The pug's hind legs fail. Pug diseases, why the dog is sick

It happens that the dog's hind legs suddenly fail. What to do in such cases? First of all, there is no need to panic - watch the animal and evaluate its general well-being. If the dog feels bad, she refuses food and water, has lost interest in the world around her, there is no point in self-medication. You need to seek help and call the veterinarian at home.

If the dog's hind legs have failed, the reasons may be different. Until the diagnosis is clarified, it is not worth taking the animal to the clinic and in general anywhere. If the animal drags its hind or fore limbs, it may have a spinal injury, in which transportation is strictly contraindicated. If the animal walks, eats and drinks normally, the temporary physiological disorder will pass by itself. Most likely, the dog is simply tired after a long walk or active training.

Causes of the disease

The animal may fail paws for the following reasons:

Puppies

It happens that the legs fail in very young puppies. If a dog walks on its hind legs from birth, it is possible that it has congenital defects, such as cerebral palsy. Therefore, when choosing a puppy in the kennel, you must definitely pay attention to how they walk and run.

Also, the puppy may fall on its paws due to rickets. Rickets is a disease that quite often occurs in dogs that have been weaned early or have been bottle-fed since birth (for example, in the case of the death of the mother during childbirth). Rickets is a disease that is caused by a lack of vital vitamins and minerals in the puppy's body. . The disease manifests itself as follows:

• Uncertain, unsteady gait;
• Restless sleep of puppies;
• Restless behavior (the puppy constantly squeals, whines, refuses to eat or, conversely, eats a lot, but still loses weight);
• The baby has a sunken chest and a protruding belly.

If you organize proper feeding for a puppy, the problem with rickets will disappear by itself. Gradually, the puppy will get stronger and catch up with peers in development.

Also, those animals that have weak muscles from birth can crouch on their hind legs. Usually, when the dog grows up, the muscles get stronger, and the gait becomes hard.

pregnant dogs

Pregnant females in the last months of bearing puppies can also fall on their paws a little. This happens if the puppies in the womb are very large, and it is difficult for the dog to carry his huge belly. Usually, a bitch pregnant with large puppies moves little, eats and drinks reluctantly, and spends all her free time lying on the rug. Also, the dog can fall on its hind legs just before childbirth, during contractions, in order to alleviate pain in this way.

Treatment

Yesterday the pet was cheerful, cheerful, frolic on a walk and infected all the household members with his seething energy. And today, the paws of a German shepherd, pug or Alabai have failed. What to do? If the animal lies for several hours in a row and does not get up (but does not sleep), you need to offer the dog food and see how it reacts to the food.

You can also carry out the simplest diagnostics at home. When a dog is so exhausted that it walks under itself and does not ask for a walk, you need to pay attention to the color of its urine. Paw failure is common in animals suffering from urolithiasis. This is especially common in French Bulldogs: they have weak kidneys and are very susceptible to such infections. Treatment of hind limb paresis can be different, for example:

Prevention measures

In order for the dog to live long and please the owner with its excellent health, the animal must be vaccinated against dangerous infections in a timely manner. During a walk, it is necessary to completely exclude the communication of a pet with stray dogs, because they are most often the main distributors of infections. Also for the prevention of distemper and rabies, dogs should not be allowed to dig in garbage cans while walking. It is necessary to wean from that habit from the most tender age, as soon as an inquisitive animal begins to show interest in the garbage heap.

To prevent mechanical injuries of the paws, it is necessary to walk with the animal only in specially designated places, that is, on dog grounds or in parks with paths for walking animals. You should not take your pet to the forest or to the river, especially where people often have picnics. In dense grass, a dog can easily cut its paw on a bottle shard or other sharp object left by unlucky "tourists".

If the owner takes the pet with him on a fishing trip, in no case should small fishhooks be left on the ground. Stepping on the hook can cause serious injury to the animal. After each walk, it is necessary to inspect the paws of the beast and wipe them with a clean cloth. You also need to inspect the paws while swimming.

To prevent falls at home, locks should be installed on all plastic windows. Training with a dog in sports such as jumping or hurdles is only possible on a dog playground, under the guidance of a professional cynologist. If the animal shows interest in jumping, you should not leave your pet unattended for a minute while walking. Even a fall from a small garden bench can cause paresis of the hind limbs.

In order for puppies to grow up strong and healthy, it is necessary to provide them with proper feeding. If kittens were weaned early from the female, it is necessary to include vitamin and mineral supplements in their diet. This will serve as an excellent prevention of rickets and help strengthen the weak muscles of babies. It is also necessary to regularly give vitamins to older dogs and pregnant bitches.

