A slipped disc in a dog can be a worrying time and sometimes hard decisions have to be made on the right path of treatment. It’s helpful to know the dog slipped disc recovery rate, but this isn’t as easy as it sounds. Recovery rate depends on a multitude of factors and assessing each dog as an individual.
Which Route is Best for Your Dog?
Surgery
Surgery has a fairly high success rate, and after a short recovery time your dog can be back to their old selves. The disadvantages to surgery are that it is very expensive, it’s invasive, it requires anaesthetic, and it has risks associated with spinal surgery. Also having surgery on a specific disk doesn’t mean that either re-injury won’t occur or that the dog will not hurt another disk.
Conservative Management
This includes pain medication, anti-inflammatories and possible muscle relaxants from your vet. Exercise must then be limited and your dog may have to be crate rested so they can’t go running around. Hydrotherapy, dog chiropractic, physiotherapy and massage and all extremely helpful to speed recovery and minimise future injuries. Depending on the severity of the injury, recovery tends to be longer than with surgery, and the risk of re injury is higher.
Contributing Factors for Dog Slipped Disc Recovery Rate
Severity of the Disc Disease
The severity of Disc disease is on a scale of 1-5, 5 being the worst. If your dog is a 1-2 then conservative treatment might be the way to go. If your dog is a 4-5 they may need surgery to recover properly.
Age and Health of the Dog
If your dog is young and healthy, you may choose surgery to give them the best possible chance of a full recovery. If your dog is older or has health problems, surgery becomes more risky and conservative treatment may be best.
Has it Disc Disease Occurred Previously
If the problem is recurring then surgery might be necessary to fix it.
Your Dog’s Mentality
A calm quiet dog will take to conservative treatment easier than a wild bouncy energetic dog, as recovery from surgery is quicker.
Your vet is always the first port of call with Disc Disease and will discuss each route with you to make sure you achieve the best possible outcome for your dog. Whether you have surgical or conservative treatment, management of your dog over the next few weeks and months is vital for quick dog slipped disc recovery rate. Please follow vet advice and be diligent about aftercare and regularly see a McTimoney Dog Chiropractor when the vet has given the ok to do so.
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Areas covered in UK: Worcestershire and surrounding counties.
Book a McTimoney Canine Chiropractic Treatment or Call Emily Walters on 07983 565 438
