5 Pointers to Ease the Pain A Rodale Press contribution Our pets don't slump in office chairs or lift heavy bags from the backseat of the car. Most of the time, in fact, their spines are relatively straight, which may be why they get fewer backaches than we do. But even a posture-perfect pooch may occasionally wrench his back, says Larry Gainsburg, D.V.M., a veterinarian in private practice in Baltimore who specializes in neurology and neurosurgery.
Some back injuries involve nothing worse than sore muscles.
Your pet may cry or jerk away when you pet him. Or he may have trouble climbing stairs or getting to his feet in the morning. Pets may also injure their spinal disks, a serious problem that can cause extreme pain, loss of muscle control or severe nerve damage, including paralysis. Breeds most susceptible to back problems are the long, low dogs like dachshunds or the bigger guys like Great Danes, Dobermans and German shepherds. In addition, dogs that are overweight may be more likely to have back problems than their leaner counterparts.