Low back pain in dogs consists of a painful process located in the lumbosacral area, that is, in the area between the 3 last lumbar vertebrae (L5, L6 and L7) and the sacrum bone (which connects the pelvis with the spine). It can be caused by different processes or diseases, so the precise diagnosis requires imaging tests, but without forgetting a correct neurological examination and physical examination. Treatment will depend on the cause.
Keep reading this article on our site to learn more about low back pain in dogs, its causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.
What is low back pain in dogs?
Low pain is defined as pain located in the most posterior part of our dog's back, near its tail, in the muscles of the lumbosacral areaof the canine spinal column. In addition, low back pain leads to increased tension, tone and stiffness of the muscles in that area of the dog.
This pain arises as a nervous mechanism by activation of the nerve pathways that transmit pain and by the development of an inflammatory process and of muscle contracture. Sometimes the nerve root can be compressed causing pinching and even spinal cord protrusions and disc herniation.
Causes of low back pain in dogs
The origin of low back pain in dogs can be explained by the following processes and diseases:
- Muscle overload.
- Trauma.
- Fracture due to osteoporosis.
- Clip.
- Osteoarthritis.
- Advanced age.
- Scoliosis.
- Inflammatory disorders of the vertebrae, infections or tumors.
- Ankylosing spondylitis.
- Lumbar disc herniation.
- Lumbosacral or cauda equina stenosis.
Is there a predisposition for the development of low back pain in dogs?
On the one hand, although any dog, regardless of its breed, sex and age can develop low back pain throughout its life, it is true that it is seen more frequently inolder dogs , due to the natural wear and tear of bones and joints due to age or due to osteoarthritis or osteoporosis. In response to the sex of the dog, it is seen with the same frequency in males as in females.
On the other hand, it can be seen more frequently in the following dog breeds:
- Dachshund: Due to his long back, he is prone to herniated discs.
- French Bulldog: has a predisposition to ankylosing spondylitis.
- Labrador, German Shepherd, or other large breeds: These are more predisposed to developing lumbosacral stenosis, also called cauda equina syndrome.
In summary, dogs of chondrodystrophic breeds, that is, dogs with long spine and short legs, are more prone to development of herniated discs due to the tension that this particular anatomy produces in the intervertebral discs. In contrast, large breed dogs are more predisposed to developing osteoarthritis in the vertebrae or spondylosis as they age.
Canine low back pain symptoms
If a dog has low back pain, the following symptoms may :
- Inconvenience.
- Pain.
- Inflammation.
- Muscle contracture.
- Tingle.
- Alterations in sensitivity.
- Reduced mobility and activity.
- Discomfort.
- Numbness.
- Increase in temperature in the area due to inflammation.
- Mood changes.
- Depression.
- Overweight.
The clinical sign that they always manifest is pain, especially when impingement, protrusion, spondylitis or a herniated disc has occurred. We can detect this pain in its initial stages when our dog stops running around, has trouble climbing stairs, walks more slowly and, in general, is less active. Later he will not want to go for a walk as much, he will remain at rest for a long time and will complain with a shriek when we touch the area in the most serious cases.
Also, in the more serious cases such as spinal cord involvement or herniated disc, the nerve signal, causing paralysis.
Diagnosis of low back pain in dogs
The diagnosis of low back pain in dogs should be based on a combination of clinical signs, neurological examination and diagnostic imaging, in order to find the specific causeWhat is causing our dog's back pain.
Clinical signs may localize the injury to the posterior back area, which together with a complete neurological examination with testing of spinal reflexes, sensation and responses, may localize the injury in the spinal cord segments of the lumbosacral area (L4-S3).
The diagnosis by image, specifically the X-ray, will allow you to observe the appearance of the vertebrae in the area, in order to observe changes characteristic of ankylosing spondylitis, changes indicative of infection or inflammation or other causes that can be observed by this imaging technique.
However, in order to obtain a precise and definitive diagnosis of what is happening to our dog, we must perform advanced imaging techniques such as MRI or CT scan.
Treatment of low back pain in dogs
The treatment of low back pain in dogs depends on the original cause However, drugs are usually applied to reduce pain and discomfort such as anti-inflammatories. In addition, something that comforts these dogs is the application of heat in the area, such as with thoraco-lumbar thermal supports that also serve as protection of the region affected.
On the other hand, rehabilitation and physiotherapy are excellent for low back pain problems in dogs, and especially after surgery to improve recovery and obtain better results. Surgery, for its part, will be limited to the most serious cases that have surgical solution, as well as to herniated discs that compress the spinal cord and conservative therapy is not enough.
In addition, overweight and obesity due to reduced mobility should be prevented with suitable feed for weight loss and giving only the feed you need according to your particular conditions.
