LONG BACKS, SHORT LEGS AND SLIPPED DISKS: IS YOUR DOG AT RISK?
By Dr. Patti Khuly
I'm not sure exactly how it happens, but veterinarians tend to take on "special needs" pets. Of course, I'm no exception.
My French bulldog's chronic spinal problems and ensuing disability make him a perfect poster child for veterinarian-owned pets everywhere. It also makes him the ideal subject of a discussion on intervertebral disk disease, arguably the most common spinal malady among dogs.
Intervertebral disk disease, like my dog Vincent's, is referred to as "IVDD" by veterinarians, but is better known to the general public as "slipped disks." It's a condition caused by the untimely degeneration of one or more of the disk-shaped structures that serve as cushions between the bony vertebrae of the spine. When these disks go bad, the material contained within them is extruded, thereby compressing the most sensitive nearby structure: the spinal cord.
Like my temperamental Vincent (his spine isn't the only source of his "specialness"), the spinal cord doesn't take insults lying down. It lets everyone know when it's unhappy. In most cases, pain is the body's most obvious response to an affronted spinal cord. Afflicted dogs may stand in a hunched position, cry out when picked up, refuse to jump or decline to eat, among other possible symptoms.
But some dogs aren't especially demonstrative when it comes to letting you know they're hurting. In fact, plenty will never whine, cry or otherwise display their discomfort –– ever. For some, that's because their disease is mild. For others, it's because it's simply their nature to conceal any pain.
In more advanced cases, however, the evidence of IVDD may ultimately appear in how they move. An odd hitch in her stride, a peculiar dragging of a hind foot, a funny crossing-over of his hind limbs -- they're all possibilities. In these patients, what you're observing is the end result of a serious spinal offense: evidence of nerve damage.
When the spinal cord is damaged –– whether permanently or temporarily –– the communication between the brain and the body is disrupted. And for most IVDD patients, the hind limbs are the first to go. That's why the unluckiest patients will forever walk oddly, if they walk at all.
In Vincent's case, it has taken three surgeries to get him back on all four paws. Nonetheless, these separate IVDD events have claimed most of his hind limb function. The next time, his neurosurgeons tell me, he won't be so lucky. Which is why he's already being trained to use his K-9 cart, aka a "doggie wheelchair."
To be sure, it's a depressing disease. More so for dogs who don't have the luxury of a veterinarian owner and a bunch of board-certified neurosurgeons to lavish them with their professional services.
But fortunately, few dogs are as seriously diseased as Vincent. Trouble is, for every wheelchair-bound patient, hundreds more suffer painful IVDD symptoms that aren't detected or treated.
It makes sense, then, that research dollars might be dedicated to exploring the basis for this disease. Because it's especially common in dachshunds, among other short-legged long-backed breeds (bassets, shih tzus, Welsh corgis, etc.), a recent veterinary study at The Royal Veterinary College in the United Kingdom undertook to understand this connection, ultimately establishing a relationship between long backs, short legs and IVDD.
Although all dog owners should be on the lookout for pain and dysfunction, those who count stubby-legged, long-backed dogs among their family are effectively put on notice: Spinal troubles may be headed your way. So at your next veterinary visit, why not ask your pet's doctor to check for telltale signs you might be missing? The earlier the diagnosis, the more treatment options there are, and the better chance your dog has of living without the chronic pain IVDD can cause.
Guest columnist Dr. Patty Khuly (drpattykhuly.com) is a Miami-based veterinarian and popular author, as well as a top veterinary blogger and the creator of "The Fat Dog Diet," a smartphone app designed to help pet owners reduce their dogs' weight.
Q&A
Alternatives to pills
for treating sick birds
Q: How do you give medication to a pet bird? "Pilling" doesn't seem like an option. -- via Facebook
A: Veterinarians who work with birds can show you several techniques for medicating them. Which one will be recommended for home nursing care will depend on the owner's comfort and skill, and on the bird himself. Here's a rundown of the options:
-- Putting medication in water. Points for "easy," but this technique has its drawbacks. You have little control over dosage because you can't count on your bird to drink any set amount of water. Some species drink little water at all, and other birds may not feel up to drinking when they're ill.
-- Offering medicated feeds. Same pros and cons as medicated water. It's easy to offer medicated feed, but you have no way of making sure that any of it gets inside your bird. And some medicated feeds apparently taste awful, so even if your bird feels like eating, he may not touch the stuff with medicine in it.
-- Using a syringe or eyedropper. Accuracy of dosage is a benefit of giving your bird medication orally, assuming you get the stuff in him, instead of dribbling it everywhere but down his throat. You can get the appropriate amount in an eyedropper or a syringe with the needle removed, and then slide the tip into the side of your bird's mouth. Your bird isn't likely to sit still for this procedure, so you'll have to restrain him by wrapping him in a towel. Once he's restrained, a bird who has been hand-fed as a baby will usually go along.
-- Giving an injection. High marks for accuracy, and once you're used to injecting your bird, high marks for ease as well. As with oral medications, though, you'll likely need to restrain your bird with a towel to inject his medication. Some people get really good at injecting their birds, even after initial reluctance.
Some final points: Don't stop giving meds because your bird seems to feel better. It's always important to give the medications for as long as they've been prescribed. And if you have any problems or questions, call your veterinarian. -- Dr. Marty Becker
THE BUZZ
AAHA ruling against
no-anesthesia dentistry
-- So-called "anesthesia-free dental cleanings," criticized by veterinary experts as insufficient when it comes to diagnosing and treating dental disease in pets, will no longer be part of the American Animal Hospital Association's certified veterinary practices. In making the announcement, the AAHA said that "anesthesia with intubation is necessary to remove plaque and tartar from the entire tooth, at least 60 percent of which is under the gum line."
-- The sickening and deaths of a small number of healthy dogs from what appears to be a virulent new virus has veterinarians on edge in Ohio and beyond. The Ohio Department of Agriculture told the Akron Beacon-Journal that it's received calls from pet owners and veterinarians concerned about deaths in the Akron-Canton area as well as in Cincinnati, and especially about symptoms severe enough to kill about half of the infected dogs within 48 hours. A sample from one of the dogs killed was confirmed as a new and emerging disease by pathologists at the University of California, Davis, who are investigating whether the "circo virus" also killed a California dog last spring.
-- A pharmacist in Washington state was disciplined by the state regulatory agency after he modified a dose on a veterinary prescription without consulting the veterinarian. VIN News (news.vin.com) reported that a state investigator confirmed that the veterinarian's prescription was correct and noted that differences in metabolism may mean that dosages for dogs (or other animals) will be different than dosages for people of comparable size. As more pet owners take veterinary prescriptions to traditional pharmacies, looking to save money, similar errors by pharmacists non-versed in veterinary medicine have become more common. -- Gina Spadafori
ABOUT PET CONNECTION
Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts headed by "Good Morning America" and "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and also the authors of many best-selling pet care books. Dr. Becker can also be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker.