The dog does not get up what to do. The dog's paws fail - a signal of the presence of serious health problems! What to do if a puppy's paws fail

One of the most common complaints among owners of dogs with neurological problems is that both hind legs. In this case, the dog:

• Starts to move abnormally.
• The hind legs, as it were, cease to obey, become weak.
• Paresis develops, or complete paralysis of the pelvic limbs.

Most often this problem occurs in small to medium breed dogs that are genetically predisposed to lesions intervertebral discs. These dogs include mainly dachshunds, in addition, all brachycephalic breeds - Pekingese, French Bulldog, Brabancon and others. As a rule, the hind legs of such dogs begin to work abnormally at the age of 3-8 years.

The first symptom of neurological disorders in the thoracolumbar spine, which lead to the fact that the dog begins to wean its hind legs, is pain. Later, weakness appears, the inability to move the limbs, and last of all, pain sensitivity disappears.

These symptoms usually come on abruptly while walking or playing with other dogs, or for no apparent external cause in a state of relative rest. Sudden movements can provoke the appearance of such symptoms, but are not their main cause. Many owners of dachshunds believe that a significant length of the spinal column plays a role in the development of the disease, but this is not true. Sometimes the manifestations of the disease occur all at once, but it also happens that in the morning the dog feels only pain, and by the evening paralysis of the limbs develops with loss of pain sensitivity.

There are many reasons why dogs can lose their hind legs. And, of course, those owners who suddenly encountered this problem are lost and do not know what to do. Just yesterday, their pet briskly jumped on the sofas and played catch-up with neighborhood dogs, and today lies listlessly, unable to rise.

The cases of damage to the limbs themselves include injuries (fractures, sprains and ruptures of the tendons, damage to peripheral nerves), as well as arthritis and arthrosis of the joints of the limbs, tumors.

If the above diagnoses are excluded, then it is most likely a spinal pathology, that is, a violation of the innervation of the limbs due to any pathological effects on the spinal cord. Paresis and paralysis of the hind limbs develop in case of damage to the spinal cord at the level of the thoracic and (or) lumbar spine.

• Injuries

Failure of the hind legs in a dog can occur due to trauma - with fractures, sprains and ruptures of ligaments and tendons, with damage to peripheral nerves, as well as due to diseases such as arthrosis, arthritis of the joints of the extremities, tumors, discopathy and herniated disc. In addition to these diseases, spinal pathology is possible, in which the innervation of the limbs is disturbed due to the impact on the spinal cord of adverse factors. Paresis and paralysis are frequent companions of spinal cord lesions in the lumbar and thoracic regions.

The most common reason for the hind legs to fail in dogs is a traumatic one: car injuries, falls, blows, strong bites during fights. In some cases, an unfortunate sharp turn, jump and slip on the ice crust can lead to such consequences.

In the place of direct trauma to the spine, the integrity of the spinal column (its structure) is violated, edema occurs, which leads to compression of the spinal cord and radicular nerves. Accordingly, the flow of blood with oxygen stops, and when prolonged squeezing nerve cells die, which makes it impossible for nerve impulses to pass through peripheral nerves. strong traumatic injury leads to a violation of the integrity of the spinal tissue, and there is a rupture of the spinal cord.

• Degenerative diseases of the spine

Refusal of the normal functioning of the hind limbs in dogs can provoke degenerative diseases of the spine, which are characterized by a violation of important metabolic processes in its tissues. So this leads to pathological changes structures of the links of the spinal column.

• Spondylosis

The hind legs of a dog can fail with spondylosis - "local aging" of some vertebral segments. This disease proceeds very slowly, and at the earliest stage it is practically not detected. First of all, the outer fibers of the fibrous ring are affected (the consistency of the nucleus pulposus is preserved), and then calcification of the anterior longitudinal ligament begins. Osteophytes develop, which visually resemble coracoid growths.

• Tumors in the spine

Tumor-like processes gradually developing in the immediate vicinity (or itself) of the spinal cord lead to pathological changes and fractures of the spinal column. With a sharp exacerbation of the process, edema and compression of the roots and spinal cord occur, and the following symptoms can be observed in the dog: weakening or failure of the hind limbs, arched back, impaired gait, when the position of the body changes, the dog squeals, concomitant disorders occur (violation of urination and defecation) , in some cases refusal to feed.

• Spondylarthrosis

A consequence of static loads in osteochondrosis of the spine may be spondylarthrosis (deforming arthrosis of the joints of the spine). Uneven loads on the spinal column can also lead to protrusion of the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc through the pathologically altered annulus fibrosus. This phenomenon is called vertebral hernia. Protruding towards the spinal cord, the hernia causes compression of the radicular nerves and (or) the spinal cord.

• Discopathy

Neurological lesions of the pelvic limbs are most often based on diseases of the intervertebral discs (discopathies). In this case, the changed substance of the disc penetrates the spinal canal and clamps the spinal cord or roots spinal nerves, which manifests itself in the form of a neurological deficit. Often, a large dog's hind legs fail, and this problem has its own characteristics. Similar lesions are observed in older animals of large and giant breeds: German Shepherds, Dobermans, Rottweilers, Great Danes and others. Typically, in this group of dogs, the development of clinical symptoms progresses slowly over several months or even years. In this case, it is possible to assume damage to the intervertebral discs in the lumbar spine or at the level of the lumbosacral junction, as well as lumbosacral stenosis.

Discopathy is very common in dogs - french bulldogs. This is due to the anatomical structure of the animal, when, in the course of artificial selection, the spine became elongated, and now it is undergoing more heavy loads than the spine of "normal" dogs. The distance between the vertebrae became much larger than normal. This is due to genetics and is inherited. A disc prolapse can occur not only during active movements and jumps, but even at rest, when the dog is sleeping or lying quietly.

• Dysplasia

Very often, owners of dogs of heavy breeds (St. Bernard, Shepherd Dogs, Labrador Retriever, Great Danes, etc.) are faced with diseases of the musculoskeletal system. The most common disease in puppies is hip dysplasia. This disease is hereditary and manifests itself most often between the ages of 4 and 10 months during intensive growth. At first there is a problem getting up, especially after sleep. The dog limps, then disperses and walks normally. Further, without treatment, the symptoms may worsen, up to complete failure dogs from walking. If you notice such signs, you need to take the dog to the veterinarian and take an x-ray.

• Osteocondritis of the spine

Osteochondrosis of the spine is considered the most severe form of damage; this disease is based on degenerative processes in the intervertebral discs (discopathy), often involving the surrounding vertebral bodies, as well as changes in ligamentous apparatus and intervertebral joints.

The reasons for the development of osteochondrosis can be:

• Genetically determined developmental defects that cause instability of the vertebrae.
• Rheumatoid lesions.
• Spinal injury.
• Violation of microcirculation, leading to malnutrition of the disk.
• autoimmune processes.

