Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is a serious condition of the spinal cord that can affect any dog breed, but it is particularly prevalent in Dachshunds. Their long-backed and short-legged conformation is adorable, but can lead to back problems. Integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby explains everything you need to know about IVDD in Dachshunds, including symptoms, diagnosis, prevention strategies, treatment options, and prognosis.
If you have ever owned or loved a Dachshund, you are probably familiar with the most common spinal disease in dogs—intervertebral disc disease, commonly referred to as IVDD.
But I don’t like to talk about “diseases,” I like to talk about dogs! So, let’s meet a MUCH-loved four-year-old miniature Dachshund named Tango to understand IVDD in Dachshunds.
IVDD in Dachshunds
My patient’s family doted on Tango like he was the crown prince, often expressing love through treats and bits of bacon snuck under the breakfast table. Unfortunately, he weighed in at a whopping 30 pounds. (For his frame, he should have weighed about 15 pounds.)
Now, my sweet Dachshund patient sat on his mom’s lap in my exam room, looking just as worried as his mom. I listened as my client explained that Tango was reluctant to stand up. And when he did, he walked like a drunken sailor. As I looked at him in the exam room, he stood with a hunched back. And I could read his pained expression.
My heart sank. If my suspicions were correct, like many Dachshunds, Tango was affected by IVDD.
What is IVDD in Dachshunds?
Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is a neurologic condition that occurs when one or more of the cartilaginous discs that sit between the vertebrae (intervertebral discs) herniate or bulge into the spinal canal, compressing the spinal cord. As a result of the spinal cord damage and compression, the dog may experience weakness, pain, and paralysis.
Dog spine anatomy
A dog’s spinal column is made up of a long chain of bony vertebrae. Between one vertebra and the next lies a cartilaginous intervertebral disc, which acts as a cushion and shock absorber. The discs are sort of like a jelly donut. They have a tough fibrous outer shell (the dough of the donut) called the annulus fibrosus. And inside the annulus fibrosus is the jelly-like nucleus pulposus (the jelly).
Another important piece of spinal anatomy is the vertebral (spinal) canal, a bony channel through which the delicate spinal cord runs. The spinal canal sits above the intervertebral discs. This anatomy presents a problem if the disc ruptures or bulges upward because this would push it right into the vertebral canal, compressing the spinal cord.
How does IVDD occur in Dachshunds?
In some situations, such as is the case in Dachshunds, the cell type in the nucleus pulposus changes, making it less jelly-like and stiffer. Plus, wear and tear over time can lead to a breakdown of the fibers of the annulus. This disc may become calcified, too.
If the dog twists, jumps, falls, or otherwise exerts excessive pressure on the disc—squirt—the nucleus pulposus ruptures through the annulus fibrosus, just like the jelly squirts out of a donut if you step on it. When the disc ruptures, the nucleus pulposus follows the path of least resistance. Unfortunately, that happens to be out of the top of the disc and into the vertebral canal.
When the nucleus pulposus shoots out and hits the spinal cord, this causes swelling (edema) and hemorrhage (bleeding). Plus, because the spinal canal is a bony tunnel of a fixed size, having the spinal cord and disc material in it compresses the spinal cord. In some cases, the disc material can fill over 50% of the canal at that spot.
All of these changes interfere with the ability of the spinal cord to send and receive messages. This translates to weakness, loss of sensation, and, in more severe cases, paralysis.
How common is IVDD in Dachshunds?
While other breeds certainly can be diagnosed with IVDD, Dachshunds are the poster children for the condition. An estimated 19-24% of Dachshunds will develop IVDD (so approximately one in five). This is about 10 times higher than the overall risk for most other dogs!
Most Dachshund IVDD diagnoses occur between four and seven years of age, though it is possible at any age.
Why does IVDD tend to occur in Dachshunds?
Dachshunds are at a higher risk for IVDD because of the very thing that makes them so cute—their long backs and short little legs. This conformation is a result of a condition called chondrodystrophy, which is actually similar to dwarfism in people.
Researchers have identified two genetic mutations that make Dachshunds more prone to IVDD: the chondrodystrophy (CDDY) mutation and the chondrodysplasia (CDPA) mutation.
The CDDY mutation gives Dachshunds short legs, but also causes the intervertebral disc to degenerate prematurely, predisposing the dog to IVDD. On its own, the CDPA mutation doesn’t increase the risk of IVDD; it just makes short legs. However, the combination of CDPA and CDDY may make dogs more prone to IVDD and/or cause them to get IVDD at a younger age.
Since CDDY is a dominant mutation, an affected dog will pass the increased risk of IVDD on to half or all of his or her offspring, depending on whether the dog has one or two copies of the mutation. CDPA is also a dominant mutation.
What causes IVDD in Dachshunds?
The underlying cause of IVDD in Dachshunds, as we discussed, is genetics. However, often an acute insult exacerbates the already existing disc problems, which is when symptoms occur.
Dachshunds can develop sudden signs of IVDD after obvious trauma, such as a bad fall, being hit by a car, or even being accidentally stepped on. But because their discs are already a “ticking time bomb” for rupture, smaller incidents such as jumping wrong off the couch, taking a weird turn running, or traversing stairs can lead to the onset of clinical signs of IVDD in Dachshunds.
