Dog Slipped Disc Symptoms | Diagnosis and Treatment

Unfortunately, dogs can’t use their paws to massage their backs with the same degree of control that humans do. So a spinal problem might not be easily detectable until Fido starts having trouble using one or more limbs.

If this happens, you may wonder what caused it. A slipped disc is one possible cause.

What Is a Slipped Disc?

A slipped disc occurs when the inner material (nucleus pulposus) of a disc pushes through an outer covering (annulus fibrosis). The condition is also called a ruptured, herniated, or protruded disc. People can have discs in their backbones. Dogs also have discs in their spines.

Unlike humans, dogs don’t experience back pain since they can’t feel it. Instead, you may notice a wobbly gait. Your dog might even need to sit down as if he is tired or sore. This could be a sign of spinal trouble.

What Causes a Slipped Disc?

A dog’s spine has many discs that act as shock absorbers. These discs keep the bones in your pet’s back from rubbing together. As the dog gets older, these discs and their covering can wear out or break down due to disease or injury.

One cause for slipped disc is discospondylitis. This is an infection that affects the disc and the vertebrae. It happens when bacteria enter the spinal canal through a torn ligament or muscle in your pet’s lower back.

Another possible cause is degeneration, which means “worn out.” It often occurs after years of wear and tear.

In younger dogs, a slipped disc may be caused by activity. Overdoing it or playing too hard can create stress on your dog’s back. This can cause discs to wear out sooner than they should or slip out of place.

Some breeds are more prone to slipped discs. These include Dachshunds, corgis, basset hounds, and Airedale terriers. These breeds have short legs that put extra pressure on their backs as they jump and run. They may also have more discs than dogs with longer legs.

The most noticeable symptom of a slipped disc is a pain in your dog’s neck and back. There might also be other symptoms, such as weakness or paralysis in the hind legs.

What Are the Symptoms of a Slipped Disc?

• Pain: The most notable symptom is a pain in your dog’s neck and back. It can be mild to severe. Your pet might cry out when he turns his head from side to side without lifting his feet. He may limp or drag his toes on the floor.
• Weakness or Paralysis: A slipped disc can cause weakness, lack of control over back legs, and even paralysis in one or both hind legs. Your pet could struggle to walk as if he is drunk. If he loses control of his muscles, you might notice a change in his gait. For example, he might crouch down and lean against a wall as if he is tired.
• Low-back pain: If your dog has this symptom, it could be an early sign of a slipped disc or some other condition that affects the spine. You may notice symptoms within two weeks of exercise or physical activity.
• Hot Spots: Dog slipped disc symptoms in dogs can also include licking or scratching at the back. This is usually because he’s uncomfortable and wants to relieve the pain. Some owners say their pet grinds his teeth when he sleeps.
• Circling: Your dog may circle repetitively if one of his legs is affected. He may lose control of his back legs and spin around like a top.

When Should I Call the Vet?

You should contact your veterinarian if you notice any unusual behavior or when your pet shows one of these symptoms: discoloration, stiffness, or loss of control over his back legs. Your dog may be suffering from a slipped disc that’s giving him pain and making it hard for him to walk.

You should also call your veterinarian if your pet has problems lying down or getting up from a sitting position. This could indicate an injury in the spine area. Although most slipped discs develop in the lumbar area, they can occur anywhere along the spine.

Your pet may have disc disease if you notice a bulge or mass at the point where his tail joins his body. He might hold his tail out to one side or drag it across the floor as he walks. You’ll also want to call your veterinarian if you notice a change in the way your dog walks. He might stay close to walls or lean against furniture as he walks as if he’s tired.

You should also contact your veterinarian to see these symptoms: swelling, mild pain, inflammation, increased appetite, and weight loss.

These symptoms can indicate that your pet has other spinal problems, such as a tumor or inflammation.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Your veterinarian will look for other causes of your dog’s symptoms before diagnosing slipped disc. He’ll also use x-rays to determine whether there’s a disc problem in your pet’s lower back. A disc injury will show up on an x-ray as a white area with no bone around it.

A slipped spinal disc won’t heal on its own. Your veterinarian will prescribe medication to help relieve the pain and control inflammation in your pet’s back. Surgery is often necessary to remove a ruptured disc and fuse the vertebrae together. This will relieve pressure on the spinal cord. A dog who has had surgery to repair a slipped disc will need time to recover.

There are also alternative therapies that you might consider for your pet. Acupuncture may help reduce inflammation and promote healing after surgery. It’s often used in conjunction with other treatments. Hydrotherapy can ease stiffness and pain in your dog’s muscles after surgery. It uses water jets to stimulate circulation and relieve muscle spasms.