It is also possible spinal pathology, which arises from the impact of adverse factors on the spinal cord. Frequent companions of lesions of the spinal cord in the thoracic and lumbar region are paresis and paralysis. Most often, the paws of dogs suffer from falls (especially in small breeds), car injuries, blows and strong bites during fights.

Even an unsuccessful jump, a sharp turn, or a dog slipping on an ice crust can lead to paw failure. At this moment, the integrity of the structure of the spinal column is violated at the site of injury to the spine, edema occurs, which compresses the radicular nerves and the spinal cord.

Of course, the answer will be to contact a veterinarian, preferably one specializing in neurology. If you notice in your dog pain reaction when changing the position of the body, tense gait, unwillingness to walk, especially on the stairs, do not wait until her hind legs fail - immediately show the animal to the doctor, then the treatment will be more effective. If the trouble with the hind legs has already happened, all the more you should not wait any longer.

If the animal has a spinal injury, try to get it to the doctor as soon as possible and in an immobilized state (secure the animal on the board with bandages or straps). Do not use painkillers until you see your doctor. Pain limits the activity of the animal, which avoids further displacement of the vertebrae in the event of a fracture.

It is possible to notice the onset of the disease and urgently consult a specialist, but most inexperienced owners do not attach importance to such important symptoms how:

• Anxiety.
• The dog hides and squeals when they begin to touch it on the back.
• The dog is passive when other dogs are frolicking.

However, in most cases, the alarm begins to sound when the dog's hind legs partially begin to fail, or paralysis develops. And here it is necessary to differentiate such a disease as sciatica. Wrongly prescribed treatment (for example, instead of maximum immobilization of the animal - massage), will miss precious time and aggravate the situation.

The sooner help is provided to the dog, the better the prognosis for its recovery. In any case, you should not despair, because there are cases when completely immobilized dogs were put on their paws and returned to active life. Depending on the diagnosis, drug treatment is prescribed in the form of injections. A more radical case in the case of diseases of the spine is an operation, after which the treatment also continues.

In parallel, the dog is prescribed a massage, during the recovery period, swimming is recommended, classes with the dog after the return of physical activity to it. All dog owners should remember that a paralyzed dog cannot be helped at home. It is necessary to consult a doctor, go through all the prescribed examinations for staging accurate diagnosis and start timely treatment.

First, the doctor will conduct an examination, assess the general condition, provide emergency assistance and make an initial diagnosis. When it comes to spinal pathology, the doctor:

• Check the safety of sensitivity (tactile and pain) of the limbs.
• Check the safety of the reflexes.
• Check for pain in the spine.
• Appoint x-ray examination.
• Myelography may be done X-ray will be done after the introduction of a special radiopaque substance into the spinal canal. This is done to identify slightest violations, not visible on a regular picture, as well as to determine the exact localization of the process. If necessary, he will prescribe blood and urine tests to identify concomitant pathologies (pyelonephritis, renal, hepatic, heart failure, etc.).

The conducted studies will help the doctor assess the degree of damage, give a prognosis of the disease and make a decision on treatment. Perhaps the doctor will put you in front of a choice between a surgical and therapeutic method of treatment, perhaps he will insist on one of them.

Not always the only reason for paw failure in a pet is old age. A number of neurological and orthopedic diseases leading to paralysis of the dog's hind limbs have been described.

1. In dogs of small breeds, hind legs can fail from frequent falls, for example, from jumping off sofas, benches, etc. Injuries are earned in fights, when hitting cars, and so on.
2. If the pet lives in a city apartment and often climbed high stairs, fell on slippery surfaces, this can lead to paralysis of the limbs. Paralysis in the described case is caused by a lesion of the spine. At the moment of injury, all the constituent elements of the animal's spinal column are affected. The developed edema squeezes the nerve trunks, the animal loses the ability to move.
3. Degenerative diseases of the spine, including those caused by the aging of the pet. The so-called local aging of individual sections of the spinal column can be observed. Spondylosis in tetrapods has an asymptomatic or asymptomatic course, is almost never diagnosed on early stages development of the pathological process.
4. Paralysis of the hind legs due to the development of tumor processes.
5. A severe form of the disease is osteochondrosis of the spine. All breeds are susceptible to the disease.
6. Spinal discopathy is a common cause of paw failure in dogs. The disease is associated with the colossal loads experienced by the quadrupedal spine. Prolapse and protrusion of the intervertebral disc occurs during intense movement and at rest.

A caring owner will always be able to notice the unusual behavior of his four-legged friend, especially if the dog's hind legs suddenly failed. A complete or partial failure of the back of the musculoskeletal system can sometimes occur at the most inopportune moment and therefore it is best to meet the disease fully armed.

All pet owners need to understand why the dog's hind legs fail, and what to do in such a situation. Doing something on your own can be dangerous for the dog: if the spinal cord is damaged, this can provoke paralysis and even death of the animal.

The reasons why a dog's paws can be taken away are quite diverse:

1. Genetic disorders inherent in a number of breeds that have undergone the most intense human impact. This is especially common in breeds with an excessively long body and short legs. During selection selection, individuals with a deformed body were selected, when the trait was fixed, the animals also inherited the defects accompanying it - pathologies of the spine and structure pelvic bones over time leading to various diseases.
2. Arthritis is a common cause of limb mobility disorders. Especially often the old dog suffers from this. Worn joints cause severe pain, which makes the paws weak and painful for the animal to stand up. When moving, nerve endings may be infringed, so the dog is lame, or its hind legs may give way, partially or completely not work.
3. Tumors that develop in close proximity to the spine, pelvic bones, and hip joints can grow and physically impede mobility or cause entrapment of the nerves that control leg movements.
4. Injuries of various kinds - falls, unsuccessful movements, sharp turns on the run, jumps, bites of other animals, falling under a car, accompanied by fractures, sprains, tendon ruptures, can also cause complete paralysis or partial immobility of the hind limbs. Most common causes for which the dog becomes disabled are accidents involving vehicles. Chasing something or someone, the dog can get under the wheels. Injury to the spine or pelvic bones can cause paralysis of the limbs or parts of the body.

Symptoms of the disease

If the animal's hind legs fail after an accident or any other injury, the owners are in principle ready for the complications that occur. Another thing is when outwardly the disease does not manifest itself in any way. Problems appear like thunder from a clear sky.

The animal's legs simply give way, it staggers, trying to get up, whines, suffers, and the owners cannot understand how this happened. Sometimes the dog cannot stand on its hind legs immediately after sleep, in other cases everything happens against the background of complete well-being.

