Back issues in Labradors are a common problem. Here are the experts’ pet care notes

Labradors, known for their active and energetic nature, can experience back problems as they age where problems such as intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), hip dysplasia and arthritis can affect their health in back but don’t worry because we’ve got you covered with some expert vet tips that can ensure your pet leads a comfortable and active life. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Veterinarian Dr Brijeshraj shared the common problems Labradors see and face and highlighted some methods and practices that new and old pet parents should follow.

Creating enough awareness about this very common issue and educating pet parents will gradually decrease the number of Labradors dying from many other chronic diseases. He said, “Due to poor breeding practices, Labradors are predisposed to hip and joint issues. The number of Labradors diagnosed with hip and joint issues is increasing. In later in life it is common to see spondylosis/spondylitis which can cause pain, paresis and paralysis.The PennHip method can help diagnose this in the early stages, and in some early dog ​​surgeries it is also helpful .Alternative treatments also include Tuina Anmo massage which gives good results.Bone stock given for 3 months also helps.

Emphasizing that puppies’ growth plates are not fully fused until they are adults, he suggested a list of dos and don’ts to follow, to avoid damage to hips and joints:

1. Allow access for free play to natural surfaces such as mud and grass

2. No agility at all until at least 6 months of age.

3. Proprioception exercises are recommended for balance

4. Training exercises in this compliance position should be done on a mat.

5. The extraction should be done on a runner or carpet for traction

6. The puppy should be taught to lie down in a proper position

7. Do not encourage the puppy to jump up and down sofas, beds, ledges etc

8. Stairs should be avoided

Manjula Engineer, Trainer and Behaviourist, more broken down, simple weight bearing exercises to help puppy build muscle strength in hips and back legs –

1. Start with a step that is one inch high. Could be a hardcover book, a plastic upside down tray, etc. Encourage the puppy to put his two front paws on the step. Holding a treat in front of his nose, let him stand there for about 5 seconds. Treat and release. Repeat 5 times. It puts weight on his hips and back legs to strengthen them

2. Place the puppy in a standing position by holding a treat in front of his nose. With your other hand firmly lift one leg and hold for 5 seconds. Rotate with all four legs lifted one at a time.

3. Placing the treat in front of his nose, draw the puppy’s muzzle in a curve to meet his hip. Hold for 5 seconds, cure and release. Then repeat on the other side.

4. Place the puppy in a chair and coax his face to stretch his neck and re-weight his hips.

5. Teach the puppy to follow me in a figure eight configuration.

Bringing her expertise to bear on both, Anjali Kalachand, Co-Founder of A Petter Life, recommends nutritional and other tips to keep and maintain a happy and healthy Labrador. Stressing the importance of feeding a meat-based-species-appropriate diet to all dogs, he points out why a meat-based diet is important for dogs prone to joint issues:

• Meat protein helps improve connective tissue and build muscles that help support joints.
• Keeping your dog lean is very important if they are predisposed to joint issues so that the joints are not burdened with excess weight. This is easier to achieve with a fresh meat based diet, as we have control over the ingredients and can easily avoid the starchy carbohydrates found in processed food.
• Did you know that some bones like chicken feet are rich sources of glucosamine and chondroitin? Often, glucosamine and chondroitin supplements are given later in life when dogs are diagnosed with joint issues – feeding a regular source of glucosamine and chondroitin in your pet’s diet can help prevent the use of these supplements. Therefore, feeding raw meat bones (it also comes in a dehydrated format) can help naturally boost your pet’s diet with glucosamine and chondroitin, which are important for joint health.
• Bone broth, is another important addition to the diet, again it is a rich source of glucosamine, chondroitin, gelatin, hauluronic acid – all important for bone and joint health.

According to him, joint issues are often associated with inflammation and pain so, he suggests nourishing foods and adding herbs/spices that have natural anti-inflammatory benefits –

• Golden Paste (this is turmeric powder, cooked in water, to which cold pressed coconut oil and pepper are added later so that the turmeric is more bioavailable and activated for absorption by the body).
• Omega 3 Fatty Acids – feeding a fish paste using small fatty fish such as anchovies, sardines and mackerel (on a daily basis) helps to boost the omega 3 fatty acid content of the food – fish oil is one also a powerful source of omega 3 fatty acids – we recommend using both for the best results with reducing inflammation and relieving pain.
• Oral and topical CBD oil helps to a great extent to achieve pain relief

Other methods that can greatly help relieve pain include:

• Epsom salt soaks have been proven to help relieve joint and muscle pain (I use ½ tsp in 500 ml of warm water)
• Massage with topical CBD
• Hot compress