If the dog's hind legs suddenly give up, the reasons can be very different. The most important thing is not to be nervous ahead of time, but to calmly see what will happen next. If the animal is still eating well and showing great activity, it is most likely a banal splinter or scratch. But if the dog does not feel well, has become lethargic or, conversely, aggressive, you should not self-medicate. A qualified doctor will help you easily solve the problem. If it is not possible to call a doctor right now, you can consult by phone in the club of amateur dog breeders.

Attention, only TODAY!

Many diseases of pugs are caused by a genetic predisposition, as well as the specifics of the structure of the body and muzzle. It is important to detect any ailment at the earliest stage - often this can save a pet's life. Let's learn about common pug diseases, their symptoms and treatment.

If for some reason the dog began to limp, although there were no injuries, aseptic necrosis of the femoral head is possible, that is, a violation of the blood circulation of the femurs. Often the disease affects both hind legs. The pug becomes inactive, painfully reacts to touching the paw, it begins to refuse. Later, the necrotic process affects the entire limb: the muscles on the affected legs dry out.

Treatment is possible only surgical, but soon after the operation, mobility returns. Pugs are genetically predisposed to such limb problems. You should act quickly, until the paws fail. A problem with small dogs is necrotizing meningoencephalitis: inflammation of the central nervous system. Manifested by convulsions, involuntary movements of the pupils, paralysis. Aggressive immunosuppressive treatment is required.

The animal has seizures similar to epilepsy, paws give way, head twitches, tremors and convulsions occur. Encephalitis can develop due to a tick bite, but often the cause cannot be found.

It is believed that this disease can also be hereditary. In middle-aged and older bitches, the uterus may become inflamed. This provokes frequent urination, intense thirst, lethargy. Possible purulent discharge from the loop. Urgent treatment is needed, sometimes it is necessary to resort to the removal of the uterus and ovaries.

Often, pugs grunt and cough: the reason is the so-called. brachycephalic syndrome in pugs due to a long palate with a short muzzle. In this case, it is difficult to breathe, grunting, the dog may be due to heat and fatigue (pugs often begin to choke at the end of a long walk), as well as illnesses (runny nose, etc.). Pugs often grunt when they are happy or stressed. The tendency to this problem is also hereditary: if parents often suffocate, puppies will also be prone to this problem.

If the dog is coughing as if he is choking, this is a "reverse sneeze" - the dog is trying to clear his airways. Such a cough can be similar to vomiting, and sometimes it really turns into vomiting. Periodically, this cough occurs in many dogs with a short muzzle and goes away on its own, but if the attacks become more frequent, a specialist consultation is necessary. The dog could either just catch a cold or become seriously ill, up to heart problems. It is also worth checking if the choking dog has foreign objects in the nasopharynx.

If a pug snores, it may be genetic (approximately 20% of pugs snore - another manifestation of brachycephalic syndrome). But if this has not happened before, the cause of snoring may be an allergic rhinitis, a cold, excess weight, sleep apnea, when the dog suffocates for a moment, etc. If the pug snores with frequent transition to choking or coughing, you should contact your veterinarian, which will tell you whether it is necessary to eliminate the allergic factor, treat a runny nose or have surgery.

By themselves, a cough and runny nose can mean that the dog has a slight cold, or be symptoms of an infection. For example, "kennel cough" occurs after contact with other dogs: exhibitions, training on the site, etc. Runny nose and sneezing, in which snot appears, may be due to allergies. One of the common causes is also rhinitis - in this case, a runny nose, if you do not take up active treatment, sometimes lasts for years. In all these cases, you need to contact your veterinarian.

eye diseases

Pugs have very common eye diseases. Especially frightening is the prolapse of the eyeball when it strongly bulges and turns red (this happens due to a blow or an insect bite). What to do in this case? Having attached a damp cloth to the dog's eye, immediately go to the hospital.

If the skin folds touch the cornea, keratitis develops: the eye turns red, ulcers appear on it. Sometimes this causes pigmentation of the cornea, i.e., pigmentary keratitis. It is treated both surgically and with drops. Pigmentary keratitis sometimes occurs due to allergies. Often cataracts develop (the dog bumps into objects due to deteriorating vision) and conjunctivitis (inflammation of the area around the eye). All eye sores in pugs require an immediate visit to the veterinarian, as they can lead to blindness.