It can be very difficult to notice a problem until the animal begins to limp or simply cannot move. Sometimes the disease begins with soreness with sudden movements, which turns into a strong sharp pain. The animal suffers when moving, so it tries to limit its mobility.

Heavy, "raw" St. Bernard-type dogs often suffer from hip dysplasia. A characteristic sign of the disease is stiffness of movements after sleep or a long rest, then during the day mobility is restored, and the next day everything repeats.

Paralysis rarely develops in the front half of the body; in most dogs, arthritis, spondylosis, osteochondrosis, discopathy and other spinal problems are more often diagnosed in the thoracic and lumbar regions.

Sometimes the paws of an animal can give way immediately after an unsuccessful jump, turn. This does not mean that it was the awkward movement that caused the paresis or paralysis. Most likely, the disease had been latently developing for a long time, and the sudden movement simply became a catalyst that accelerated its manifestation.

What measures can be taken

Only an experienced veterinarian can treat the disease. This is very complex pathology requiring accurate diagnosis. Injuries may require urgent surgical intervention, especially if the animal has a broken leg or suspected damage to the pelvic bones or spine.

Treatment will be especially effective if you have time to see a doctor before the development of paresis and paralysis, while the dog suffers only from pain. At this time, the body is still sensitive to the action of drugs, and this can prevent the onset of irreversible changes.

Painkillers should not be given before a visit to the doctor, as they can distort the picture of the disease. In case of injury, the animal must be taken to the veterinary clinic in such a way that it is unable to move. Otherwise, under the influence of pain, the dog can further aggravate his condition, causing the displacement of broken bones, damage to the nerves or ruptures of blood vessels, which threatens to bleed.

It is necessary to provide her complete rest, and the doctor will take necessary measures after the diagnosis.

It may include x-ray of the damaged area of ​​the body, ultrasound internal organs if the animal was injured in an accident, myelography, blood and urine tests, other procedures as prescribed by a specialist.

The paws of the dog may be taken away soon after the onset of pain. If the process has just begun, there is hope that the immobility will be temporary. Do not give massages or try to force the dog to walk, this can aggravate his condition. The old animal often has problems with the legs.

The treatment of such diseases is long and complex, always complex. It depends on the age of the animal, the severity and extent of damage, the presence of other diseases, especially chronic ones, which can aggravate the lesion. Usually there are several various drugs, the list of which includes painkillers, anti-inflammatory, vitamin, immunomodulating and other drugs.

In the case of surgical interventions, severe injuries with bleeding, fractures and tissue bruises, antibiotics, hemostatic, antihistamines and other agents can be used.

It is necessary to pay attention to the diet of a recovering animal. It should be balanced, high-calorie, rich in calcium to accelerate the fusion of damaged bones, but at the same time easy enough for digestion by sick animals.

Even with completely paralyzed hind legs, sick or injured dogs move briskly on special wheelchairs and never feel inferior. They are just enjoying life.

How to avoid back leg problems

If neurological disorders or joint problems have a genetic basis, the owner is unlikely to be able to do anything, according to at least if the dog is already paralyzed. But, being warned about the possibility of paralysis of the limbs, the owners will be able to recognize the disease in the early stages, take action in time and seek medical help.

In the event of injury or paralysis due to tumor formation, early treatment can save the life of the animal. Sometimes problems with the hind legs can appear in a dog due to slippery floors in the apartment, dangerously located decor items that the dog can drop on itself.

A good owner will try to minimize the risk to the health of the dog, remove dangerous items, put a special rubber pad under the carpet and make sure that the animal is walking in the safest possible conditions.

Causes

Diseases that cause paw failure do not always appear immediately, which is why it is difficult to diagnose. Sometimes they can develop for a very long time, and the owner, due to ignorance about the condition of the pet, accelerates its development with loads. What diseases can lead a dog to such a state that its paws will fail? Are they treatable?

Injuries

The most common causes of inability to stand on the hind legs, paralysis and paresis are common injuries. An awkward movement, a jump from a great height, a fall of a dog can cause a fracture or sprain, pinched nerve, tendon rupture and other troubles.

The slightest displacement of bones, for example, vertebral discs, can lead to a pinched nerve, and then the dog simply stops feeling the hind legs. Or, for example, at the site of damage to the spinal column, edema occurs, which gradually begins to compress the spinal cord. The blood flow in it is disturbed, and nerve cells begin to die. Naturally, nerve impulses no longer reach their destination, which leads to the fact that the legs fail.

Sometimes, even after long-term treatment when the dog, it would seem, has passed, the hind legs may again fail. This is usually associated with undertreatment. primary cause. But in any case, the help of a qualified veterinarian is needed here - it is he who will be able to put the pet on its feet.

Discopathy

The second most common cause of paw failure is discopathy or intervertebral hernia. This is a disease of the vertebral discs. During discopathy, the altered substance of the disc gradually enters the spinal canal, where the spinal cord is located. Because of this, it is compressed or compression of the spinal nerves occurs.

Most of all, dogs with a long spine, namely dachshunds, bassets, suffer from discopathy. In representatives of other breeds, such a diagnosis is less common and the disease may not be so pronounced. For example, in German Shepherds, paresis or paralysis of the hind limbs is more often the result of dysplasia. Old pets often suffer. The disease usually manifests itself gradually, developing over several years or months.

French bulldogs also suffer from discopathy, as due to selection, the length of their spine has increased. Therefore, it is extremely important to protect pets of this breed from sudden movements and excessive stress. Moreover, the treatment of an intervertebral hernia is very difficult and can make a dog disabled. Veterinarians will talk about the disease in the next video.

Dysplasia

Perhaps one of the most severe and difficult to treat diseases is joint dysplasia. It usually affects only large and heavy breeds, such as Labradors, Shepherds, St. Bernards, Great Danes. Dysplasia may develop due to rapid growth a puppy from 4 to 8 months - at this time it is necessary to carry out disease prevention.

The first symptoms of dysplasia are usually clearly visible even to an inexperienced owner. The dog begins to limp after sleeping or lying in one place for a long time, begins to wiggle his back after exertion, and cannot run much. With these signs, you should immediately contact your veterinarian and take x-rays for dysplasia. The disease requires immediate treatment, otherwise the dog may completely lose the ability to stand on its hind legs.

This disease is often inherited. Therefore, when choosing a puppy of a large breed, you should request not only documents for the dog, but also tests for dysplasia of both parents. But for an acquired dog, a study for the presence of a disease should be carried out at the age of 1 year and older. Then it is most revealing.

Osteocondritis of the spine

Osteochondrosis of the spinal column can be called a "continuation" of discopathy. This is the most severe degree of damage to the vertebrae, it is associated with a violation of cartilage mineralization. This body becomes harder than necessary, which is fraught with the destruction of the joints. Ligaments and intervertebral joints also suffer greatly from osteochondrosis.

