Does Your Dog Have Back Pain? Here’s What You Can Do
Back pain may not seem like an everyday issue in dogs, but just like humans, they also suffer from it. It’s important to know whether your dog might also be suffering from this serious pain so that you can take measures to make him feel better. Here are a few signs that your dog might be having back pain:
- Excessive groomingIf your dog is grooming his fur obsessively, chances are he’s hurting. It’s normal for dogs to groom themselves but if he pays special or extra attention to a particular area while he’s grooming himself and it becomes obsessive, you should take him to the vet. He’s trying to take care of a wound that’s not there.
- Panting heavilyThis is pretty normal in dogs. Even heavy panting can be considered as normal on especially warm days or after an engaging play session. But if you notice him panting heavily without any apparent reason, you now have a reason to be concerned. Chances are that his sudden panting is induced by stress – stress brought on by pain.
- Loss of appetiteThis is always a result of discomfort. Dogs love food and they get hungry a lot. Just like humans, they also don’t really feel like chowing down when they’re not feeling too good. They wouldn’t want to eat when it’s too painful to walk to the food bowl. This could indicate many different things so it’s important that you get it checked out ASAP.
- Overly shy or aggressiveIf your dog is becoming more and more antisocial by day, it’s normal to suspect pain as a cause. If you notice that your dog is avoiding attention on purpose or is overly aggressive when you try to pet her, check them gently for pain.
- Behavioral changesIf your otherwise active dog is now lazy or hesitant to play, it may be because it’s too painful for him to do so. Also, if he gets tired to early during walks, it may be because he’s in too much pain to go on.
What can you do?
Firstly, you shouldn’t administer any pain medication before you take him to the vet. Just like how it’s unwise to self-medicate, it’s the same with dogs. We know you want to stop your pup from hurting but you’ll only do more harm if you give him medication that has not been prescribed by a professional. Take him to the vet and ask him to prescribe some medications that might ease the pain.Physical therapy can also help. Again, before putting your dog on any new exercise regimen, be sure to check in with your vet first. Start physical therapy if he advises you to do so. Hydrotherapy is also a pretty good option to try. Much like physical therapy, only the exercises are done in water. Not all dogs are good with water so check with your vet first. You could also try acupuncture. Make sure you go to an experienced professional who knows what he or she is doing.
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