What is lumbosacral disc disease?
Lumbosacral disc disease is a degenerative compression of the associated nerves of the lumbosacral joint. In humans, it is in the lumbosacral joint that we feel lower back pain. In dogs, the lumbosacral junction is one of the most heavily used joints in the spine. It is also the connection between the very mobile lumbar section of the spine and the sacrum, which is much more rigid. As a result, any abnormal movement can cause instability and pain in your dog.
Also called lumbar intervertebral disc disease or lumbosacral IVDD, symptoms of this condition can range from mild to severe.
Signs and Symptoms of Lumbosacral Disease in Dogs:
- Hind leg weakness
- Limping or staggering when walking
- Incontinence
- Difficulty moving or jumping
- Pain
- Punch or kick back
- Refusal to be active
- The tail is positioned downward or hangs limply
- Inability to move or feel the hind legs
How do I know if my dog has lumbosacral trauma?
![IVDD back orthosis for Corgi](https://www.handicappedpets.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/corgi_back-brace.jpg)
Gently run your hands down his back, while applying a little pressure. If they scream or move away from your hands, they are probably in pain and should be seen by your veterinarian.
Lumbosacral disc disease can also cause hind leg pain, leg weakness, and the inability or refusal to wag the tail.
How to treat lumbosacral disc disease
- Treatment for lumbosacral disc disease begins with a visit to your veterinarian! Your veterinarian will perform an MRI of your dog’s spine to see if there is any trauma.
- Depending on the severity of the spinal injury, your veterinarian may recommend surgery or treat it conservatively with physical therapy and crate rest.
Surgical treatment
Decompressive surgery (laminectomy)
If your puppy is affected by an extrusion or protrusion of the intervertebral disc without signs of nerve root instability or compression, a procedure called dorsal laminectomy surgical decompression may be performed. This surgeon will remove some of the bony covering of the spinal canal, allowing access to remove any bulging or ruptured intervertebral disc material that is causing your dog’s pain.
Stabilization surgery by lumbosacral distraction
This is a relatively new surgical procedure in which your dog’s surgeon will begin by stretching the lumbosacral joint by placing a custom-made titanium bolt between the vertebrae and securing it in place with pins and cement bone or pedicle screw system similar to methods used in human spine surgery, which will allow for additional spinal safety.
Conservative treatment
![Back support for dogs with back pain](https://www.handicappedpets.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2019/12/vertebraVe_smile.jpg)
Typically, you will start by keeping your dog under strict supervision. crate restonly allowing that they go out for potty breaks. A corset is a great tool for stabilizing the spine while your dog heals from a spinal injury. The back support will keep your dog’s spine aligned while he gets up to go to the bathroom.
Hydrotherapy is another great way to help your pup heal without surgery, the buoyancy of the water will relieve pressure on your dog’s spine and ease your dog’s pain while he works on the muscles supporting the area injured lumbar.
Finally, laser therapy It has been shown to help heal the muscles surrounding spinal trauma. The laser can reduce the pain your pup feels and has been shown to reduce inflammation.