The main causes of osteochondrosis are a hereditary factor, trauma, impaired microcirculation, autoimmune processes, excess weight other. As a rule, small and some large breeds are susceptible to the disease.

Often osteochondrosis occurs without visible symptoms, however, pets sometimes begin to drag their hind legs. Often the movements of a sick animal are constrained. The disease can cause the dog's paws to fail over time.

Arthritis and arthrosis

These two conditions can also easily debilitate a dog if left untreated. Usually both large and heavy breeds suffer from both. Arthrosis is a chronic disease that differs from arthritis mainly in the absence of an inflammatory process. Cartilage begins to change greatly, and then - and collapse. Arthritis is an inflammation of the joint capsule, often found in older dogs.

The causes of diseases are different - these are microtraumas, malnutrition, lack of vitamins, hypothermia, lack of exercise or its overabundance, age, excess weight and others. Sometimes an attack of pain in dogs manifests itself after a long load - why the animal walks, wiggling its back, or falls, cannot get up.

In modern veterinary practice, there are two main types of causes of hind limb failure in dogs according to etiology:

• Orthopedic;
• neurological

Each of which requires the timely identification of signs that served as a stimulant to the occurrence of a violation of the pet's musculoskeletal functions.

The animal may fail paws for the following reasons:

It happens that the legs fail in very young puppies. If a dog walks on its hind legs from birth, it is possible that it has congenital defects, such as cerebral palsy. Therefore, when choosing a puppy in the kennel, you must definitely pay attention to how they walk and run.

Also, the puppy may fall on its paws due to rickets. Rickets is a disease that quite often occurs in dogs that have been weaned early or have been on artificial feeding(for example, in the case of the death of the mother during childbirth). Rickets is a disease that is caused by a lack of vital important vitamins and minerals. The disease manifests itself as follows:

• Uncertain, unsteady gait;
• Restless sleep of puppies;
• restless behavior ( puppy constantly squeals, whines, refuses to eat or, conversely, eats a lot, but still loses weight);
• The baby has a sunken chest and a protruding belly.

If you organize proper feeding for the puppy, the problem with rickets will disappear by itself. Gradually, the puppy will get stronger and catch up with peers in development.

Also, those animals can fall on their hind legs, in which from birth weak muscles. Usually, when the dog grows up, the muscles get stronger, and the gait becomes hard.

pregnant dogs

Pregnant females in the last months of bearing puppies can also fall on their paws a little. This happens if the puppies in the womb are very large, and it is difficult for the dog to carry his huge belly. Usually a bitch, pregnant large puppies, moves little, eats and drinks reluctantly, and all free time spends lying on the rug. Also, the dog can fall on its hind legs just before childbirth, during contractions, in order to alleviate pain in this way.

Symptoms

In some dogs, paws fail overnight, while in others it can take a very long time before a person notices something was wrong. Unfortunately, the symptoms of this are not always clearly visible, much here depends on the cause of the development of the disease.

Most main symptom- this is pain, which, by the way, is not always clearly expressed. At the very beginning of the development of some diseases, the dog may, due to pain in the back of the body, begin to wag its backside, as it were. This is clearly visible while walking. Also, sometimes the pain may appear after a severe physical activity or active games.

Often the pain syndrome is pronounced, and the dog not only cannot walk normally, but even falls to the ground, tries to get up. She can’t do this, because she suffers and panics. In some cases, after resting, the animal can move again, but sometimes the dog can be paralyzed for a long time.

It is because of the pain that the dog develops weakness in hind legs She can't stand confidently. There can be no talk at all about jumping and fast running. It is often possible to observe that the dog not only changes its gait, but also its paws begin to tangle.

The most terrible symptom is the insensitivity of the paws, the dog cannot move them. This means that paresis or paralysis has come - urgent treatment is needed.

This is often associated with a neurological disorder in the spinal column, so pain and discomfort the animal will experience especially when moving or a sudden change of position.

A little later, there may be weakness in the muscles, the absence of a nerve impulse, as a result of which the pet cannot move. After that, all pain sensitivity disappears and the dog, roughly speaking, no longer feels its limbs.

The occurrence of all these symptoms can serve as a sharp movement during the game or a sharp push. Also primary signs can quickly develop into complications.

For example, in the morning the dog may feel pain, and by the evening her hind legs may be taken away.

Causes and diseases leading to failure of the hind legs

There can be many reasons why a dog's hind legs failed. Therefore, most often the owners, whose dogs have this problem, are lost and do not know what to do.

Many in bewilderment note that in the morning or yesterday their pet ran briskly, played and had fun, and in the evening or today it is already pulling back body and cannot get up.

But also do not forget that limb failure can be due to a long-standing injury or untreated damage. For example, tendon sprains, fractures, bruises often affect nerves. Arthritis and arthrosis, tumor formations on the bones and joints also cause their pinching. Among the reasons, not the least role is played by specific diseases. Let's talk about this in more detail.

Injuries and pinched nerves

Discopathy, intervertebral hernia - all this is the result of inattentive or late treatment of an injury, which can lead to failure of the hind legs.

Far from the last place in this group is occupied by spinal pathology, during which the innervation of the limbs is disturbed.

Degenerative diseases of the spine

Often during an injury or with improper physical activity, the structure of the spinal column is disturbed. From this, its oxygen supply worsens, cells die.

The spinal cord is affected - as a result of paralysis and complete failure of the paws. Due to poor metabolism in the spinal cord, spondylosis or local aging of its segments can occur.

Tumors in the spine

The same injuries, bruises, sprains can cause tumor processes. They are dangerous because they lead to pathologies in the spinal cord, paralyzing the limbs.

Stable excessive loads on the spine can cause deformation of its joints and, as a result, spinal hernia.

First aid for a pet

Regardless of the nature of the injury, its severity or signs, it is important to get the pet to the clinic as soon as possible. At the same time, you cannot force him to walk if the motor function is still feasible.

Take the dog in your arms or place it in a car and take it to the veterinarian. The specialist must establish the safety of the sensitivity of the paws, check the pain syndrome, the presence of injuries and pathologies.

Also, for additional information, the doctor may take a blood and urine test.

As for the advice of the veterinarian, they all boil down to a couple of the most basic rules:

• do not engage in treatment on your own, do not undertake any courses and methods of treatment on your own;
• an experienced specialist should do x-rays and myelography to assess the situation;
• carry out timely prophylaxis especially for those dogs that are naturally prone to spinal pathologies and dysplasia.

Treatment

Just yesterday, the pet was cheerful, cheerful, frolic on a walk and infected all the household with its seething energy. And today, the paws of a German shepherd, pug or Alabai have failed. What to do? If the animal lies for several hours in a row and does not get up (but does not sleep), you need to offer the dog food and see how it reacts to the food.