Treatment

• Nonsurgical: Your veterinarian will likely prescribe medications to help relieve the pain and control inflammation in your dog’s back. He may also recommend rest for one to two weeks before you try to coax him into playing again. You should avoid exercising your dog for up to six weeks after diagnosis.
• Corticosteroids help reduce inflammation and swelling in your pet’s joints, muscles, and other soft tissue. They’re often used when the discomfort from a slipped disc is mild.
• Pain medications can also be prescribed to help relieve pain. During the initial stages, your dog may benefit from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which include aspirin and ibuprofen. Aspirin should be used with caution because it can cause stomach ulcers in dogs if they’re not given enough water while taking it. Acetaminophen is another option that will reduce inflammation and pain. It’s often used in combination with other medications.
• Steroid injections sometimes help relieve the pain associated with a slipped disc, but they shouldn’t be administered more than once a month. If your dog isn’t showing signs of improvement after taking these types of medications for up to three weeks, you should contact your veterinarian to determine the next steps.
• Surgery: Several surgical procedures can be used to relieve pain associated with a slipped disc. These include laminectomy and spinal fusion (see How Surgery Works). Most of these surgeries involve removing the ruptured material from your dog’s spine or removing it along with the damaged nerves.
• Radiation therapy: If your dog has bone cancer in the spine, radiation therapy may be recommended to slow the spread of cancerous cells. It’s also commonly used after surgery or when tumors are located near a nerve. This type of therapy is usually given every day for seven to 30 days. Your pet will receive treatment through a beam that’s directed at his spinal cord. A radioactive substance is also injected into the area.
• Alternative medicine: Acupuncture can help relieve pain and reduce inflammation after surgery, although it may have limited success when used as a treatment. Massage therapy has also been shown to help relieve pain associated with slipped discs.

• Laser surgery: Laser surgery is an option for treating a slipped disc in some dogs, but it involves several risks and requires extensive training to perform correctly. Surgeons use high-intensity beams of light to stimulate the growth of collagen, which forms scar tissue and helps heal a dog’s wounds. According to the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, it may also help reduce inflammation caused by slipped discs and other spinal cord injuries. Laser surgery can be used alone or along with traditional surgical techniques. If you decide to opt for this procedure, talk to your veterinarian about the risks of laser surgery and other alternatives.

What can you do for a dog with a slipped disc?

You have a lot of choices about the kind of dog that you adopt, and even if your dog slipped disc symptoms are serious enough that she cannot walk or stand on her own, there is still plenty you can do to make life easier for her.

Here are some suggestions:

1. Sidewalk: If your dog cannot walk on her own, she may need help getting around. A huge dog could probably remain outside if you install a permanent sidewalk for her to use once it warms up, but even in this case, there will be many occasions when you have to move your pet inside the house. Depending on your dog’s size and ability, you may be able to get her from the garden into a wheelchair or similar device with little danger of injuring her further, but remember that it will take much longer for you to move her if she slouches down in a wheelchair. Use your hands and arms as much as you can to avoid accidentally stressing her spine.
2. Wheelchair: If your pet can use a wheelchair, consider getting inside the house and another for outside. This will allow you to move her more easily without having to worry about taking her out of a wheelchair every time you want to take it somewhere else. If she has trouble getting up into a wheelchair, you can make it easier by lowering the seat down. Alternatively, place an old bedsheet or towel on the floor and lay her in this instead of directly on the ground. You can then pull one corner of the cloth under her rear end and lift her onto a wheelchair with little risk of damaging her spine. It’s worth noting that the pain your dog is experiencing may be so extreme that you can’t move him, even if he is fully paralyzed and cannot feel anything in his legs. If you touch his hindquarters gently and try to lift him without any luck, don’t force it or risk hurting him further.
3. Dog bed: Consider purchasing a dog bed for your pet to use instead of a regular pet bed, as she will need something that provides good back support. Look for an orthopedic dog bed specially designed to give the right amount of support and features a memory foam insert or other cushioning material to help relieve the stress on her back.
4. Warm blanket: If your dog is taking drugs that might cause him to get cold, make sure you cover him with a warm blanket or purchase an electric heating pad for his bed. He will also need additional blankets as the weather becomes colder over the year, at least until he has fully healed. Although it can be challenging to watch a beloved pet suffer from spinal cord damage, don’t give up. With time and proper care, your dog should eventually recover enough to return to his regular activities. In the meantime, you can help keep him comfortable by providing him with extra blankets, a good bed, and appropriate medication.

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Can a slipped disc heal itself?

As it is a common misconception that most spinal cord injuries and diseases can repair themselves, we could only find sources that confirm the opposite. We did, however, asked two experienced veterinarians for their opinion, and they both stated that this is not possible (not in all cases but many, at least).

While the above information is reliable, it does not substitute for a consultation with your local veterinarian, who can assess the situation. Please don’t hesitate to seek professional help for your pet as soon as possible should their injury or state of health become serious.