Herniated Disc in Dogs: Important Things You Should Know

If you have a dog, you should be aware of all the illnesses and ailments they can suffer from. One of these is a herniated disc in dogs.

Chondrodystrophic breeds are more prone to this condition due to their anatomy, such as dachshunds, poodles, or French bulldogs.

A dog's spine, like ours, is made up of vertebral structures, and between the vertebrae, there are discs that act as shock absorbers. Hernias occur when an intervertebral disc shifts and protrudes into the vertebral canal, where the spinal cord is located.

We want to tell you how to detect a herniated disc in dogs and what you should do if it appears, so you can act as quickly as possible.

Causes of Herniated Disc in Dogs

A herniated disc is a degenerative disease of the spinal column that affects the intervertebral discs. These discs deform and can lead to compression of the spinal cord.

The most common causes of a herniated disc in dogs are:

• Trauma
• Sudden movements
• Falls
• Obesity
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Repetitive detrimental movements for the spine, known as explosive movements

It is important to note that a herniated disc is the most frequent cause of spinal cord injury in dogs.

Symptoms of Herniated Disc in Dogs

Our dogs usually don't tell us if they are feeling well or unwell, which makes detecting any illness quite difficult. To anticipate, we should know the most common symptoms of a herniated disc in dogs:

• Walking hunched over, trying to relieve pain
• Crying, barking, or howling due to pain
• Loss of bladder/bowel control
• Loss of sensation in the limbs
• Difficulty standing and balancing
• Difficulty walking, may drag a paw, or walk awkwardly
• Restlessness and panting

If your dog shows any of these symptoms, you should go to the vet immediately for an evaluation, as in these cases, time works against a good prognosis. Don't think it only happens when they get a bump; disc rupture usually occurs suddenly. There might have been some prior symptoms like limping, but if it's an abrupt rupture compressing the spinal cord, it's a medical emergency and surgery should be performed as soon as possible.

Types of Herniated Discs in Dogs

There are two types of herniated discs in dogs:

1. Hansen Type I: This is defined as a degeneration of the "nucleus pulposus." The annulus fibrosus of the disc deteriorates. Breeds such as dachshunds, Airedale terriers, or poodles, between 2 and 6 years old, are prone to these hernias. The cause is usually a sudden movement or a fall.
2. Hansen Type II: This is a fibrous degeneration of the disc nucleus. The result is a protrusion that gradually increases. It usually occurs in dogs between 4 and 6 years of age, and the severity depends on the grade.

The grades of herniated disc are:

• Grade I: No neurological damage, only pain.
• Grade II: Neurological damage at stage I. Difficulty moving.
• Grade III: Severe compression. Lack of strength in hind legs.
• Grade IV: Worsening. Even total paralysis. Difficulty retaining urine.
• Grade V: The most severe. All symptoms of previous grades and a loss of sensation.

Herniated discs in dogs, just like in humans, can occur at any level of the spinal column, although cervical and lumbar hernias are more common.

Treatment for Herniated Disc

Conservative

Conservative treatment for a herniated disc is the most common, usually in cases of mild limb affection. The pet is treated with rest and oral medication, closely monitoring its evolution in case the clinical signs worsen at any time. For proper nutrition and to prevent obesity in your pet, use natural dog treats and avoid foods high in salt, fat, or sugar.

The diagnosis must be made via an MRI, as it is the best diagnostic imaging technique. If an MRI is not available, a CT scan could be performed, but diagnostic imaging is essential to see the degree of the hernia, its location, and to decide on treatment based on the images and the dog's clinical signs.

Surgical

Surgical treatment is usually chosen in cases of herniated disc from Grade III onwards. In this operation, the herniated disc material will be removed, and the spinal canal will be decompressed.

This surgery is of vital importance if your dog is at Grade V and is elderly, and in this case, the surgery must be urgent.

Post-operative care for herniated disc in dogs

After herniated disc surgery, we need to be clear on several things. The first is to follow the vet's instructions, but we'll also explain the basics:

  - The dog should remain on rest for 6-8 weeks after surgery and only go outside to relieve itself. Depending on its condition, it will gradually be allowed to walk for longer periods.

  - Typically, medication will be prescribed to control pain, inflammation, and prevent infections.

  - For the first few days, apply cold compresses (well-protected) to the scar area. If the skin in that area darkens, it can be normal, sometimes bruising appears.

  - Clean the scar thoroughly at least twice a day with chlorhexidine or povidone-iodine diluted with saline solution.