Also, this disease can be the result of a cold. Symptoms such as hot, inflamed ears, the appearance of sores and crusts on them are often caused by a microscopic ear mite. An accurate diagnosis should be made by a veterinarian. Medicines for ticks can cause side effects and should not be used without prior consultation.

When scratching the ear, you can not use iodine - it will burn the tissue. It is better to wipe the wound with brilliant green or hydrogen peroxide. An insect can get into the ears - in this case, the dog often shakes its head. To begin, lay the animal on its side and drip vegetable oil into the ear. If the insect has surfaced, remove it with a cotton swab, if not, contact your veterinarian, but do not try to remove it yourself, otherwise you can push it deeper.

Skin diseases

If a pug's hair falls out, the cause may be juvenile demodicosis - a tick attack that most often attacks this particular breed of dog. In addition to progressive baldness, demodicosis in a pug leads to the appearance of sores, wounds, and later purulent abscesses and scabs on the body. Treatment is usually complex, including diet and walking regimen to strengthen the immune system. Usually this disease manifests itself in puppies up to a year.

Pimples in pugs are often caused by allergies. If they are red with a dot in the center, fleas are the most likely cause. A logical question: how to remove fleas? To do this, use special shampoos, collars or sprays. You should also disinfect the apartment.

Atopic dermatitis manifests itself as itchy, inflamed areas on the face, in the armpits, between the fingers and around the anus. Many breeds are genetically predisposed to it, but food allergens, pollen, house dust, etc. serve as catalysts for the disease. This disease should be treated by subcutaneous injection of the allergen in a gradually increasing concentration. All procedures are carried out exclusively in the veterinary clinic. It is important to keep the skin clean inside the folds, otherwise inflammation is possible. Especially the muzzle needs such care.

If the diarrhea is accompanied by vomiting, give your dog plenty of water or syringes to prevent dehydration. If diarrhea becomes chronic, it may be a symptom of colitis or gastritis (which is also evidenced by excessive salivation).

Constipation often occurs due to an improper diet, lack of water, or a sedentary lifestyle. Sometimes constipation can be caused by an overdose of astringents for diarrhea. More dangerous causes of constipation are prostatitis and intestinal obstruction. In severe cases, the treatment of constipation requires surgery. Pugs are prone to obesity. In addition to frequent constipation, excess weight exacerbates breathing problems: obese pugs suffocate almost all the time.

Often a pug snores because of the fat folds on the neck.

If your pug is drooling a lot, it may indicate a problem with his teeth. Abundant salivation in transport indicates that the pet is motion sick. The puppy needs to be accustomed to the car, gradually increasing the duration of the trips.

Urolithiasis disease

Signs of urolithiasis are as follows: the dog urinates frequently, the urine becomes cloudy, sometimes with pus. The animal becomes lethargic and apathetic, often licks the genitals. May urinate at home. In this case, it is treatment that is needed, since it is very difficult to wean a sick dog from writing at home. First, diuretics are prescribed, further treatment depends on the size and nature of the stones. Often, surgery is needed.

Video "Diseases of pugs"

From this video you will learn what diseases pugs can suffer from.

There is no single reason for the occurrence of a situation in which a dog's hind legs fail. If the animal drags its paws, wags the back of the body when walking, limps, then a qualified diagnosis is required, so a visit to the veterinarian is mandatory. There is a common misconception among dog owners that NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), such as diclofenac or aspirin, will help in this case.

Such improvements in the condition are temporary and distract from the search for the true cause of the disease. Therefore, only a doctor should prescribe treatment, and the owner can provide first aid to the pet.

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Description of the problem

An age predisposition to pathologies of the motor system is noted, and the manifestations also vary depending on the breeds. Certain types of dogs develop the following diseases:

• English and French Bulldogs, Dachshunds, Pekingese, Pugs, and Poodles are more likely to have ruptured or displaced intervertebral discs. This is a serious danger to the pet, which can lead to death. The displacement of the vertebrae provokes compression of the nerve processes of the spinal cord and causes severe pain attacks. If the nerve endings of the puppies are compressed to a lesser extent, this is manifested by weakness of the hind limbs.
• Large breeds - Rottweilers, St. Bernards, Great Danes, German Shepherds, Staffies and others - suffer from diseases of the hip joints. This is caused by heredity, monotonous diet, uncomfortable slippery base during daily movement.

Depending on age, the causes of weakness of the hind limbs differ:

• Middle-aged pets suffer from inflammatory processes in the muscles the next day after a long walk or an unusual load. The dog's gait resembles walking on stilts. Only a veterinarian can distinguish temporary inflammation from spinal lesions.
• In older dogs, poor hind limb function is more often associated with central nervous system dysfunction or vascular problems. Tumors are relatively rare.

