What is a Slipped Disc?
A slipped disc is a condition that affects the intervertebral discs, which are found between each of your dog’s vertebrae forming the spine. The discs function to absorb shock, protect your dog’s spinal cord, and support their mobility and flexibility.
A slipped disc occurs when the disc gradually degenerates (due to natural ageing or other conditions). As a result, it can cause pain or discomfort when your dog moves.
A slipped disc may occur due to intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD), a gradual degenerative process in which the disc slowly loses its spongy nature and becomes hardened. Over time, it will bulge or rupture, causing its soft inner material (the nucleus) to leak out. The leak then places pressure on nearby nerves or the spinal cord, causing pain and various other neurological symptoms.
How Slipped Discs are Graded
The severity of IVDD is typically graded on a scale from 1 to 5.
- Grade 1: Your dog only experiences pain and discomfort without any significant neurological dysfunctions.
- Grade 2: Your dog may have some weakness in their limbs, but can still walk without needing support.
- Grade 3: Your dog cannot walk, but can still move its limbs to a certain degree.
- Grade 4: Your dog is paralysed but may still feel its toes.
- Grade 5: Your dog is paralysed and unable to feel its toes.
IVDD grading does not have a linear progression. As such, your dog may exhibit symptoms of a grade 4 condition without experiencing any signs of earlier grades.
Warning Signs of a Slipped Disc
Promptly treating IVDD is necessary to prevent it from permanently impairing your dog’s overall mobility. It may help to look for early warning signs so that your dog can be taken to a vet for a thorough diagnosis before IVDD worsens.
Behavioural Changes
Lingering pain can cause subtle or noticeable behavioural changes in your dog. Some dogs may become more withdrawn as the pain prevents them from playing or going for walks. Other dogs may suddenly become more irritable and may overreact when you try to interact with them. However, these behavioural changes may stem from a slipped disc or a health complication, as some conditions may overlap in symptoms. If you suspect your dog has a slipped disc, take them to a vet immediately for an assessment.
Touch Sensitivity
IVDD may result in instances where pain intensifies when your dog applies pressure to the area, such as during grooming or normal play. If your dog flinches or backs away when you try to pet them, it may be because they want to avoid a flare-up of pain. They may even growl or snarl if you attempt to touch them, especially around the back or neck area, as a protective response to discomfort.
Mobility Issues
Your dog may also have difficulty moving around, as a slipped disc can cause pain and discomfort. As a result, you may notice them moving slowly or stiffly. In some cases, your dog may be unable to move its hind legs or drag its paws along because IVDD can affect its mobility and flexibility. This may also translate to difficulty standing and squatting, especially when your dog needs to relieve themselves. If your dog has difficulty moving around, take them to a vet immediately.
Loss of Bladder Control
Your dog’s spinal cord controls many functions, including bladder control. A slipped disc can impinge on the spinal cord, affecting your dog’s bladder control and increasing the risk of accidental leaks or difficulty relieving themselves. This difficulty stems from the inability to send and receive nerve impulses to and from the bladder. It is not your dog’s fault that this is happening, as the slipped disc makes it hard for your dog to control their bladder.
What to Do Next
Visit Your Veterinarian
If you are worried that your dog may have IVDD, speak to a veterinarian immediately. Provide them with any information about your dog’s condition to help inform them of their diagnosis. The vet will conduct a physical examination and neurological tests to rule out other conditions. If necessary, imaging tests (such as CT scans or MRI scans) will also be performed to assess your dog’s spinal condition.
Treating IVDD
Once the diagnosis is confirmed, your vet will outline a suitable treatment plan for your dog’s slipped disc. For mild cases, conservative medical management should be sufficient and primarily involves:
- Prescriptions for painkillers and anti-inflammatories to manage pain and discomfort.
- Ensuring your dog gets enough rest.
- Managing your dog’s physical activities to minimise pain and discomfort.
- Physical therapy and/or acupuncture to support your dog’s gradual recovery.
While helpful, conservative treatment may take time to show improvement. Even after recovery, these dogs may still be at risk of developing disc problems again, and surgical treatment may be required.
If the slipped disc is severe or if conservative treatment does not alleviate symptoms, your vet will recommend surgery. Treatment will depend on the grade of the slipped disc and additional factors, including your dog’s general well-being. Conventional surgery may involve removing the disc’s nucleus that is pressing on nearby nerves or the spinal cord. If necessary, spinal decompression surgery may be performed instead, where a portion of the damaged or slipped disc is carefully removed to relieve pressure upon the nerves or spinal cord.
Your dog will need to recover in the hospital for a few days until they are stable. Their recovery may require six to eight weeks of restricted activity to ensure their spine heals properly and reduce the risk of future complications. This means you should minimise strenuous physical activity to reduce strain on your dog’s spine. Follow-up veterinary sessions will also help to monitor your dog’s recovery progress.
If you are worried that your dog may be exhibiting signs of a slipped disc, a professional physiotherapy assessment from Bluewater Vet Acupuncture & Rehabilitation can help evaluate your dog’s condition and recommend suitable treatments to facilitate their recovery.
How Rehabilitation Therapy Can Benefit Luxating Patella in Dogs
Whether your dog requires surgery or otherwise, rehabilitation therapy can provide positive outcomes that help manage canine luxating patella cases, restoring flexibility and potentially slowing its progression. It aims to improve your dog’s strength, flexibility, mobility, and balance to manage the effects of luxating patella through various treatments and techniques.
Therapeutic Exercises
These exercises are tailored to enhance your dog’s general physical well-being, including their flexibility, balance, and coordination. Various exercise equipment are used to help develop your dog’s leg and core muscles, improving mobility, managing the effects of a luxating patella, and even encouraging its confidence by overcoming the limitations of its condition. The exercises are specifically designed to prevent your dog from overexerting itself while maximising the benefits of regular exercise sessions.
Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy involves low-impact water-based activities for rehabilitation. This method uses water’s unique properties, such as buoyancy and resistance, to promote a low-impact environment that helps strengthen your dog’s joints and muscles with minimal impact. These controlled sessions are conducted under the guidance of trained rehabilitation therapists, who ensure your pet’s safety and gently encourage exercise to enhance their overall strength and endurance.
Electrotherapy
Electrical stimulation therapies can be valuable for providing pain relief, reducing stiffness, and strengthening muscles. These treatments utilise low levels of controlled electric currents to stimulate nerves, muscles, and other tissues, interrupting pain signals for pain relief, as well as causing rhythmic muscle movements that facilitate their gradual strengthening. It can provide significant relief for your dog, allowing it to enjoy restored mobility over time.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture uses the principles of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), where tiny, sterile needles are carefully placed on specific acupuncture points (acupoints) to promote the release of pain-relieving endorphins, stimulate nerve fibres, and even improve blood circulation to manage a luxating patella. It may be performed standalone or as a complementary therapy alongside other treatments by a qualified vet with the Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist (CVA) certification.