Identifying Back Injuries
In general, your Dachshund will probably stay pretty healthy throughout most of her life. Know how to recognize common health issues in Dachshunds so you can get your dog the right treatment right away. When treated promptly, most conditions can be treated successfully.
Back injuries are the most common type of Dachshund health problem. The Dachshund’s funny body shape makes them particularly susceptible to CIDD — essentially a ruptured or leaking disk. When this happens, every second counts; consequently, it is important to know how to recognize a back injury as soon as possible.
Spinal cords can’t take much pressure. A ruptured disk that presses on the cord can quickly deprive the spinal cord of essential blood and oxygen, causing lasting damage.
When a back injury occurs, you must know what to do, and you must do it fast. However, you can’t do anything if you don’t know that your Dachshund is having a problem in the first place.
Look for the following signs:
- Shivering — especially when combined with unusual inactivity
- Refusal to get up and play, even for food
- A yelp when you pet your Dachshund or try to pick him up
- A pulled-in head, arched back, or any other strange position
- A refusal to bend down to the food or water dish to eat or drink
- Limping of any kind
- A “drunken” rear end, which moves but looks as if it isn’t completely under control
- Dragging of the back legs
If your Dachshund shows any of these warning signs, call your vet immediately and drive immediately to the vet’s office or nearest pet emergency facility. Don’t wait; you have just hours to act. Immediate surgery on a Dachshund with a Type I ruptured disk has a success rate around 95%, but if you wait longer than 24 hours after a disk injury, the success rate drops to 5 percent.
