by admin | January 24th, 2010
Back and spine problems are very common in the Dachshund breed. Veterinarians refer to Dachshund back problems as Intervertebral Disc Disease. About 25% of Dachshunds will suffer from some sort of back, spine, or disc problem at some point it their life. Doxies have short stubby legs which leads to early disintegration of their spine and other joints.
Watch your dog and be aware of the symptoms of Dachshund back problems. The symptoms include hunching over when walking, crying out when being picked up (as if in pain), uncoordinated walking, not wanting to get up from a lying down position, and not wanting to climb stairs. If you notice any of these symptoms, take your Doxie to the vet for a check up.
The vet will take x-rays and do some motor skill tests. She may give your dog pain relievers, muscle relaxers, and anti-inflammatory medicine. You will probably have to keep your dog in a small crate or carrier so that he will rest and his back can heal. When my Miniature Dachshund, Skippy, had his back problem, we gave him these medicines for about 2 weeks and kept him on cage rest. That was 3 years ago and he has not had another episode and is doing just fine.
Dachshund back problems can easily be prevented. Don’t let your Doxie get fat. This will aggravate back and joint problems. Monitor his food intake and make sure he gets enough exercise. Jumping on and off furniture can lead to problems, so if you like to have your Dachshund on the couch with you, get him some doggy steps so he won’t hurt himself jumping.
