Dachshund Discopathy - Causes And Prevention

2024 Author: Sebastian Paterson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:47

My phone rang. Who is speaking? No, not an elephant, but the editor of Zooprice. It is very necessary to write about discopathy in dachshunds (and I am not only a doctor, but also a dachshund owner, moreover, Charlik - my dog - at one time suffered paralysis). Both are at work, we both communicate with other people at the same time, then the conversation turns "for life", in the end the summary was: "So, I'm waiting for an article about taxopathy?" - "Ok, no problem, taxopathy, so taxopathy!" And they both laughed because they realized they had invented a new term.

And now about the same, but more serious. It's no secret that dachshunds often suffer from "causeless" paralysis. In some cases the dog recovers quickly and completely, in others - the result is deplorable … Taxis are always worried about this question.

To begin with, what is discopathy? As the name implies, even for a layman - some kind of pathology of some discs. Let's start with the basics. The vertebrae (I hope you know that these are the bones that make up the spine?) Are interconnected movably (otherwise how would we turn, bend over?). The top of each vertebra forms an arch. In a row of these arches, connected by joints (yes, the same joints as the bones of the limbs), the spinal cord is "threaded" like a thread through beads. The lower parts (bodies) of the vertebrae, so as not to rub against each other and not be injured, are "laid" by discs. Those very disks. Each disc consists of an elastic cartilaginous base and an internal jelly-like content (imagine a rubber ball into which the paste has been poured),due to which it can change its shape and plays the role of a shock absorber under load on the spine. If, for some reason, the disc is deformed (if we sit on our ball - it will either flatten, or worse, it will break), then its parts protruding beyond the intervertebral space compress the spinal cord and the nerves extending from it. What is it fraught with? Compressed nerve fibers stop functioning, and the part of the body that is controlled by this nerve (this part of the spinal cord) loses sensitivity, mobility, blood flow is disturbed, etc. Depending on the location and extent of the lesion, this can be limited to a small, passing dragging of the hind legs (slight infringement of the spinal nerves in the lumbar region), and it can also lead to death (strong compression of the spinal cord in the region of the first thoracic vertebrae). If, for some reason, the disc is deformed (if we sit on our ball - it will either flatten, or worse, it will break), then its parts protruding beyond the intervertebral space compress the spinal cord and the nerves extending from it. What is it fraught with? The pinched nerve fibers stop functioning, and the part of the body that is controlled by this nerve (this part of the spinal cord) loses sensitivity, mobility, blood flow is disturbed, etc. Depending on the location and extent of the lesion, this can be limited to a small, passing dragging of the hind legs (slight infringement of the spinal nerves in the lumbar region), and it can also lead to death (strong compression of the spinal cord in the region of the first thoracic vertebrae). If, for some reason, the disc is deformed (if we sit on our ball - it will either flatten, or worse, it will break), then its parts protruding beyond the intervertebral space compress the spinal cord and the nerves extending from it. What is it fraught with? The pinched nerve fibers stop functioning, and the part of the body that is controlled by this nerve (this part of the spinal cord) loses sensitivity, mobility, blood flow is disturbed, etc. Depending on the location and extent of the lesion, this can be limited to a small, passing dragging of the hind legs (slight infringement of the spinal nerves in the lumbar region), and it can also lead to death (strong compression of the spinal cord in the region of the first thoracic vertebrae).protruding beyond the intervertebral space, squeeze the spinal cord and the nerves extending from it. What is it fraught with? The pinched nerve fibers stop functioning, and the part of the body that is controlled by this nerve (this part of the spinal cord) loses sensitivity, mobility, blood flow is disturbed, etc. Depending on the location and extent of the lesion, this can be limited to a small, passing dragging of the hind legs (slight infringement of the spinal nerves in the lumbar region), and it can also lead to death (strong compression of the spinal cord in the region of the first thoracic vertebrae).protruding beyond the intervertebral space, squeeze the spinal cord and the nerves extending from it. What is it fraught with? The pinched nerve fibers stop functioning, and the part of the body that is controlled by this nerve (this part of the spinal cord) loses sensitivity, mobility, blood flow is disturbed, etc. Depending on the location and extent of the lesion, this can be limited to a small, passing dragging of the hind legs (slight infringement of the spinal nerves in the lumbar region), and it can also lead to death (strong compression of the spinal cord in the region of the first thoracic vertebrae).loses sensitivity, mobility, blood flow is disturbed, etc. Depending on the location and extent of the lesion, this can be limited to a small, passing dragging of the hind legs (slight infringement of the spinal nerves in the lumbar region), and it can also lead to death (strong compression of the spinal cord in the region of the first thoracic vertebrae).loses sensitivity, mobility, blood flow is disturbed, etc. Depending on the location and extent of the lesion, this can be limited to a small, passing dragging of the hind legs (slight infringement of the spinal nerves in the lumbar region), and it can also lead to death (strong compression of the spinal cord in the region of the first thoracic vertebrae).

What are the reasons? How to avoid? The exact reasons for this phenomenon have not been established, but there is a breed predisposition - the so-called chondrodystrophoid breeds suffer. In addition to dachshunds - "champions" in discopathy, which are also brought down by the structure of the body (short legs and a long back) - these include poodles, Pekingese, French bulldogs. There is also a predisposition for some genetic lines in the breed. It has been noticed that sedentary, "sofa" dogs suffer more often, in contrast to trained working dogs.

