated via conventional
or alternative methods, lifestyle modifications may help to
reduce the risk of reoccurrence.
Note: Contributions offered in this article are not from medical professionals, but from laypeople who have direct or indirect experience with disc disease, and want to offer help to those going through it with their dogs. Please seek expert medical care immediately, as time is of the essence, if your dog is showing any signs of disc disease.
These aren't holistic, but a
foster I have had back surgery 5 weeks ago. The lady who turned
him over to rescue is a vet tech. She gave me GlycoflexIII and Duralactin,
an immuno-nutritional aid for the management of chronic inflammatory
conditions in dogs. She also has him on Noni juice, a health food
supplement that is for chronic pain and inflammation. It is a natural
juice from Tahiti. It's also used for humans for the same things
with none of the side effects of prescription pain relievers.
Diana Romer, Coast
to Coast Dachshund Rescue Representative
If someone has a large rambunctious dog, keep
a close watch on them around the doxies (really at any time), for
they may injure/reinjure them unintentionaly.
Jacinta, Dodgerslist member
According to neurologist Dr. Alan Pothoff, Dachshunds
should never be allowed to trudge through deep snow, grass, etc.
- the discs are highly compromised when doing these activities for
it simulates jumping. A harness is also safer than a collar as the
harness will not pull on the neck.
Jeannie Fazio, The
Dachshund Network member
I think right now in our situaton is to keep
both Molly and Brownie from roughhousing, before Molly got hurt
they would slam each other to the ground and no more STUFFED Animals
for Molly she would shake her head and neck until she was dizzy.
Maura, Dodgerslist member
I learned some things from the orthopedic surgeon who operated on my little Stuart this past summer. Unfortunately I lost my little boy August 15, 2003. But some recovery tips he gave me were these:
1) Put them in a place where they can see all the family activity while they are crated following surgery
2) Glaucosimine can't hurt. I have my Sasha on it as a preventative measure.
3) Swimming is excellent therapy and swim vests can be purchased on the web or at PetSmart. You must be with you dog at all times while in the pool.
4) There are physical therapists for dogs who are well versed in therapy and massage for postsurgery doxies.
Shelley Dering, Coast
to Coast Dachshund Rescue Representative
If they had surgery on one disc, there are
no guarantees that they will not blow another on down the line.
Unless it was a traumatic thing, there are genetics involved. I
would also add that jumping down off of things will endanger their
cervical spine. Most think that just jumping up is bad. I have seen
numerous dogs with cervical discs that had jumped off a chair or
off the bed.
Laurie, Dodgerslist member
-
Prevention is the key before and after (experiencing disc disease).
- Don't let your dachshund get overweight. Keep them slim and trim.
- Healthy, active exercise that doesn't include jumping.
- No stairs.
- No jumping off of furniture.
- Crate rest if sore back, if showing neurological signs, and/or after surgery.
- A lot depends on the neurological state of the dog. If no neuro
then walking and swimming. But if neuro then again depends on how
much is involved. Definitely absolutely have to express the bladder
if they don't have control. Several times a day.
- Range of motion work. I move each joint through its normal range
so that it doesn't degenerate as fast and so it moves easier for
when those first weak muscle twitches arrive. Plus it eases joint
discomfort. I massage the muscles throughout the legs and back.
I do myofascial release work on the back post surgery.
- Once the scar is healed, I get them in a warm bath. Move the joints,
massage and use treats (low cal) as a lure to get them to move forward
and hopefully, eventually take their first steps.
- If they can't move their legs then I have them in the "pocket pup"
outfit that looks like overall but is a bag instead of legs. Important
for preventing friction burns and prevent them from injuring their
legs. Helps keep diapers on. I recommend the No P Pants from Doge
Designs especially for the boy dogs. Just so difficult keeping
the working end of the boy dog in the diaper. OK, so they look kinda
silly in the outfit but for those that have been always bent over
whiping up splashes of urine.....I'd rather take a fashion risk.
If they are outside, they get colder quicker as they can't build
up as much heat to watch they don't get hypothermic.