It is also possible to carry out the simplest diagnostics at home. When a dog is so exhausted that it walks under itself and does not ask for a walk, you need to pay attention to the color of its urine. Paw failure is common in animals suffering from urolithiasis. This is especially common in French Bulldogs: they have weak kidneys and are very susceptible to such infections. Treatment of hind limb paresis can be different, for example:

To identify pathology, the veterinarian conducts:

• visual inspection - assessment general condition, checking sensitivity, reflexes and pain reactions;
• X-ray examination or MRI;
• myelography - x-ray examination with a contrast agent;
• general clinical analyzes of urine and blood.

Further treatment tactics differ significantly from the disease that caused immobility.

Regardless of the type of disease and the prescribed therapy, it is necessary to draw up a special diet. All foods should be easily digestible and nutritious, contain a lot of calcium, selenium, sulfur, protein, fatty acids.

Prevention measures

In order for the dog to live long and please the owner with its excellent health, the animal must be vaccinated against dangerous infections in a timely manner. During a walk, it is necessary to completely exclude the communication of a pet with stray dogs, because they are most often the main distributors of infections.

For prevention mechanical injuries paws, walking with an animal is necessary only in places specially designated for this, that is, on dog grounds or in parks with paths for walking animals. You should not take your pet to the forest or to the river, especially where people often have picnics. In dense grass, a dog can easily cut its paw on a bottle shard or other sharp object left by unlucky "tourists".

If the owner takes the pet with him on a fishing trip, in no case should small fishhooks be left on the ground. Stepping on the hook can cause serious injury to the animal. After each walk, it is necessary to inspect the paws of the beast and wipe them with a clean cloth. You also need to inspect the paws while swimming.

To prevent falls, locks should be installed on everything at home. plastic windows. Training with a dog in sports such as jumping or hurdles is only possible on a dog playground, under the guidance of a professional cynologist. If the animal shows interest in jumping, you should not leave your pet unattended for a minute while walking. Even a fall from a small garden bench can cause paresis of the hind limbs.

In order for puppies to grow up strong and healthy, it is necessary to provide them with proper feeding. If the kittens were taken away from the female early, it is necessary to include vitamin and vitamin supplements in their diet. mineral supplements. This will serve as an excellent prevention of rickets and help strengthen the weak muscles of babies. It is also necessary to regularly give vitamins to older dogs and pregnant bitches.

If a dog's hind legs suddenly fail, the reasons can be very different. The most important thing is not to be nervous ahead of time, but to calmly see what will happen next. If the animal is still eating well and showing great activity, it is most likely a banal splinter or scratch. But if the dog does not feel well, has become lethargic or, conversely, aggressive, you should not self-medicate.

It is impossible to completely protect the dog from the failure of the hind legs. But these measures will reduce the risk of paralysis at times.

It is important to carefully choose a puppy: during the inspection, you need to pay attention to how he moves, runs, plays.

You need to purchase a baby from a trusted breeder who will present a pedigree, passports and medical certificate crumbs and his parents.

Many dogs are prone to developing diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Cases when their hind legs fail are not uncommon. There are several reasons for this condition.

Which breeds most often fail hind legs?

Usually owners of dogs of small and medium sizes face this problem.

Dachshunds have a predisposition to damage to the hind legs.

Some breeds have genetic predisposition to lesions of the intervertebral discs. Specific symptoms are seen in:

1. Tax.
2. Brabancon.
3. French bulldogs.
4. Pekingese.

The dysfunction of the hind limbs is observed at approximately 3-8 year of pet's life .

The main causes of pathology

This symptom is often observed against the background of a violation of the innervation of the paws.. The provocateur may be a lesion of the spinal cord at the level of the lumbar or thoracic spine.

The development of arthritis can cause hind leg failure.

But also the hind legs may fail due to development:

Discopathy is often seen in Basset dogs.

Features of dysplasia

This pathology is very difficult to treat.

Dysplasia often occurs in dogs of the Great Dane breed.

Often dysplasia passed down genetically to dogs . Therefore, when buying an animal, you need to ask for both documents and tests for this disease of his father and mother.

Features of osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis in a dog in the picture.

Conditional "continuation" of discopathy is osteochondrosis.

The main cause of this serious disease is considered to be impaired cartilage mineralization. It hardens rapidly, which contributes.

Osteochondrosis dangerous because, if left untreated, hind limbs the animal is gradually withdrawn.

Features of arthritis and arthrosis

Arthritis and arthrosis are more common in older dogs.

These pathologies are most often diagnosed in severe dogs, large breeds. The main difference between arthrosis and arthritis is the absence of inflammation. There is a rapid change in cartilage, which is soon destroyed. In arthritis, the joint sac becomes inflamed. This disease occurs in older animals.

Symptoms

The first specific symptom is pain. A little later, the dog becomes weak, lethargic. It is difficult for her to move her paws. Pain sensitivity disappears last.

Pain in the extremities is the main symptom of the disease.

These signs may appear while playing with other animals.

1. If the disease is started symptoms appear even when the dog is in a state of relative rest.
2. Sometimes all the signs of the disease appear at once . Often in the first half of the day there is a pain syndrome, and in the late afternoon paralysis of the paws develops.
3. Most insidious disease is spondylosis . At first it proceeds slowly and is not detected in the early stages. When the pathology progresses, the development of osteophytes is observed. Visually, they resemble beak-like growths.
4. Tumors in the spine also do not manifest themselves at first. . When the process escalates, the spinal cord is compressed. This leads to arching of the animal's back and disruption of its gait.
5. Getting up and sitting down, the pet may squeal in pain . Sometimes there is involuntary urination. In some animals, the act of defecation is disturbed. A weakened dog may refuse to eat.

How can you help a dog?

Finding in a dog at least one of anxiety symptoms, need to see a veterinarian as soon as possible specializing in neurology. To establish a primary diagnosis, the doctor:

1. Schedules x-rays.
2. Checks for pain in the area of ​​the spine.
3. Clarifies the safety of reflexes.
4. Checks for pain and tactile sensitivity.

If you notice alarming symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Sometimes a sick animal is assigned to undergo a myelography. The conducted studies help the veterinarian to assess the stage of the lesion and determine the therapeutic tactics.

When diagnosing, it is very important to differentiate sciatica. Wrong treatment contributes to the aggravation of symptoms.

Medical treatment

If the dog's condition is characterized as acute, she is prescribed the use of steroid hormones:

1. Solumedrol.
2. Metipred.
3. Dexamethasone.
4. Prednisolone.

Solumedrol is used for acute course diseases.

At the end of this course, the dog is prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines. Pet recommended admission Rimadila, Quadrisola .

"Human" NSAIDs should not be given to animals.

