The long backs of dachshunds are undeniably adorable. Unfortunately, they can get hurt quite easily too. So, dachshund back pain relief – how to help your Doxie?
Obviously, your vet’s word is the law when it comes to serious medical problems such as back issues. You can always get a second professional opinion but, either way, a vet’s recommendation is worth much more than a random article on the internet. Still, if you’re doing some research ahead of a vet visit to see what you can expect, here are our two cents.
Post-op Dachshund Back Pain Relief
Most dachshund IVDD treatment options (Intervertebral disc disease) do need surgical intervention. And, fortunately, such interventions have a 90+% success rate when the condition is caught early on.
However, even with such a high success rate, surgery usually isn’t enough to fully get your Doxie back on its feet. There are various methods and additional treatments and therapies you’ll also need to do to give your dachshund the best possible chance. These are also done to prevent additional back problems in the future.
So, what are the main back pain relief methods your vet is going to recommend after the surgery?
- Temporary cage confinement. This is almost always a must. The purpose is to prevent your dog from worsening its condition by moving around too much during the recovery period.
- Exercise restriction. As above, exercise should be severely restricted during the recovery period. And significant or sudden movement can trigger a cascade of additional spinal issues.
- Pain reduction. If the pain is too much, your vet will almost certainly recommend pain killers of some kind.
- Physical therapy. Once your dog’s condition starts getting better, your vet will likely also recommend physical therapy. This can either be done by a professional or by you, at home.
- Doggie wheelchairs are a thing. These can support your dog’s back and hind legs. They can look a bit sad but are actually incredibly useful as they allow your dog to move around without pressuring its back too much and thus – aid the recovery process.
How To Heal A Dachshund’s Back Without Surgery?
If you’re lucky, your dachshund’s condition won’t be bad enough to necessitate surgery. Your dachshunds or those with a first-time issue and only mild pain can often get through the problem with just some medications, therapy, and adequate lifestyle changes. Let’s see exactly what these things look like.
- Painkillers can sometimes work. Dachshund’s back pain relief can often be managed with just pain killers. That’s when the pain is just mild and the condition can be reversed without worsening or without surgery.
- Antibiotics and other medications. Antifungal medications or antibiotics and other similar medications can be useful in the case of spinal infections.
- Temporary cage confinement. This is almost always a must, whether your Doxie has had to go through surgery or not.
- Laser fiber treatments. Veterinary neurologists can insert laser fibers into herniated discs to alleviate the problem. This is usually twice cheaper than surgery and takes about 30 to 60 minutes.
- Heat and massages can relieve muscle spasms. Such spasms are common and quite painful for dogs with IVDD. Light massages can help but they should be done carefully and as per your vet’s instructions.
Learn more about: Dog Slipped Disc Recovery Without Surgery – Is It Possible And How?
How To Prevent Dachshund Back Problems?
Prevention is the key to a healthy and happy life – that’s as true for dogs as it is for people. Unfortunately, dachshunds don’t really understand their own physiology too well nor its limitations. They may think they are giant and powerful wild wolves but their short legs and long backs usually can’t take the strain the dachshund’s enthusiasm puts on them.
So, it falls on us to manage our dachshunds’ lifestyle, activities, and health in such a way as to prevent future back problems. Here are a few tips.
- Install some Doxie-friendly ramps in your home. This will help your dog to more easily and safely get on and off furniture such as the bed or the couch. And, if you have stairs in your home, a narrow ramp on the side can literally give your dog multiple years of IVDD-free life.
- Carry your dachshund up and downstairs whenever possible. This is pretty self-explanatory. Most dachshunds don’t hesitate to jump up and down stuff but it’s really not a good idea for them to do that.
- Keep your dachshund’s weight in check. A major piece of advice for any dog but especially for Doxies as their long backs just can’t support excessive weight gain.
- Keep your dachshund well-exercised but not over-exercised. This is also something some dog owners do wrong. The fact that you need to exercise your dog and keep them healthy doesn’t mean you should over-exercise them and damage their backs.
- Put on some baby gates in your home. These are usually used for dogs with separation anxiety or those that love to do mischief around the house. They are incredibly useful for Doxies too, however, as they can limit their access to staircases and other elevated areas while you’re away for work. This way you can be calmer that your dog won’t damage its back while you’re not there.
- Go to routine vet check-ups. That’s a no-brainer. Whether or not your dog has had problems yet, bi-yearly vet check-ups are a must.
Find more information about Dachshund Back Brace – Why Do You Need It And What To Get?
In Conclusion, Dachshund Back Pain Relief – Is It Doable and How?
Dachshund pan relief is very much doable. Whether you need to go with surgery or can make do without it, modern veterinary science and medicine have given us plenty of tools to work with.
There are dozens of effective medications your vet can prescribe depending on the exact nature of the issue, for example. There are also physical therapies you can go to or practice at home, as well as practical methods and tricks you can employ. Whatever you do, you should always follow your vet’s recommendations to the letter. Do that, and your dachshund will have the best possible chance for recovery and long and pain-free life.