Causes of the disease

Inattentive attitude to the pet, accompanied by a long asymptomatic period, ignorance of the state of his body leads to the fact that the animal has sharp problems with the work of the hind legs.

Diseases of the renal system cannot cause weakness of the limbs and a hunched back, unless he is exhausted to the last degree. In this case, lethargy extends not only to the hind legs, but also to all other muscle groups.



Animal injury

Stretching, fracture, rupture of the tendon or pinching of the nerve when jumping from high fences, parapets, or simply from awkward movements become the main causes of paresis and paralysis. Even small shifts of the discs of the spinal column can provoke pathology.

Sometimes swelling occurs at the site of displacement of the vertebrae, which compresses the nerve endings. Violation of blood flow leads to cell death and stop impulses, which is why the hind legs fail.



Discopathy

This disease is an intervertebral hernia - a protrusion of the intervertebral discs outside the spinal column. Because of this, the nerve of the spinal column is compressed, the movement of the paws is disturbed. Dog breeds with a long spine, such as bassets or dachshunds, are more likely to suffer from such a disease. In other dogs, manifestations of discopathy may not be very pronounced.

As a result of selection in French bulldogs, the spine has become longer, so representatives of the breed are more likely to suffer from this disease. These dogs need to be protected from heavy loads and make sure that they do not make sudden jumps from a height.



Dysplasia

This disease is difficult to treat. In pets, dysplasia occurs due to abnormal development of the hip joints as a result of heredity or dislocation at birth. Because of this, all systems of the articular node cease to function normally. The cause of dysplasia is the rapid growth of the puppy.

When buying a Shepherd, Labrador, Great Dane or St. Bernard (we are talking about large breeds), you need to require not only a pedigree, but also tests for checking for dysplasia of the parents. If the pet begins to get tired, his gait becomes wobbling, then an x-ray will help to identify the disease.



Osteocondritis of the spine

This disease often occurs after discopathy, it is characterized by excessive mineralization of cartilage tissue, which as a result hardens and causes destruction of the joints. At the same time, ligaments and vertebrae are destroyed.

The main factor in the pathogenesis of the disease is heredity. Blood microcirculation is disturbed, autoimmune processes change, and excess weight also matters. Most often, the disease affects representatives of small breeds, but large dogs also get sick. The disease restricts the movement of the hind legs, although no other symptoms are observed, this leads to the fact that over time the dog's limbs fail.

Arthrosis and arthritis

These diseases cause poor functioning of the dog's limbs. They are typical for animals of heavy, massive and large breeds. In the joint with arthrosis, the cartilage tissue becomes thinner, the heads of the joints rub against each other and gradually collapse, which leads to severe pain when moving.

Arthritis involves inflammation, while arthrosis destroys bones without inflammation. Arthritis is more common in older pets, while there is inflammation of the joint bag, which is caused by a lack of vitamins in the diet, excess movement or lack of exercise, animal obesity.

Sometimes the dog cannot move its limbs for a short time, then the ability to walk is restored. Such cases require a mandatory visit to the doctor.

General symptoms of pathology

Diseases can appear suddenly and develop rapidly, or the build-up of symptoms is gradual and takes a long time. Sometimes the signs are fuzzy, a lot depends on the cause of the failure of the hind legs:

• The main symptom in all cases is pain, which is pronounced or dull. At the beginning of the disease, the dog does not fall to its feet, only during a walk the coordination of movements of the back of the body is disturbed, a wobbling gait appears. The animal does not walk well, sometimes it simply drags its legs behind it, pulls itself up on its front legs to move.
• Pain occurs in a pet after an active walk, games. An attentive owner will immediately notice such a state, usually the dog's legs give way.
• Vivid pain syndrome leads to the fact that the animal cannot walk, falls and tries to get up again. Often the pet panics. The condition in which the paws hurt can appear temporarily, while the dog is lethargic and does not eat.
• Constant pain drains the dog's strength. Not only does she not move or run, but she cannot stand up and is trembling all over.
• The most terrible manifestation of the disease is the insensitivity of the hind legs. Muscles do not respond to injections with a sharp object, the pet does not move its limbs. In this case, we are talking about paralysis or paresis, which requires immediate veterinary care.

