By Picking Them Up The Wrong Way You Can Encourage Dachshund Back Problems

By Author: Bob Schroeder
Total Articles: 12
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I can not possibly imagine anything sadder than viewing a Dachshund that can't move it's back legs, can't control it's bladder and can't run or play, all because of back problems.

Do you know the correct way to pick up your dog, so you don't cause injury?

Most of the time people don't give it a second thought while they are picking up their dog. Adults lift up dogs or even little kids pickup dogs. Sometimes it is actually an arm by the dog or sometimes it really is one hand grabbing across the neck.

You just can't pick up a Dachshund in either of those two ways.

Our lovely little dogs have very long spines and if not lifted correctly, that spine can bend or twist until the point of breaking or giving a sprain.

Before I purchased my current weiner dog, Nellie, I had been used to handling a different kind of dog, Yorkshire Terriers, Rat Terriers along with dogs that have relatively short backs. There was no problem picking them by using one hand beneath the rib cage.

As Nellie got older and larger, she would cry out each and every time I lifted her in my ...
... usual manner. Her back would bend into the shape of an inverted V.

I once saw a groomer aim to pick her up by putting one hand under each front shoulder and pulling her upward. She cried out and tried desperately get away from the groomers hands by twisting forwards and backwards. At that point I was just scared senseless that she would injure my dog.

When I researched back problems Dachshunds can develop, I began to appreciate really how vulnerable their spines actually are.

I now lift Nellie by using the two paw method. This means putting one hand under her chest and the other hand under her belly, just in front of her back legs. This takes the pressure off of her spine, keeps her back straight and distributes her weight over her entire body and not simply on top of her back.

Another version of the technique is that you will put one hand under their chest by coming in from the front and putting the hand between their front legs. The second hand comes in from behind the tail and in between the back legs. Again, strain gets taken off of the spine and distributed to the actual body.

Don't take the chance of injuring your Dachshund by incorrect lifting. Your canine has a very special spine that you want to give a good amount of additional attention. Back, neck and spine problems can develop when the spine is twisted, turned or bent with in unusual way. Picking up your four-legged friend could cause spine damage should it happen to be done incorrectly. Learn the correct way to lift and you will save yourself and your dog a great deal of grief.

You can help prevent your Dachshund from developing neck and back problems. Bob Schroeder is a Dachshund owner who saw his pet get hurt and develop back issues, all because of owner mistakes. At http://www.squidoo.com/dachshund-back-problems you can get tips on protecting your dog's back and neck. You can also discover the best way to pick your dog up at Dachshund Backs As an owner of a Dachshund, you can do a great deal to stop neck and back problems.