As our sweet pups start earning their wise grey muzzles, physical changes that often accompany aging may appear. Some dogs slow down during their walks, or aren’t able to jump onto furniture and beds. They may spend more time lounging in the sun and less time playing with their toys.
While age itself is not a disease, some diseases and degenerative processes occur more commonly in senior dogs, and may cause pain and weakness of the back.
Causes of Back Pain in Senior Dogs
Like older people, older pups can experience back pain for several reasons. A dog’s spine is a series of 31 individual bones (vertebrae), and there are joint spaces between nearly all of them. The same kind of degenerative arthritis changes that affect other joints in the body as one ages can occur in any of these joint spaces as well, particularly those in the lower back near the hips.
To add to the complexity, the spinal cord travels through a canal in the vertebrae. Many nerves leave the spinal cord through the sides of the vertebrae to carry messages to the rest of the body. When inflammation and degeneration occur in the spine area, these nerves can be stimulated, causing additional pain.
Muscle loss occurs with aging, as well. As the muscle strength around the spine declines, the spine has less support. This lack of support reduces protection to the back and allows more instability between the vertebrae, which can cause pain. Arthritis and weakening leg muscles due to age or disease can cause a senior dog to walk with a different gait, increasing pressure and causing soreness. Such weakness and gait changes also increase a senior’s risk of falling; repeated or especially hard falls can cause strained or sprained back muscles, soft tissue injury and pain.
In addition to degenerative changes, there are disease processes that can cause pain in the back. While a dog of any age can suffer from a sudden herniated disk, older dogs may develop chronically bulging disks, which are painful and can reduce the ability for the spinal cord to carry messages to the rest of the body. Additionally, cancer risk increases in seniors and can occur in the bones, soft tissues or nervous system elements of the back, causing pain and function loss.
How to Tell if Your Dog Has Back Pain
Depending on the cause, back pain may come on strongly and suddenly, or may develop slowly and chronically over months or years.
Acute onset back pain usually has much more obvious signs. Dogs with back pain often stand hunched over with a rounding in their back. They may stand with their hips closer to the ground in a crouched position. It can look a bit like a person might if they were doubled over slightly due to abdominal pain, so pet parents may confuse back pain with gastrointestinal discomfort. The dog may also appear to struggle or cry out when lying down, or be unable to maneuver from standing to a comfortable resting position. Some distressed pups may also look back at their own hind ends, trying to see the source of the discomfort.
Chronic back pain usually causes more subtle changes, as the pet has time to adjust to increasing levels of pain over time. Chronic pain may be visible through stiffness or difficulty rising after lying down. Pet parents may also observe reduced activity as the dog tries to protect the painful back from sudden pressures. A senior dog with back pain may flinch if pet too hard along his back. At times, a chronic process that has been developing may reach a tipping point, and the symptoms will present more like sudden changes.
How to Improve Back Pain in Dogs
There are various options for dog pain relief that can help with back pain.
Pain medications and supplements that improve other joints in the body, such as hips and knees, can be helpful for back pain, as well. Anti-inflammatory medications are often effective for age-related back pain. It is best to see your veterinarian for appropriate medications, as over-the-counter pain medications for dogs are generally less effective and have more potential side effects. Other pain medications from your veterinarian that improve nerve pain or muscle spasms may also be helpful.
Joint supplements such as glucosamine and salmon oil can be beneficial for spine joints. These supplements may also improve hips and knees, which can have a direct impact on the back by improving the pup’s walking gait and posture to avoid excess strain.
Alternative pain treatments help alleviate back pain in many dogs. Acupuncture, massage and cold laser therapy are pain management treatments that have been shown to improve chronic pain for both people and pets. Your veterinarian may be able to perform these modalities or should be able to recommend a practitioner in your area.
Physical therapy to improve muscle strength and range of motion in joints can be extremely helpful in improving back pain. Increasing movement with gentle, low impact exercise such as swimming or walking can maintain strength and flexibility to help an aching back. Be sure to check with your veterinarian to make sure exercise is appropriate for your furry friend, as a few back issues require strict rest to heal or avoid further injury.
There is nothing sweeter than a senior dog’s distinguished gray face and the wisdom that lies behind it. Being aware of the body changes that often accompany aging can help you keep your senior pup active, happy and healthy for as long as possible.