Does Your Dog Have Intervertebral Disc Disease? Holistic Treatments You Should Know About

When you have recently taken your dog to the vet for issues such as back leg weakness or problems with their back and spine, you may still feel surprised when your dog receives a diagnosis of intervertebral disc disease. Intervertebral disc disease is a common problem among several breeds of dogs and involves bulging or bursting discs between vertebra which puts pressure on the nerves. Knowing what is going on with your dog's health is only half the battle. The rest of the battle involves figuring out treatments that will work for your beloved pet. Get to know some of the more holistic treatment options available to you for your dog. Then, you can start treating their condition as soon as possible. 

Pain Relievers and Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

One of the first lines of treatment for intervertebral disc disease in dogs is to try to manage the pain and inflammation associated with the condition. The bulging or bursts discs can cause inflammation in the area around it and can inflame or irritate nearby nerves as well. Anti-inflammatory medications like corticosteroids are designed to reduce this inflammation, which in turn can reduce pain. 

However, the disc itself can be painful and so can the nerves that may be pinched or blocked by the disc that is out of place. Because of this, standard painkillers like Tramadol or other similar drugs can also be prescribed to help your dog reduce their pain and be able to move and function relatively well. While these are conventional treatments for intervertebral disc disease, most holistic veterinarians will use them alongside more alternative pet therapies in developing a treatment program. 

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is one of the alternative pet therapy options that can help your dog with their intervertebral disc disease. Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medicine technique that was originally meant for human beings. However, today more and more animal acupuncturists are opening practices. The idea behind acupuncture is that the living body is made up of energies that flow and circulate throughout the body. 

These energies can become stopped up, pinched, or diverted which can cause health problems and illnesses. Health problems such as a bulging intervertebral disc can also cause problems with the energy flow. Acupuncturists use small needles that they insert into specific energy points in the body to treat ailments. This is means to trigger energies to begin flowing again and to remove blockages. This, in turn, is thought to help that healing energy be applied to the ailment the creature is suffering from. 

For intervertebral disc disease, this usually means needles will be inserted around the back and spine to help the body begin to heal itself in those areas. Acupuncture is said to be relaxing as well as healing for dogs with intervertebral disc disease as well as other health issues. 

Now that you know more about some of the treatments available for your dog's intervertebral disc disease, you can work with your veterinarian to develop a holistic treatment plan right away. Click here to read more about alternative pet therapy.