This leads to the opening of gastric bleeding. Often there is a fatal outcome.

In order to improve the nutrition of the nervous tissue, the dog is prescribed B vitamins injections . The metabolism of oxygen and glucose in the affected tissues is activated by Actovegina. Prozerin is recommended for resuscitation of neuromuscular conduction. It can be combined with other anticholinesterase drugs.

When the pathology is acute phase, Prozerin not registered. It is important to remember that these injections are painful.

Surgery

The main goal of the operation is to eliminate compression of the spinal cord. Surgery is prescribed only after a comprehensive examination of the dog.

Surgery is prescribed to relieve compression of the spinal cord.

During the operation, the veterinarian removes the vertebral arches. After surgery, the doctor advises the owners of the dog regarding the rehabilitation period.

What is the prognosis?

Severe swelling contributes to the compression of the nervous tissue. Against this background, there is a deterioration in blood supply. The access of oxygen to the affected tissue is disrupted, and the nerve cells die.

The prognosis depends on the degree of compression. The larger the area of ​​damage to the nervous tissue, the worse it is.. If the animal has impaired defecation, there is no pain sensitivity, then the prognosis worsens.

Therefore, it is very important to notice the onset of the disease. You should immediately contact the veterinary clinic when the dog:

• very worried;
• hiding from the owner;
• squeals when her back is touched;
• refuses to play with other animals.

Preventive actions

It is better to take a puppy of any breed in your arms when descending.

Sooner or later, any dog ​​will have problems with the limbs. The task of the owner is to reduce the risk of developing dangerous diseases. To do this, follow the preventive recommendations.

Puppies of heavy breeds should be given chondroprotectors. Until the age of 12 months, this should be done constantly. Dachshunds and large dogs up to 10 months. you can't jump. Games with large adult animals are undesirable.

Before reaching six months old puppies of any breed should be carried on your hands during the descent.

• They rise on their own. This helps to strengthen the muscles .
• Animals prone to dysplasia are shown periodic x-ray examination . This will help to detect the disease in a timely manner.
• It is important to provide your pet sufficient level of physical activity . Their excess is just as harmful as the lack of activity.
• Dog nutrition should be balanced . Until the age of six months, the animal should be given special food for young dogs. The pet's diet should be saturated with vitamins and other substances necessary for the body.

• It is important to protect your dog from drafts. Otherwise, there is a risk of catching a cold of the spine.
• It is desirable to minimize the risk of injury. This will avoid the development of dangerous pathologies.

Keep your dog away from drafts.

Video about hind leg failure in dogs

Often, dog owners complain about the problem that their pets' hind legs fail. Many immediately begin to panic and they go to the hospital not with a request to cure the dog, but immediately put it to sleep. Of course, no one will let you euthanize an animal just like that, because modern technologies and the wealth of experience of our veterinarians allows us to put dogs on their feet even with severe cases. Naturally, the sooner you notice the problems of the hind legs of your four-legged pet and contact us, the more favorable the prognosis will be.

Hind leg failure usually does not come on suddenly. It is preceded by several stages, which allow the owners to notice deviations in the dog even before the complete failure of the paws and take it to the doctor. In rare cases, the failure of the hind legs occurs suddenly, without any prerequisites. Thus, if you notice the following symptoms in your dog, do not hesitate and bring it to us at Bio-Vet immediately:

The dog's gait changes;

She has pain in her limbs;

The dog ceases to control the hind legs;

The animal begins to drag its hind legs;

Paralysis of the hind limbs develops.

Why does a dog's paws fail?

The reasons for the failure of the hind legs in a dog abound. We present the most common in medical practice:

Trauma, bruise, fracture, sprain;

- tumors;

Spondylosis (the so-called aging of some parts of the spine);

Spondylarthrosis;

Osteochondrosis;

Discopathy (diseases of the intervertebral discs);

Degenerative diseases of the spine;

hip dysplasia;

Paralysis (previously discovered).

What to do if the dog's hind legs fail

What should I do if my dog's hind legs fail? It is with this question that hundreds of concerned owners regularly call the Bio-Vet clinic. The only thing we advise in such cases is to deliver your animal to us at Bio-Vet as soon as possible and, what is important, more carefully.

Name of veterinary services	unit of measurement	Service cost, rub.
Primary appointment Re-admission	one animal one animal
Veterinarian consultation
Doctor's consultation on test results
Doctor's consultation, no pet

Here, a veterinarian (usually a neurologist, since the failure of the hind legs belongs to the field of neurological diseases) will carry out all the necessary manipulations (examine, prescribe an additional examination, X-ray, CT, MRI, myelography), after which he will establish the correct diagnosis and, starting from it, prescribe effective treatment. The choice of treatment methods is directly related to the cause that caused the paw failure. It could be drug therapy, injections, often surgery.

Do not put off going to the doctor if you notice that the dog has problems with its hind legs, if the animal whines when its spine is touched - all this can be treated if you seek help on time!

Weakness in the hind legs of a dog. Why? What to do?

We, the Vitus Veterinary Clinic, are often approached by dog ​​owners with complaints about the weakness of the hind limbs in their pets. Different people describe the signs of the disease in different ways: a wagging gait, a dog dragging its paws, paralysis of the hind legs, lameness, a hunchback of the back, and so on.

There is no single reason for the problems described. Therefore, qualified diagnosis is very important for effective treatment. In this case, you can not do without a visit to the doctor.

In this article, we will try to give general information for possible causes of hind limb weakness in dogs, and briefly general principles diagnosis and treatment of relevant diseases.

There is a breed and age predisposition to certain pathologies. So, Pekingese, dachshunds, French and English bulldogs, poodles and pugs are predisposed to displacement and destruction of the intervertebral discs (discopathy, disc herniation). This pathology poses a serious danger to life and can even lead to the death of the dog. When the disc is displaced, the spinal cord is compressed. Outwardly, this is manifested by repetitive attacks severe pain: the dog freezes in one position (usually with a stretched neck and a hunched back), severe trembling occurs, shortness of breath, hind legs give way, weaken. With a less pronounced compression of the spinal cord, only weakness of the hind limbs is clinically observed - the dog, as it were, drags them, tries to transfer the weight of the body mainly to the front paws, cannot jump onto the sofa (chair, armchair), cannot bend over to the bowl or to the floor. If discopathy is suspected, it is necessary to immediately conduct a qualified diagnosis and take effective measures up to surgery, since spinal cord compression can quickly lead to irreversible changes when any treatment is ineffective.

