Ease Your Pet's Back Problems

Hmm..How do pets manage to have back problems? They don't slump in chairs, refuse to sit up straight, lift heavy items, most of the time their backs are aligned just right. Well, pets don't get back problems very often but when they do it can cause some discomfort. When pets have back problems they may have difficulty climbing stairs, running, or laying down a particular way. Most of the time your pet will just develop a muscle spasm or something not serious. However, the worst case scenario is that your pet can suffer serious back problems that cause loss of control, severe pain, nerve damage, and even paralysis.

Dogs are more susceptible to get back problems and large dogs like Great Danes, and low dogs, like dachshunds, are more likely to have back problems. Also, dogs that are overweight may suffer from back problems. Here are a few things you can do to help ease your pet's back problems. For stiff, achy muscles, you can apply a hot pack or compress on your pet's back to help ease the pain and discomfort. Heat will also increase circulation to your pet's back speeding up the healing process. Apply the heat pack for at least 15 minutes a day three times a day.

Help ease your pet's back problems by keeping him from doing too much walking, running, or climbing. Until the back problem goes away keep your pet pretty much stationary for several weeks. You can get a crate or large enough box that will allow them to move around but not move around too much. If you want to take him outside, make sure you have a short leash on him to prevent him from dashing off or jumping up.

After your pet's back has healed start them off slowly walking. Take them on short walks but don't let them run keep them walking at a slow to medium pace. To ease some of the pain of your pet's back problems you can give them low doses of buffered aspirin. Always check with your vet when giving pets aspirin. A safe dose for dogs is ¼ of a 325 mg pill for every 10 pounds twice a day. Never give Ibuprofen or acetaminophen to pets and check with your vet before giving cats any aspirin. Since being overweight can cause back problems, make sure you keep your pet fit. Don't overfeed, cut down on table scraps, feed them small meals throughout the day, and make sure they get plenty of exercise. You can also feed your pet a low-fat, high-fiber pet food.

In order to tell if your pet just has muscle spasms or if they have a more serious back problem, while standing flip one of their hind feet so the top of the paw is touching the ground. Your pet should pick their foot up and put it on the right side in a couple of seconds. If they don't do that, take your pet to the vet to check for any spinal injury or damage.