Poodle (Detailed Introduction)

　　Some small and medium-sized dogs are prone to lumbar vertebrae problems. Among them, Pekingese, Shih Tzu, Dachshund, and Cocker Spaniel are the most common.

　　Causes include: genetic factors; calcium and phosphorus malnutrition in puppies; trauma; cartilage nutritional disorders leading to degeneration of the dog's intervertebral discs.

　　Inducing factors include: careless jumping; sudden slipping; rough play; mating; exposure to cold, etc.

　　Frequent sprains and arthritis can cause dogs' lumbar intervertebral disc herniation, nerve compression, and in severe cases may even result in lifelong paralysis. Generally, dogs from 2 to 6 years old begin to show signs of onset. To protect our dogs from painful lumbar diseases, attention must be paid to the following issues.

　　Pay attention to the dog's nutritional status. Experience shows that dogs eating professional dog food with balanced nutrition have fewer such problems. Dogs that eat single foods like liver, meat, or ham for a long time lack calcium and are more prone to lumbar injuries. Especially when feeding liver, because liver contains high phosphorus and low calcium, and phosphorus inhibits calcium absorption, long-term liver feeding causes calcium deficiency, leading to rickets in young dogs and cats or chondromalacia in adults.

　　Do not over-exercise. Do not let puppies learn to perform standing actions like bowing, as these movements put excessive stress on the lumbar area and cause hidden dangers later. If possible, do not let dogs go up and down stairs by themselves to avoid lumbar sprains. Fighting with dogs can cause sprains. For dogs that have had sprains before, be especially careful and avoid frequent sprains.

　　Control weight. Excessive obesity also causes excessive lumbar stress. Ensure the dog maintains proper exercise, feed twice daily, and keep the weight within a normal range.

　　Avoid catching cold. Remember to dry the dog immediately after bathing, and avoid sleeping on damp and cold floors to prevent joint inflammation.

　　If the following early signs appear, please seek medical attention promptly

　　Affected dogs may suddenly develop full-body paralysis or hind-limb paralysis, unsteady walking, reluctance to move, etc. If the dog suddenly does not allow anyone to touch its waist or body, howls when touched on its body, behaves irritable, walks stiffly or very cautiously, sometimes hides under the bed where people cannot reach, these are very likely signs of an impending severe intervertebral disc disease attack.

　　Acute intervertebral disc herniation first shows severe pain, moaning, unwillingness to move or difficulty climbing stairs, or aggressive behavior. Soon after, it leads to motor disturbances (numbness or paralysis) and loss of sensation in the two hind limbs. Symptoms generally last for some time. At first onset, 80% of patients can recover, and some dogs can even self-heal. However, recurrence is common, so owners need to take it seriously and seek early detection and treatment!