First aid

First aid for limb failure is to call the veterinarian at home. There are cases when the mobility of the legs was restored in completely hopeless animals, so the owner should not panic. First aid measures:

• If the dog is injured and the owner knows about it, then you should try to limit the movements of the animal as much as possible. To do this, a board or other flat and long object is placed under the body of the pet and the dog is tied or bandaged to it.
• Do not give painkillers, as this will blur the picture of the disease. Also, the pet, without feeling pain, tears off the bandage or tries to run, aggravating the disease of the joints or spine.
• You can not massage the paws, back of the animal, make him rise. At such times, the pet does not need food, so you should not feed it. An animal that has fallen into a panic is calmed down in a flat voice, trying to reduce anxiety.

Animal treatment

Specialized care is provided only by a veterinarian. The doctor may prescribe surgery if there are threatening injuries or if damage to the spine and pelvic bones is suspected. For diagnosis, ultrasound, myelography, urine and blood tests are used, and other studies are carried out on the recommendation of a veterinarian.

For the treatment of dogs with lesions of the hip joints, spine and spinal cord, the same remedies are used as for humans. It is dangerous to use such drugs for animal therapy on your own. This is especially true for pets of small breeds, since the wrong dose of medication can kill them. Many drugs are prescribed depending on body weight.

The effect of treatment most often occurs if the appeal to a specialist was timely. Usually this is the time when pain symptoms appeared, but paresis and paralysis have not yet developed. During this period, drug treatment will help to avoid irreversible consequences.

Therapeutic measures in case of failure in the work of the hind limbs include several procedures in combination, their purpose depends on the age of the animal, the severity of the lesion and the causes of the disease. The doctor prescribes painkillers, immunomodulating, anti-inflammatory, vitamin preparations, chondroprotectors. During the operation, hemostatic, antihistamines, antibiotics are used.

Folk methods

All folk recipes must be negotiated with a veterinarian. Unlike a person, an animal cannot talk about how it feels, so you need to be careful about your pet during such treatment. Some folk remedies for treating dogs:

• To reduce pain at home, warming local procedures are done. For dogs, warm bags with sand, cereals, salt are most often used, which are applied to the lumbar or thigh area. You can use woolen things folded several times and heated with an iron. All warm-ups are done after evening walks, so as not to cool problem areas after the procedure.
• They practice rubbing the back or thigh with compositions based on honey, alcohol, propolis. To do this, you can take irritating substances, for example, hot red pepper, mustard, turpentine.
• To reduce the swelling of problem areas, herbal infusions and decoctions are used, which have a diuretic effect. These include products from lingonberry leaves, cranberries, bay leaves, corn stigmas and other ready-made diuretic pharmaceutical preparations. It is advisable to give them to the dog separately, without adding them to the drinking container, since the effectiveness of drugs from this is reduced.

Problem Prevention

To treat paralysis of the limbs, you need to recognize the disease in the early stages. If neurological disorders are inherent in the genes, then it is not always possible to correct the situation, but you can try to reduce the consequences of the disease.

Timely examination helps to identify tumors that put pressure on the nerve endings and disrupt motor activity. They need to be removed to improve the quality of life of the animal. In the open-air cage there should not be a slippery base, it is unacceptable to make a cement or concrete screed leading to hypothermia of the paws. The best option is earth or boards.

The diet should include all the minerals and vitamins your dog needs. To do this, they consult with a veterinarian and introduce vitamin complexes for animals into the diet, depending on age and body weight.

One of the most common complaints among owners of dogs with neurological problems is that both hind legs fail. In this case, the dog:

• Starts to move abnormally.
• The hind legs, as it were, cease to obey, become weak.
• Paresis develops, or complete paralysis of the pelvic limbs.

Most often, this problem occurs in dogs of small and medium breeds that have a genetic predisposition to lesions of the intervertebral discs. These dogs include mainly dachshunds, in addition, all brachycephalic breeds - Pekingese, French Bulldog, Brabancon and others. As a rule, the hind legs of such dogs begin to work abnormally at the age of 3-8 years.

The first symptom of neurological disorders in the thoracolumbar spine, which lead to the fact that the dog begins to wean its hind legs, is pain. Later, weakness appears, the inability to move the limbs, and last of all, pain sensitivity disappears.

These symptoms usually come on abruptly while walking or playing with other dogs, or for no apparent external cause in a state of relative rest. Sudden movements can provoke the appearance of such symptoms, but are not their main cause. Many owners of dachshunds believe that a significant length of the spinal column plays a role in the development of the disease, but this is not true. Sometimes the manifestations of the disease occur all at once, but it also happens that in the morning the dog feels only pain, and by the evening paralysis of the limbs develops with loss of pain sensitivity.