- Love. Don't underestimate. First downed dachsie the vets at the
University told me they had never seen one recover so quickly from
such a bad state. Another that was going to be put down, they'd
left at teh University for three months. Convinced them to let me
have him. Absolutely no return on his neuro signs. Got to the house,
starting eating, loved him up. He walked out the door a couple of
months later on the way to his new home. So typically if they don't
show signs of improvement right away don't let that stop you from
trying. I've had a downed dachsie improve when I got him 1 yr post
surgery.
- Make the 'rehab' play. I had one little guy on his back with a hoof
in his mouth and I'd gently pump his legs like with a baby. I'd
making all silly sounds and play grrrrrs to keep him rowdy and having
fun. I jumped right up and wanted to tell the world when his little
left leg resisted my movements. What a moment. You don't haul on
a leg but gently pull within a natural range of motion, and if you
do this to any healthy dog, they naturally resist to pull the other
way. I use this tendancy to work on the muscles that are weak. If
the dogs are starting to move their legs then I try to keep them
out of the pocket-pup outfit as much as is safe for them so that
they can get reflexes and such to help those legs along. I'll use
a tensor (or Ace) bandage so I can walk (yeah, right they always
want to run) beside them with the bandage under their tummy holding
their back end up so that the legs that are starting to move can
get some action.
- Lots of praise for the little guys as they try.
- Most have stood for the first time at the water or food bowl. So
while they eat, if they have some leg function I hold up their bums
as much as they need to stay standing. It's not just the muscles
that fade away but body awareness in space. So it's not just that
a muscle can't contract but when it does, it needs to learn when
to contract and they won't have the feedback to say where their
legs, or bums are in space or relative to the rest of the world.
It's called proprioception. You should get excited when the dog
starts to step, sway then correct it. If he doesn't just fall down
but corrects it (and it usually is a big jolt of a contraction and
they fall the other way) tells you that he sensed he was going to
far in one direction and knew to contract to get towards the right
position. This is a very good thing and cause for celebration.
Tail wagging is along the same nerve that can help the dog hold
his bowels. So that's a great thing to see. No dog is the same as
another. Nerve distributions are guidelines and generalizations.
No dog's nerve distribution will be exactly the same as anothers
so you never know the possibilities.
- Watch for urinary tract infections with the dogs that have lost
bladder control. Don't be fooled that they can hold it. If they
loss nerve function to the bladder they Can't release the sphincter
and the bladder can rupture (a terrible death). If it isn't expressed
(which is easy, just get your vet to show you) the bladder ruptures
or the sphicter does. One they die, the other they'll never be able
to hold their bladder again and will always dribble and be getting
urinary and bladder infections as the valve the closes off the bladder
to the outside can't close.
- Glucosamine and chondriotin are great for joints. Intervertebral
discs aren't cartilage like in a knee or hip. It probably would
not help but GLS can help the other joints so at the right dosage,
I say, why not. I feed a raw diet so my guys get lots of it in their
diet, that wouldn't be so with kibbles or canned.
- Visit the Dodgers list.
- My vet told me my sweet Pete would die and I had him put to sleep.
Everyday I hate how stupid I was to not question and kill my best
friend. Now I do whatever I can for the downed and other injured
dachshunds.
Cheryl, Canadian
Dachshund Rescue
I have had a great experience with acupuncture.
When my smooth girl Pretzel had an episode in her neck almost 4
years ago, nothing, and I mean nothing, was helping her pain. So
as a last resort, I asked my vet to ask her friend (also a vet)
to try acupuncture on her. At her first session, with all the needles
poking out of her, there was one needle just quivering and "vibrating",
and that seemed to be the area of the source of the pain. Pretzel
became so relaxed and calm, even fell asleep on the table, and that
evening she was feeling better than she had in days. She had to
have two more sessions after that, and after each one she felt better
and better. I never would have believed it if I hadn't seen it with
my own eyes! :-) Follow up visits were suggested during times of
relapse or as a maintenance thing, but never could find anyone to
do it after I moved back to Iowa.
Amy, The
Dachshund Network member
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