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The spineThe breed is known to have spinal problems, due in part to an extremely long spinal column and short rib cage. The risk of injury can be worsened by obesity, which places greater strain on the vertebrae, but many an owner with an injured, skinny Dachshund will confirm that these problems are largely genetic.
Injury preventionIn order to prevent injury, it is recommended that Dachshunds be discouraged from jumping and taking stairs, and the importance of holding the dog properly cannot be stressed enough. Many veterinarians, however, indicate that as long as the Dachshund takes the stairs slowly, the dog's spine will manage just fine.
The Dachshund should only be picked up when both front and rear portions of the body are fully supported. A good technique is the typical "football carry" used by running backs or others in a game when rushing the ball, with the dog tucked underneath the arm, against the body, and supported along the length of the carrier's bent arm, hand under the upper chest, and tail near the elbow. This method supports the weight of the rear body, preventing wiggling and twisting of the dog to right itself.
The importance of good breedingAs it has become increasingly apparent that the occurrence and severity of these spinal problems, or intervertebral disk disease, is largely hereditary, responsible breeders are working to eliminate this characteristic in the breed. Treatment consists of various combinations of crate confinement and courses of anti-inflammatory medications (steroids), and may even lead to surgical intervention to remove the troublesome disk(s).
Other treatments that have been used with some success include TENS, acupuncture, physical therapy, moxibustion, chiropractic manipulation, and massage. The use of arthritis medication such as Rimadyl, (which failed clinical trials for humans), has reverted to the subjects of its previous testing: dogs, with great results in relieving skeletal back pain.
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