Last Updated on September 7, 2023 by Dr. Alisha Barnes

Does My Dog Need Back Surgery?

Have you been advised that your dog will require back surgery to reduce his or her chronic back pain? If your answer is yes, you’re not alone. In fact, many dog parents face this difficult decision each year.

But before you make the decision to put your furry friend under the knife, it’s important to consider all of your options – including chiropractic care for dogs. Chiropractic treatment can be an effective way to relieve pain and improve mobility in dogs suffering from back problems.

If you’re wondering whether chiropractic care is right for your dog, here are a few things to keep in mind:

  • Chiropractic care is a non-invasive treatment option.
  • It can be used to treat a wide variety of back problems in dogs.

Because of their genetic background, certain dog breeds are prone to back discomfort and pain, including Beagles, Dachshunds, Corgis, Bulldogs, King Charles Spaniels, Basset Hounds (including Pekingese), and Shih Tzus. While these dogs are some of the most likely to suffer from back issues and pain, they are not the only ones. All dogs may develop degenerative spine disease and spinal disc herniation.

Intervertebral disc disease, commonly known as IVDD, is one of the most common reasons a veterinarian recommends surgery for your dog’s back. When your dog’s spinal cord is compressed by sick discs that exist between the joints of their spine due to Intervertebral disc disease, this is known as IVDD. The discs harden with time and no longer serve their purpose of cushioning the spine by pressing instead causing discomfort and pain.

Dogs with undetected intervertebral disc disease live for years, displaying subtle symptoms of back pain and discomfort, such as restricted mobility and hesitant movement, as they grow older. Once a spinal disc ruptures or tears in your beloved pet’s spine, causing severe and acute agony that may radiate all over the body, IVDD necessitates immediate therapy. Veterinary procedures like surgery may be required in certain situations where a disc has fractured or is causing severe suffering; but if nothing else, you and your dog might still wish to try one or more of the following remedies.

Chiropractic Care for Your Dog’s Back Pain

Chiropractic treatment can help with all of these concerns, including IVDD (Intervertebral Disc Disease). Chiropractic care has a variety of therapies that might help relieve the need for surgery if your dog’s discomfort is caused by IVDD, an accident, or normal aging.

It’s possible that combining traditional veterinary treatment with chiropractic therapy will make your pet as comfortable as possible. If required, your dog’s doctor may prescribe pain medication and anti-inflammatory medications to relieve the discomfort caused by whatever issue or imbalance is affecting him at this time. Then, after he has gotten used to it, he is ready for chiropractic treatment.

The goal of any therapy for your dog will be to help them recover as quickly and effectively as possible. Adjustments, laser therapy, acupuncture, and massage are just a few examples of therapies that might be used to assist your dog’s healing. The aim of these treatments is to allow your dog’s body to return into balance without the need for surgical intervention, which means there is no downtime, no side effects, reduced risk, and often greater visible outcomes.

Although each of these therapies has certain benefits, a unique, combined treatment strategy developed by your dog’s spinal surgeon will provide more effective pain relief and greater mobility.

The advantages of holistic chiropractic for dogs are numerous. What is the purpose of these therapies to begin with? Chiropractic treatment reduces pain because it aids in the treatment of illness as well as discomfort at its source. When a dog has back discomfort, it is typically due to degeneration (which may or may not be age or breed-related), trauma, or a posture imbalance that is negatively affecting their stance and gait.

Chiropractic treatment targets each of these causal factors in a variety of ways, since its benefits are generally applicable to most forms of pain.

Chiropractic care for dogs can aid in the reduction of inflammation, the relief of pinched and compressed nerves that cause pain, the realignment of joints back toward their natural position, and the provision of disc space. Chiropractic adjustments on a regular basis can assist your dog’s body in healing itself as well as maintaining pain relief that has already been achieved as a result of previous chiropractic treatments.

If you’re searching for a way to help your dog manage back discomfort, consider investing in pet chiropractic care. Veterinarians understand when dogs who are elderly aren’t good candidates for surgery, especially if they have additional underlying problems. If your dog has been diagnosed with back illness or is visibly suffering from back pain but is not a candidate for surgery due to their age, expert dog chiropractors can assist!

Chiropractic care is extremely gentle and non-invasive, making it ideal for dogs of all ages. If you’ve been advised that surgery is the only alternative, consider looking into chiropractic first. We will do our best to return your dog to optimum comfort and well-being, either as part of a collaboration with your veterinarian or as your dog’s primary health caregivers. Make an appointment now!

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