  - If you can and aren't afraid, start gently moving the scar to prevent the skin in that area from adhering to deeper layers. If you have doubts about how to do it, ask your vet.

  - Depending on the degree of paralysis, your dog may need special care, such as prevention of pressure ulcers, monitoring for muscle atrophy, and urinary tract infections, which are very common after this type of surgery.

  - If your dog doesn't control its sphincters, use pee pads or diapers to keep it clean and dry at all times.

  - It's very important that even if your dog can't walk, you take it outside to a street or park to smell, and so it doesn't lose the instinct to urinate, even if it has incontinence at first.

  - As soon as you can, get it to walk. It can do so with the help of supports, such as harnesses, or even a scarf to support its hind legs. Be very careful the first few days, and depending on its evolution, if it doesn't regain mobility, a wheelchair can be a good solution to give it quality of life.

  - You should start home rehabilitation from the very first day your dog is home. Your involvement from the beginning is very important for its recovery.

Rehabilitation after Herniated Disc Surgery in Dogs

Rehabilitation is a very important part to consider for dogs with herniated discs, both operated and unoperated, to help them regain sensation, balance, and strength in their front or hind legs.

A common question any owner might have when returning home with their dog after surgery is how to rehabilitate my dog with a herniated disc. The truth is that your pet's surgeon or neurologist will tell you what to do, but we'll give you some basic instructions to get started.

• Massage its paw pad with a special paw product, or a little cream, to stimulate sensation. You can also gently brush it with a children's toothbrush on the paw pad or between the toes.
• Lay it on its side and gently massage the paralyzed limb.
• Mobilize all the joints of the paw, little by little and very gently (it might be completely paralyzed and the paws very soft, or some of the paws might be very stiff; don't force them, only as far as they allow, but try to push a little further each day).
• Place your dog on all fours (quadrupedal position). If it can't support its front or back legs, you can help it with a harness or your hands, but try to keep it there for a few minutes. The first few days, do it for short periods and gradually increase the time as it tolerates it.
• If it can stand on all fours, even with some support, start making gentle swings from right to left, so the weight shifts to the limbs on either side. You'll probably need to support it more when it leans towards its most affected side.

These are the first steps to take at home. Depending on its progress and your vet's instructions, you can gradually advance with the exercises. In many cases, it's advisable to take your dog for rehabilitation sessions depending on its clinical evolution.

After the operation and once it recovers, it should no longer do many things it used to, such as:

• Avoid letting your dog play fetch, that sudden movement, that momentary explosion, is what causes hernias in the long run.
• Buy an elevated feeder so it can eat with a straight spine.
• Provide it with a soft dog bed so it can rest stretched out. There are memory foam or even orthopedic ones.
• It cannot be overweight; it is absolutely contraindicated.
• Whenever possible, take it for exercises in the water, be it a river, a beach, or a pool, it's very beneficial for them.
• Do not let it climb onto sofas or your bed, nor go up or down stairs.
• Get a ramp for getting in and out of the car.

Our recommendation after recently operating on two dogs with herniated discs is that they should not run or jump onto sofas or beds... in the long run, this can lead to herniated discs with serious consequences. It's better to avoid putting them in danger.

Above all, if you are clear on the symptoms and take your dog to the vet, and they tell you they will admit it to see if medication helps, or if they procrastinate, be firm about getting it operated on as soon as possible. Every hour that passes with the injury makes its recovery worse and affects its chances of walking again.

This is very important. They are playing with your dog's health. Unfortunately, there are still places that, instead of referring you to another center with an emergency surgeon, prefer to admit it with medication for 48 hours or more, if it got sick on a weekend, to perform the operation on a weekday during business hours. This is a medical emergency in a dog, and it is a criterion for urgent surgery. Furthermore, all those hours the spinal cord is suffering worsen the condition, and your dog has fewer chances of walking again.

Please, if something like this happens to you, look for a place in your city or a nearby city where imaging tests can be performed and, if necessary, where surgery can be performed.

Ask your local veterinary center who could operate on your dog in case of a herniated disc.

We hope we have been able to help you. We don't want to alarm anyone, but we believe that together we must change things. For those of us who have a dog, it is a very important member of the family, and today we understand that there are centers that do not have an emergency surgeon, but we do not understand how those centers do not have the decency to refer you to another so that your dog does not suffer and this medical emergency is adequately attended to. From our dog clothing store, we want our four-legged companions to have the best care.