Dogs of large and giant breeds (St. Bernard, Great Dane, Rottweiler, Newfoundland, Labrador, etc.), as well as German Shepherds aged 4-12 months, are predisposed to diseases of the hip joints. Many factors influence the occurrence of these diseases, in particular, an unbalanced diet, overweight puppy, paws sliding on the floor, heredity, and so on. With damage to the hip joints, most often, signs of weakness of the limbs appear after rest (in the morning, when getting up) and decrease during physical activity. In addition, the defeat of the hip joints is rarely symmetrical, and the dog first "falls" on only one paw. You can read more about the pathology of the hip joints in our article "Dysplasia ...".

Middle-aged dogs the day after unusually hard physical activity may suffer from muscle inflammation - myositis. One of the manifestations of myositis is weakness of the hind limbs, “stilted gait”. Treatment of myositis is not a serious problem. However, only a veterinarian can distinguish myositis from a spinal cord injury.

In older dogs, hind limb weakness may be of central origin, ie. associated with brain dysfunction. According to our observations, most often there are various vascular problems, less often - volumetric processes (brain tumors). In this case, competent treatment can significantly improve the condition of the dog and significantly extend its life.

Kidney disease in dogs CANNOT be the cause of weakness in the hindquarters and hunched posture, unless it is an extreme degree of exhaustion and autointoxication (however, in this case, weakness extends to all muscles).

A common mistake owners make is self-treatment of the dog with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (aspirin, indomethacin, diclofenac, etc.). Clinical improvements with the use of these drugs are only temporary and mask the manifestations of the underlying disease. In addition, medical anti-inflammatory drugs have serious side effects including ulceration of the stomach wall and gastric bleeding.
Kuznetsov V.S.
Veterinarian

Problems of skeletal formation
when growing puppies of large breeds of dogs.
Plan:
1. Introduction.
2. Main problems:
1) VKG;
2) Fractures;
3) Hip dysplasia;
4) Valgus deformity;
5) Osteochondrosis.
3. Conclusions.
Introduction.
Strong, properly developed bones, reliable and efficient joints are necessary for any dog, regardless of breed. However, for large, heavy animals this is especially important. Various pathologies of the development of the skeleton in a dog can be not only a disqualifying sign, but also cause pain and suffering in the animal. At the same time, many factors that affect the occurrence of skeletal diseases in puppies can be "reduced to zero" by knowing the causes of these diseases.
Main problems.
Certain problems associated with the development of bones and joints in puppies of large dog breeds are particularly common in clinical practice. These include: secondary stern hyperparathyroidism (erroneously called rickets), traumatic and pathological fractures, hip dysplasia (both congenital, genetically inherited and acquired), valgus deformity of the hind limbs and osteochondrosis.
Secondary feeding hyperparathyroidism (VKH).
First, a few words about rickets. Rickets is a disease of growing animals, manifested by a violation of the growth and development of bones due to a lack of vitamin D in the diet.

Traditionally in Russia, rickets is called any local thickenings, bone curvature in puppies. It has been scientifically proven that true rickets (vitamin D deficiency) is extremely rare in dogs and is difficult to simulate even in an experiment.

Unlike rickets, secondary feeding hyperparathyroidism (SCH) is very common in puppies, and its manifestations are commonly referred to as rickets.

The cause of VCH is an insufficient intake of calcium in the body, often aggravated by an excess of calories in the diet. This situation occurs when a puppy is fed meat, fish, porridge without the addition of calcium-containing preparations. All types of meat (including offal), as well as cereals, contain very little.

Therefore, diets home cooking based on meat components should be supplied with additives mineral salts containing a significant percentage of calcium (more than 8%), but the amount of the mineral mixture should remain within reasonable limits. It is more difficult to provide both the necessary balance and the right amount of Ca and P at home, because. it is almost impossible to control the true amount of these substances in the original products. Puppies of large dog breeds (Great Danes, Newfoundlands, St. Bernards, Rottweilers, etc.) are especially susceptible to the disease.

The best conditions for the development of the skeleton are created when using ready-made balanced (dry or canned) food for puppies, which take into account the characteristics of the stages of growth and development of babies, for example, Pedigree for puppies up to 12 months; Advance Puppy Rehydratable, for puppies of toy, small and medium breed dogs aged 4 weeks to 6 months or Advance Growth, designed and tailored to the physiology of puppies of large and giant breeds of dogs.

The composition of these feeds fully takes into account the needs of a growing organism in all nutrients, vitamins and minerals.

Granules of diets are easily soaked, which is used to feed the puppy during the adaptation period; when transferring to a ready-made diet, it is introduced gradually over 5-7 days, starting with minimal amounts.

We do not recommend mixing balanced ready-to-eat foods with other foods to avoid nutritional and nutritional imbalances. minerals in the puppy's body (with the exception of the period of transfer to dry food) and the addition of vitamin and mineral supplements is categorically excluded.

If you are feeding your growing puppy a homemade diet, adequately fortify it with minerals. Combined mineral supplements such as Slicky, Vetzyme, Irish Kale are best suited for this. We do not recommend the use of drugs and top dressing of domestic production. It is necessary to dose mineral additives in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturers. However, even with the very best supplements and quality foods, balancing your diet accurately is difficult. We also DO NOT recommend adding vitamins A and D to your homemade diet.

And if the puppy shows signs of so-called "rickets", vitamin D supplementation can only worsen the condition if calcium intake is not increased. Usually, to stabilize the growth of bones, it is enough to transfer the puppy to ready-made food. If the curvature of the limbs and / or gait disturbance is severe, we recommend that you go to the clinic for an examination (X-ray, orthopedic consultation).

An overweight puppy can exacerbate the symptoms of VCH, so the puppy should not be overfed when using prepared feed it is enough to follow the feeding rate indicated on the package. The growth potential is laid down genetically and depends little on the feeding of the puppy when important condition that the feed is balanced. Therefore, a thin puppy is more likely to develop a normal skeleton.

In contrast to CHD, among the classic skeletal diseases associated with calcium deficiency with excess phosphorus, there may be cases where some owners allow excess calcium supplementation without proportional inclusion of phosphorus in the diet. A high calcium content increases its circulating concentration and, as a result, the secretion of calcitonin increases and there are disturbances in the production of PTH. In this condition, the activity of osteoclasts, which are extremely important for correct formation skeleton during growth. As a result, premature closure of the growth zones may occur. long bones leading to their underdevelopment.
Fractures.
Unfortunately, in puppies of large breeds of dogs, fractures of the bones of the limbs occur quite often. At the same time, most owners consider trauma as the only reason for what happened. In fact, many bone fractures in puppies occur with minimal external influence. Such fractures are called pathological.

Pathological fractures indicate poor mineralization of the skeleton. The reason for this may be low calcium intake, high phosphorus intake and low vitamin D intake. In such cases, fixation of the fracture plays only a SECONDARY role for recovery, the main thing is nutritional support.

