Disc Disease and the Medications that Help Dogs Heal-Overview

We’re taking care of Fleur, a little dog with disc disease. In previous blogs, we described Fleur’s proprioceptive deficit, which means Fleur doesn’t know where her legs are so that she walks in unsteadily. We discussed the importance of appetite stimulation and feeding chicken soup to keep Fleur eating while she’s stressed and in pain. During stress, it’s easy for sensitive dogs to develop stomach ulcers, especially if they’re taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory pain medication (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, Rimadyl, EtoGesic, or Previcox.

Rest, good food, and the right medication will help reduce inflammation. By reducing inflammation, we take pressure off the spinal cord and allow Fleur’s nerve function to return to normal. What medications help reduce inflammation and decrease pain in dogs with disc disease? The following is a list of medications, each with a different purpose. Some dogs need one or two, and other dogs need all of them.

Medications that help dogs with disc disease:
· Omega 3 fatty acids,
· Homeopathic medications,
· Flower remedies,
· Chinese herbs,
· Western herbs,
· Joint supplements,
· NSAIDs,
· muscle relaxants, and
· Enzymes.

In future blogs, we’ll look at each of these medications and why they help dogs with disc disease. We’ll also cover acupuncture and photon therapy—two techniques that are as helpful as any of the medications we prescribe.