There are many reasons why dogs can lose their hind legs. And, of course, those owners who suddenly encountered this problem are lost and do not know what to do. Just yesterday, their pet briskly jumped on the sofas and played catch-up with the neighbor's dogs, but today it lies listlessly, unable to get up.

The cases of damage to the limbs themselves include injuries (fractures, sprains and ruptures of the tendons, damage to peripheral nerves), as well as arthritis and arthrosis of the joints of the limbs, tumors.

If the above diagnoses are excluded, then it is most likely a spinal pathology, that is, a violation of the innervation of the limbs due to any pathological effects on the spinal cord. Paresis and paralysis of the hind limbs develop in case of damage to the spinal cord at the level of the thoracic and (or) lumbar spine.

• Injuries

Failure of the hind legs in a dog can occur due to trauma - with fractures, sprains and ruptures of ligaments and tendons, with damage to peripheral nerves, as well as due to diseases such as arthrosis, arthritis of the joints of the extremities, tumors, discopathy and herniated disc. In addition to these diseases, spinal pathology is possible, in which the innervation of the limbs is disturbed due to the impact on the spinal cord of adverse factors. Paresis and paralysis are frequent companions of spinal cord lesions in the lumbar and thoracic regions.

The most common reason why the hind legs fail in dogs is traumatic: car injuries, falls, blows, strong bites during fights. In some cases, an unfortunate sharp turn, jump and slip on the ice crust can lead to such consequences.

In the place of direct trauma to the spine, the integrity of the spinal column (its structure) is violated, edema occurs, which leads to compression of the spinal cord and radicular nerves. Accordingly, the flow of blood with oxygen stops, and with prolonged compression, the nerve cells die, which makes it impossible for nerve impulses to pass through the peripheral nerves. Severe traumatic injury leads to a violation of the integrity of the spinal tissue, and a rupture of the spinal cord occurs.

• Degenerative diseases of the spine

Refusal of the normal functioning of the hind limbs in dogs can provoke degenerative diseases of the spine, which are characterized by a violation of important metabolic processes in its tissues. Thus, this leads to pathological changes in the structure of the links of the spinal column.

• Spondylosis

The hind legs of a dog can fail with spondylosis - "local aging" of some vertebral segments. This disease proceeds very slowly, and at the earliest stage it is practically not detected. First of all, the outer fibers of the fibrous ring are affected (the consistency of the nucleus pulposus is preserved), and then calcification of the anterior longitudinal ligament begins. Osteophytes develop, which visually resemble coracoid growths.

• Tumors in the spine

Tumor-like processes gradually developing in the immediate vicinity (or itself) of the spinal cord lead to pathological changes and fractures of the spinal column. With a sharp exacerbation of the process, edema and compression of the roots and spinal cord occur, and the following symptoms can be observed in the dog: weakening or failure of the hind limbs, arched back, impaired gait, when the position of the body changes, the dog squeals, concomitant disorders occur (violation of urination and defecation) , in some cases refusal to feed.

• Spondylarthrosis

A consequence of static loads in osteochondrosis of the spine may be spondylarthrosis (deforming arthrosis of the joints of the spine). Uneven loads on the spinal column can also lead to protrusion of the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc through the pathologically altered annulus fibrosus. This phenomenon is called vertebral hernia. Protruding towards the spinal cord, the hernia causes compression of the radicular nerves and (or) the spinal cord.

• Discopathy

Neurological lesions of the pelvic limbs are most often based on diseases of the intervertebral discs (discopathies). In this case, the altered substance of the disk penetrates the spinal canal and clamps the spinal cord or the roots of the spinal nerves, which manifests itself in the form of a neurological deficit. Often, a large dog's hind legs fail, and this problem has its own characteristics. Similar lesions are observed in older animals of large and giant breeds: German Shepherds, Dobermans, Rottweilers, Great Danes and others. Typically, in this group of dogs, the development of clinical symptoms progresses slowly over several months or even years. In this case, it is possible to assume damage to the intervertebral discs in the lumbar spine or at the level of the lumbosacral junction, as well as lumbosacral stenosis.

Discopathy is very common in French Bulldogs. This is due to the anatomical structure of the animal, when, in the course of artificial selection, the spine became elongated, and now it undergoes stronger loads than the spine in “normal” dogs. The distance between the vertebrae became much larger than normal. This is due to genetics and is inherited. A disc prolapse can occur not only during active movements and jumps, but even at rest, when the dog is sleeping or lying quietly.