Therefore, when choosing a puppy: a) be sure to ask whether his parents suffered from discopathy; b) do not give the dog unnatural loads (jumping from a height, for example, from a high couch, from a barrier on the site, from hands); c) in no case deprive her of a normal active life: walking, running, digging holes, swimming for several hours a day (according to the season, and if there is an opportunity to take to the pool, it is better all year round). Be sure to add chondroprotectors to the diet, for example, KANVIT HONDRO or KANVIT HONDRO MAXI. This preparation contains glucosamine, chondroitin and collagen hydrolyzate. Glucosamine and chondroitin are part of the articular cartilage, increase the moisture content in it, due to which the cartilage becomes more elastic, they have anti-inflammatory properties. Glucosamine, moreover,increases the amount of hyaluronate (part of the intra-articular fluid). Collagen hydrolyzate consists of essential amino acids ў a building material for connective tissue (in particular, tissue of joints, ligaments). Due to this, the ligaments that hold the vertebrae together are strengthened, preventing the disc from bulging out of the articular cavity, the cartilaginous walls of the disc are strengthened, a sufficient level of the jelly-like contents of the disc is maintained, which guarantees its elasticity.a sufficient level of the jelly-like content of the disc is maintained, which guarantees its elasticity.a sufficient level of the jelly-like content of the disc is maintained, which guarantees its elasticity.

If a misfortune has happened … Often even a good doctor does not recognize discopathy, because at the beginning of the disease the usual pain syndrome is observed - the animal worries, whines, hides, the stomach is tense, and the back is hunched over. The same signs are observed in renal or hepatic colic, intestinal inflammation and some other diseases. You should be alerted to the fact that the dog does not jump into its usual place on the couch, does not jump when meeting you (if, of course, it has done it before), although this is not a 100% indicator - with severe pain in the abdominal cavity, you also do not jump. If you have the slightest suspicion, be sure to show the animal to the doctor, and not only the therapist, but also the surgeon. The next stage after painful is a violation of sensitivity and motor function of the limbs. The transmitted nerve atrophiesand the organs that depend on it stop working normally. Usually, the discs on the border of the thoracic and lumbar regions are affected: the dog's hind legs begin to braid, and then they stop working altogether, the animal crawls on its front legs, while the hind legs trail limply.

In addition, the bladder and intestines stop working: urine is not separated in the proper volume, but, dripping, causes irritation on the inner thighs. To alleviate the condition of the animal, the owner should help the animal to empty the bladder (pressing on the lower abdomen) and intestines (putting enemas), take care of the skin of the thighs and put on diapers. There is no pain sensitivity in the paralyzed organs. The prognosis for discopathy is uncertain. Sometimes it goes away even without treatment, sometimes - neither a long therapeutic course nor surgical intervention helps. Only one thing can be definitely said: the higher (closer to the head) the affected area, the stronger the pain period and the faster the paralysis set in, the worse the prognosis.

Nevertheless, even in the most seemingly unfavorable case, do not rush to make a fatal decision! There are such "specialists" who, after one examination and collecting anamnesis, pass a sentence - this dog should live, this one - put to sleep. Do not believe it !!! This is the unpredictability of our profession (moreover, this applies to any disease, not just discopathy): it happens that an animal that seems to be quite safe at first glance dies (so do not relax until it is completely cured), and in another case, a seemingly incurable animal recovers … For a doctor, such a case is a holiday of the soul, the name day of the heart! If suddenly trouble happens, remember - there is always hope, do not give up! In many ways, the success of treatment depends on the patience and attitude of the owner of the sick animal. Dogs are sensitive to our mood, and even the thought of our beloved owner "that you are a disabled person, you will die anyway? "can push the animal to death. Do not rush to say goodbye to your pet. The paralyzed animal does not feel pain, and recovery can come in a week or six months (there are even cases of, generally without treatment, recovery).

In the painful stage, the animal needs to ensure rest by any means, because additional muscle squeezing leads to an even stronger release of the contents of the disc outside the joint and even more serious damage to the nerve. At this time, hormonal or non-hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs, drugs that improve blood circulation, enhance the conduction of nerve impulses, B vitamins and ascorbic acid are used. Treatment may vary depending on the condition of the particular dog and the preference of the particular doctor. Particular attention, as I said, should be paid to hygiene: the condition of the inner thighs, assistance in urination and defecation. It is difficult, tedious, non-aromatic, but … We are responsible for our pets.

In the future, physiotherapy, massage, passive movements in the joints are prescribed. The dog is forced to try to move on its own: a treat, a favorite toy. If you have a small dachshund and there are no drafts in the apartment, fill the bath with water (36-37 degrees) and, slightly supporting it under the stomach, let the animal swim. You can massage your back with a stream of water from the shower. With my Charlick, this trick was half successful - he managed to stand on the very tips of his claws and it was problematic to make him swim. But when I slightly lifted him by the chest, and he lost support, he began to pound with all his strength with his front paws, and weak twitching of the paralyzed hind legs were felt.

Another important factor in the recovery of my dog was … bitches. The trouble happened in November - in the very mud and slush, so we did not go for a walk for a month. On the first snowball, I made him at least lie down on the street, get some air. One of his girlfriends, a half-blood husky, immediately began to gallop around, flirt, poke her nose and … the dog crawled, pushing slightly with one hind leg. I was dumbfounded. A week later, he was already getting up on one hind leg and flapping with the other - the husky was running fast, and the most beloved bitch, Bordeaux, Bonya, did not want to come up on her own, and nothing, not even paralysis, could contain the dog's essence … A month later Charlik was running, although his gait it left much to be desired. Now only a slight atrophy of the muscles of the thighs and a barely noticeable wobbling in the back reminds that the dog was paralyzed. I would like to wish all taxi drivers good luck and immense patience! If suddenly trouble happens, remember - there is always hope, do not give up!

Special thanks to my teacher Alexander Nikolaevich Efimov for the excellent presentation of the material, both at the institute and in the articles that I am happy to read now. In particular, his article "Discopathy in Dachshunds" helped me systematize my observations and make sure that my medical experience in this matter is consistent with that of other doctors.