Many of our four legged friends suffer from the same issues as we do. Oftentimes our pet may just be experiencing some back pain. The age of our pet can contribute to whether he has back pain or not. If your pet appears to be having a more difficult time getting around, now would be the time to check for it.
Is he as active as he used to be? Many of our pets have a general routine, has this general routine changed any?
Does your pet wince when he gets up from laying down, have a more difficult time going up and down stairs, or appear strained when he tries to lift himself up onto something?
Does his walk appear stiffer then it usually is, can he still run?
Is he limping as though he's in too much pain? Does he favor one side or one leg while walking? Is there a significant change in his posture?
Is your pet overweight? If so, it can also be a contributing factor to his back pain.
Has his behavior significantly changed that would indicate something is wrong with his body?
If so your pet may be experiencing back pain. Arthritis may cause his back to be in more pain then usual. Sometimes he just needs a rub down. This can also help with finding out where exactly to pinpoint where his pain is coming from. Lightly, but firmly caress the area surrounding his spine with your thumb and fingers. Starting at the top of his neck- by his head -moving downward while massaging and caressing until you get to the bottom of his back, by his tail. Massage his back like this for about ten minutes. Repeat if necessary. Your pet will enjoy his back massage as you get the kinks out and help get rid of the pain and discomfort. You can also apply a hot pack to his back first to help him relax or let him soak in a hot bath beforehand if he enjoys water.
If he is still in a lot of pain, not fixable by your means, you may need to take him to the vet. If necessary the vet will discuss giving him medicine for pain management. Although something that may help is treating his arthritis with non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, also called NSAIDS.
If he is a slightly older pet, he may simply be experiencing some minor changes and adjustments to his body aging, just as we do. Some other possibilities of what could be affecting your pet is that he may have something wrong with a vertebral disk. Also if he has cancer in the vertebrae or in the tissues that my also be causing his back pain. A trauma of some sort could have also affected his spine, whether from rough housing or some sort of accident. The list is endless. If you cannot fix the problem yourself a vet can do the proper testing to diagnose it.
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