• Dysplasia

Very often, owners of dogs of heavy breeds (St. Bernard, Shepherd Dogs, Labrador Retriever, Great Danes, etc.) are faced with diseases of the musculoskeletal system. The most common disease in puppies is hip dysplasia. This disease is hereditary and manifests itself most often between the ages of 4 and 10 months during intensive growth. At first there is a problem getting up, especially after sleep. The dog limps, then disperses and walks normally. Further, without treatment, the symptoms can intensify, up to the complete refusal of the dog to walk. If you notice such signs, you need to take the dog to the veterinarian and take an x-ray.

• Osteocondritis of the spine

Osteochondrosis of the spine is considered the most severe form of damage, this disease is based on degenerative processes in the intervertebral discs (discopathy), often involving the surrounding vertebral bodies, as well as changes in the ligamentous apparatus and intervertebral joints.

The reasons for the development of osteochondrosis can be:

• Genetically determined developmental defects that cause instability of the vertebrae.
• Rheumatoid lesions.
• Spinal injury.
• Violation of microcirculation, leading to malnutrition of the disk.
• autoimmune processes.

It is also possible spinal pathology, which arises from the impact of adverse factors on the spinal cord. Frequent companions of lesions of the spinal cord in the thoracic and lumbar region are paresis and paralysis. Most often, dog paws suffer from falls (especially in small breeds), car accidents, blows and strong bites during fights.

Even an unsuccessful jump, a sharp turn, or a dog slipping on an ice crust can lead to paw failure. At this moment, the integrity of the structure of the spinal column is violated at the site of injury to the spine, edema occurs, which compresses the radicular nerves and the spinal cord.

Of course, the answer will be to contact a veterinarian, preferably one specializing in neurology. If you notice in your dog a pain reaction when changing the position of the body, a tense gait, an unwillingness to walk, especially on stairs, do not wait until her hind legs fail - immediately show the animal to a doctor, then the treatment will be more effective. If the trouble with the hind legs has already happened, all the more you should not wait any longer.

If the animal has a spinal injury, try to get it to the doctor as soon as possible and in an immobilized state (secure the animal on the board with bandages or straps). Do not use painkillers until you see a doctor. Pain limits the activity of the animal, which avoids further displacement of the vertebrae in the event of a fracture.

It is possible to notice the onset of the disease and urgently consult a specialist, but most inexperienced owners do not attach importance to such important symptoms as:

• Anxiety.
• The dog hides and squeals when they begin to touch it on the back.
• The dog is passive when other dogs are frolicking.

However, in most cases, the alarm begins to sound when the dog's hind legs partially begin to fail, or paralysis develops. And here it is necessary to differentiate such a disease as sciatica. Wrongly prescribed treatment (for example, instead of maximum immobilization of the animal - massage), will miss precious time and aggravate the situation.

The sooner help is provided to the dog, the better the prognosis for its recovery. In any case, you should not despair, because there are cases when completely immobilized dogs were put on their paws and returned to active life. Depending on the diagnosis, drug treatment is prescribed in the form of injections. A more radical case in the case of diseases of the spine is an operation, after which the treatment also continues.

In parallel, the dog is prescribed a massage, during the recovery period, swimming is recommended, classes with the dog after the return of physical activity to it. All dog owners should remember that a paralyzed dog cannot be helped at home. It is necessary to consult a doctor, go through all the prescribed examinations for an accurate diagnosis and start timely treatment.

First, the doctor will conduct an examination, assess the general condition, provide emergency assistance and make a primary diagnosis. When it comes to spinal pathology, the doctor:

• Check the safety of sensitivity (tactile and pain) of the limbs.
• Check the safety of the reflexes.
• Check for pain in the spine.
• Order an x-ray.
• It is possible that a myelography will be performed, that is, an X-ray image will be taken after the introduction of a special radiopaque substance into the spinal canal. This is done to identify the slightest violations that are not noticeable in a regular picture, as well as to determine the exact localization of the process. If necessary, he will prescribe blood and urine tests to identify concomitant pathologies (pyelonephritis, renal, hepatic, heart failure, etc.).

The conducted studies will help the doctor assess the degree of damage, give a prognosis of the disease and make a decision on treatment. Perhaps the doctor will put you in front of a choice between a surgical and therapeutic method of treatment, perhaps he will insist on one of them.

Pugs are the favorites of many families in Russia and abroad, but sometimes pets get sick.

The well-being of the dog is literally written on its muzzle - a sad pug with all its appearance demonstrates that something hurts.

What to do in such situations and how to understand what happened to the pet?

