10 Things to Know After Your Dog's IVDD Diagnosis
Often pawrents ask us, "How do I prevent my dog’s intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) from getting worse? If my dog has surgery, what happens afterwards? How can I prevent another injury? And how can I help my dog have the best recovery and life possible?"
Here are 10 things to know:
Use a chest harness and avoid any neck leads.
Avoid high impact activity and strenuous exercise. Make sure your walks are controlled.
Don’t allow your dog to jump, especially on or off furniture or into or out of cars. Placing pet stairs next to the bed or sofa will help limit jumping as will a ramp or step into the car.
Other than the pet steps, avoid stairs and slippery floors whenever possible. Blocking stairs with baby gates will help.
No rough play with other animals (or people!), including tugging. Monitoring play with other pets is very important; if they are getting rough, stop them.
Weigh your dog often to be sure that you are maintaining a lean body weight. Your primary care veterinarian can advise you on your dog’s ideal weight and diet.
Monitor your dog's condition for signs of back pain or clumsy movements.
Consider rehabilitation for your dog. Just as human patients benefit from specialized therapy, so do pets. Veterinary rehab specialists, like the one at our center in Hunt Valley, can provide personalized rehab programs that include things like the underwater treadmill, acupuncture, and laser therapy to help keep your pet both in-shape and strong!
Keep in touch with your primary care veterinarian about your dog's condition. If your dog has a flare-up, your primary care may recommend crate rest and may prescribe anti-inflammatory medications to help.
If symptoms are more severe, or conservative management like crate rest and medications are not helping, contact us!