[Murphys Dad]

After Maggie experienced pain in her back, my vet mentioned that jumping down (off a bed, for example)has much more negative impact than jumping up. This makes sense as you can almost visualize the discs compressing on the down jump. I have read that dogs with long backs, i.e., daschunds, beagles and basset hounds, are much more prone to degenerative disc disease. I was much relieved after x-rays showed no disease process in Maggie's back although she is not immune to other back/disc problems. I can only recommend that training a dog not to jump start at an early age -- I am having a very difficult time teaching this to Maggie in her senior years.