There are basic symptoms that everyone knows about, since they are also common to people - acne indicates skin problems, reddened eyes - keratitis or allergies, diarrhea - about problems in the gastrointestinal tract.

The eyes of animals, like those of humans, are one of the most sensitive organs, so their treatment should be approached with extreme caution and responsibly.

In addition, different diseases can have the same symptoms. So, if the pug's eyes are red, then we can talk about various diseases - both eye, for example, keratitis, and general, like allergies.

Major diseases:

• glaucoma;
• cataract;
• conjunctivitis;
• keratitis.

If the pug's eyes turn red, and the apple itself is significantly swollen, photophobia is observed - this indicates glaucoma.

It is associated with a serious risk of complete blindness, so you need to contact your veterinarian and he will prescribe treatment.

Reddened eyes, combined with a noticeable decrease in vision and clouding of the eyeball, may indicate a cataract.

This is also a dangerous eye disease, which can be cured with the help of surgery.

If there is a noticeable point cloudiness inside the eye, we are talking about damage to the cornea. In particular, keratitis is common in pugs - its inflammation.

Keratitis superficial or pigmentary manifests itself in the appearance of ulcers, clouding, redness and pain.

Such a disease can occur as a result of external exposure to the eyes. In addition, there is pigmentary keratitis, which manifests itself as an overgrowth of eye pigment.

Most often, superficial keratitis does not leave marks on the eye.. Pigmentary keratitis is treated with surgery and a range of topical medications, such as eye drops.

Keratitis, including pigmentary keratitis, can be one of the manifestations of severe allergies in a pug.

In such cases, the most appropriate treatment is anti-allergic drugs.

Skin diseases

Often the cause of concern about the health of a pet is the appearance of “problem spots” on the skin of a pug - acne, bald spots, wet wounds form on it.

All this can indicate serious problems. First of all, you need to understand the cause of the problems.

If the dog sheds a lot, or pimples appear on the face, this may be a sign of an allergy in a pug.

Acne on the face is especially dangerous for pugs due to the presence of wrinkles on the face.

They can indicate both an allergic reaction to or external stimuli, and demodicosis, a severe skin disease caused by mites.

Single pimples that appear from time to time outside the folds are almost normal, if they do not appear on the face too often and do not cause serious inconvenience to the pug.

Such acne is usually smeared with green paint, nothing else is worth doing. They rarely become reasons for trips to the veterinarian.

However, if the pimples are not white, but red, with a red dot in the center, the dog may have fleas.

You can find the corresponding traces by spreading the hind legs - they are usually located in the genital area and on the tummy.

If the dog sheds heavily in places, hairless scaly lesions appear on the skin, on which acne occasionally appears - this may mean the appearance of demodicosis.

This disease is caused by mites that damage the hair follicles. It is terrible because the missing treatment can cause the death of a pet.

• breathing problems;
• problems with the gastrointestinal tract;
• problems with the musculoskeletal system.

If a dog snores, then sometimes it is just a feature of it, and nothing needs to be done. The sudden appearance of snoring may indicate bronchitis or rhinitis.

In addition, the pug sometimes snores and sniffles due to the structural features of the muzzle.

Diarrhea is almost always a sign of stomach problems. The pet's stool becomes liquid as a result of poisoning, as well as in case of infection with infections.

Diarrhea can also give rise to a virus such as swine flu. In such cases, it is important to treat the cause that caused diarrhea, as it is a consequence.

We must not forget that diarrhea can be caused by malnutrition.

It can be caused by an excessive amount of fatty, sweet or salty foods.

In addition, diarrhea is one of the manifestations of gastritis and colitis. But a single diarrhea is not a sign of illness - it can be the result of hypothermia or nervous excitement.

But if the diarrhea does not stop, it is better to put the pug on a strict diet along with the medicines - do an enema, give hercules decoction for 3-5 days, and only when the diarrhea ends, you can give the dog meat and fresh cottage cheese.

It causes panic among the owners when the hind legs fail in pugs. Usually, in the case of this breed, we are talking about necrosis of the head of the femoral neck - in this case, the hind legs begin to hurt, and the dog simply refuses to move over time.

There is only one way out in this case - to perform an operation. The hind legs may tangle in case of dysplasia, or a slight dislocation of the joint.

Paws can also hurt due to less significant problems - splinters or wounds that cause lameness.

Video

For any disease of pugs, it is better to show the veterinarian - he will tell you the appropriate treatment and tell you exactly what you can’t do. However, after watching this video, you will be able to make a preliminary diagnosis yourself.