Healthy animals with traumatic fractures are usually treated through the process of primary or secondary healing bones. Optimal condition is achieved by using prepared foods with adequate levels of calcium, phosphorus, vitamins A and D. Excessive doses of these substances have been shown to delay bone healing. Pain due to injury or surgical intervention is the cause of stress, which leads to the consumption of protein reserves and a decrease in the immune response. In addition, demand for ascorbic acid and probably other substances is increasing. In surgical patients, the period before and after anesthesia can be particularly detrimental. Therefore, it is necessary to use special dietary feed, designed for the needs of sick animals.

Dysplasia of the hip joints.

It's common congenital disease dogs, mostly large breeds (St. Bernards, Rottweilers, Newfoundlands, Labradors, etc.). Several studies have confirmed that initially puppies are born with normal hip joints. Dysplasia develops during the first 6 months of life as a result of disproportionate development bone structures and soft tissues of the hip joints. The development of the disease is strongly influenced by external factors, mainly feeding and loading.

At birth, the femoral head and acetabulum in puppies are formed primarily from cartilage. The formation of bone tissue and the change in the position of the femoral head depends on the process of endochondral ossification. When a dysplastic joint is formed, the load is redistributed: more than half of the body weight during walking falls on the anterior upper edge of the cavity. As a result, microcracks and deformations, cartilage erosion are formed. Clinically, this is manifested by lameness, pain, especially when standing up.

As already mentioned, diet plays an important role in the development of dysplasia. So, in several studies it was possible to establish that long-term consumption of a diet with an INCREASED calcium content leads to a violation of bone formation, incl. and the head of the femur, which is manifested by deformation of both the bones themselves and the joints. With excessive intake of phosphorus from the diet, the normal absorption of calcium from the intestine may slow down due to the formation of non-absorbable compounds - phytates. An excess of vitamin D in the diet causes a delay in ossification, i.e. normal formation of bones and, accordingly, joints. Also, the development of dysplasia can increase with an excess of vitamin C and a lack of thiamine (vitamin B1) in the diet.

Feeding a puppy a balanced diet, such as Advance Growth, significantly reduces the chance of developing hip dysplasia. In this case, it is very important not to overestimate the dose of feed, because. excess energy in the puppy's body, accelerates its growth and weight gain. Under such conditions, the load on the hip joints increases significantly. This may damage them.

In clinical practice, we often register acquired post-traumatic deformities of the hip joints in puppies of large dog breeds, which can be regarded as dysplasia. Such damage occurs most often in puppies that are overweight, contained on homemade diets or mixed diets. Joint injuries occur during unsuccessful jumps, sliding (especially on linoleum, parquet). With timely treatment to the clinic, it is possible to effectively treat such patients with good long-term results.

If the deformation hip joint already formed and diagnosed with dysplasia, it is possible to conduct both conservative and surgical treatment. The method and tactics of treatment is determined by the doctor in each case individually.
Valgus deformity of the hind limbs.
In the cynological environment, the disease is called X-shaped hind limbs. Hallux valgus develops most often in rapidly growing puppies of large dog breeds. It is characterized by a significant curvature of the bones of the thigh and lower leg, as a result of which the setting of the hind limbs significantly changes.

Most probable cause today is improper feeding. Excess protein and energy in the puppy's diet leads to accelerated growth and weight gain. In this case, the total weight of the young animal exceeds the natural resistance to stress of the developing skeletal system limbs.

If the animals get to the doctor in a timely manner, before the onset of severe deformities of the limbs, then it is enough sharp restriction protein and caloric intake. Painkillers and chondroprotectors reduce pain, but thus increase the young animal's need for movement, which leads to an increase in the biomechanical load. After the growth zones are closed, corrective operations on the bones can be performed, which significantly improve the quality of life of the animals.
Osteochondrosis.
Osteochondrosis is a complex pathology manifested by a violation of cartilage mineralization. The disease is ubiquitous and various kinds animals, including dogs. In dogs, osteochondrosis is observed as a primary disease of puppies of large breeds (i.e., more than 25 kg of adult weight). Breeds at highest risk: Great Dane, Labrador, Golden Retriever, Newfoundland, Rottweiler.

If the disease affects the articular cartilage, osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) may develop later. In OCD, part of the articular cartilage begins to separate and may fragment. At the same time, inflammation of the joint is noted.

Osteochondrosis is a multifactorial disease in which genetics and nutrition play significant roles. The disease strikes various breeds and each of them has a specific localization of osteochondrosis. So, in Rottweilers, OCD lesions are more common in the elbow and hock joints. In most cases, lesions are observed from different sides.

Cartilage stratification in osteochondrosis most often occurs in areas subject to the greatest load.

Puppies large dogs in osteochondrosis, damage to the growth zones is also observed, which leads to curvature of the bones of the forearm, separation of the olecranon from ulna and the supraglenoid process from the scapula.

It has been scientifically proven that long-term consumption of an excess amount of a balanced diet or a diet rich in calcium (regardless of other components) can cause an increase in the frequency and severity of signs of osteochondrosis in puppies of large dog breeds. Similar changes can be observed in puppies raised on a diet with high content calcium.

There is an erroneous opinion that calcium is not superfluous, and the puppy will absorb as much calcium from the diet as he needs. In experiments, it was found that dogs receiving foods high in calcium absorb it significantly more.

In dogs with articular cartilage osteochondrosis without cartilage detachment, only non-specific clinical signs may be evident. In cases where the cartilage begins to flake off, osteoarthritis and inflammation of the subchondral bone may occur. The result is lameness.

Measurement of the circulating concentration of calcium and phosphorus does not allow to establish the ratio in the feed and the absorbability of these elements and cannot be used to support the diagnosis of osteochondrosis.

Articular cartilage osteochondrosis does not always progress to OCD. However, in cases where the cartilage begins to exfoliate, surgical treatment is already required.

If osteochondrosis affects the growth zone of the bones of the forearm, the so-called. "Crooked Beam Syndrome". In crooked beam syndrome, severe shortening of the ulna may be irreversible, as may abnormal development of the wrist and/or separation of the olecranon.

Feeding correction in the early stages can positively influence the spontaneous disappearance of cartilage lesions. Osteochondrosis of the articular cartilage and growth plates may disappear, but dietary changes may not help in cases of OCD when cartilage detachment has occurred or when there is severe beam curvature. In most of these cases, surgical correction is indicated.

Feed correction involves reducing the intake of energy (proteins, fats, carbohydrates), calcium and vitamins to the minimum requirements of the dog. Medical treatment osteochondrosis in dogs is ineffective.

Not only its growth and development depend on how fully the puppy eats.

Puppies that are properly fed have good immunity and less susceptible to disease.

Adequate provision for all nutrients and proper care will help to realize the full genetic potential and lay the foundation for a long, fulfilling and healthy life for your pet.

Kuznetsov V.S.
Veterinarian