The event may be so minor that you may not even realize it has happened! Many Dachshund pet parents notice IVDD signs suddenly after their dog gets up from sleeping. Or they may hear a yelp seemingly out of nowhere and realize their dog isn’t walking well.
Where in the spine does IVDD tend to occur in Dachshunds?
In Dachshunds, most disc ruptures occur in the thoracolumbar region (junction of chest and abdomen). Interestingly, about three-fourths of acute disc herniations happen in the discs located from the last few thoracic vertebrae (T11, T12, and T13) to the first lumbar vertebrae (L1). However, disc rupture can technically occur anywhere in the dog’s spine.
What are the signs of IVDD in Dachshunds?
IVDD symptoms in Dachshunds can vary based not only on the location of the affected disc but also the severity of the rupture.
The location of the herniated disc determines which parts of the body are affected. You can think about it sort of like a roadblock in the information highway.
If the affected disc is in the neck, all four limbs will be weak because information can’t get past the blockade in the neck. But if the herniated disc is in the thoracolumbar region, only signals to the back legs will be blocked or dampened. This means the front legs will work normally, and the back legs will be weak.
Early signs of IVDD in Dachshunds
When a Dachshund has more mild or early IVDD (less spinal cord compression), you may notice the following symptoms:
Hunched or curved back
Noticing your Dachshund’s back is curved upward is fairly common in IVDD. Typically, it is a response to pain, and there may be a subtle or more distinct arch to the back.
Yelping or moving away from touch
Dogs with back pain may be reluctant to be petted and yelp when touched or picked up. Or you may see other signs your dog is in pain.
Unsteady or wobbly gait
Due to spinal cord compression, your Dachshund may experience ataxia (dog is wobbly and off balance). He or she may be stumbling or seem to be having trouble placing the feet appropriately to stand or walk.
Feet knuckling over
Knuckling in dogs is common due to decreased perception of the position of the feet in space.
Back legs collapsing
Your dog may take a few steps, then sit down again. Or you might see your dog’s back legs collapsing when he or she tries to stand or walk.
Reluctance to rise, jump, or climb stairs
Instead of following you up and down the stairs and walking around like normal, your Dachshund may prefer to stay sitting or lying down in one spot.
Trembling
Shaking or trembling may occur due to pain and weakness.
Later signs of IVDD in Dachshunds
When the IVDD has progressed or the compression is more severe, Dachshunds can exhibit the signs above plus:
Extreme weakness
Your Dachshund may still be able to move the affected limbs, but just barely. Or the legs might collapse as soon as you try to stand your dog up. This sort of partial paralysis is called paresis.
Paralysis
With significant compression, the Dachshund may be paralyzed, completely unable to move the legs or support weight on them. In the case of thoracolumbar (mid-back) IVDD, the dog may walk on the front legs and drag the back legs behind him or her.
Inability to urinate
Damage to the nerves controlling the bladder may make it so that your dog’s bladder continues to fill with urine, but he or she cannot urinate. Or the dog may occasionally pass small amounts of urine involuntarily, but be unable to voluntarily initiate urination.
If your Dachshund is showing signs of IVDD, go to the vet ASAP
Especially if your dog is paralyzed, unable to urinate, or very weak, you should make an emergency vet visit. But in general, if you think your Dachshund could have IVDD, it is important to seek care quickly. Rapid diagnosis and treatment can help give your dog the best chances of a good outcome.
How will the vet diagnose IVDD in Dachshunds?
A presumptive diagnosis of IVDD may be pretty simple based on physical examination (including a neurological exam) and history alone. A Dachshund with acute back or neck pain, neurologic deficits, difficulty walking, and the classic curved back can point the vet toward IVDD as the most likely diagnosis.
However, there are times when your vet may recommend imaging to help confirm the diagnosis and gather more information.
Neurologic exam
A thorough neurologic exam is a very important diagnostic step for IVDD cases. As part of the exam, the vet will assess the following components. (Just the most relevant tests are discussed in this article. A full neuro exam has more components.)
Checking reflexes
Your vet will check your Dachshund’s reflexes in the legs and on the skin along the back. Slowed reflexes may be a sign of an interruption in the nerves of the spinal cord.
Evaluating conscious proprioception
Testing conscious proprioception in dogs—the brain’s awareness of where the body is in space—helps to determine if the nerve pathways to the brain are intact.
A common way to test proprioception is to support the Dachshund’s body with one hand and flip the hind paw upside down in a “knuckled over” position with the other hand. A normal dog should flip the foot back briskly, so he or she is standing on the paw pads instead of the top of the foot. A dog with neurological deficits may leave the foot knuckled over or flip it over slowly.
(For a demonstration of the conscious proprioception test, please watch the video below of a healthy dog’s reaction.)
Testing for deep pain
It is important to determine whether a dog can feel his or her paws because deep pain perception correlates with a better prognosis. To test pain sensation, the veterinarian will pinch the Dachshund’s toes with a hemostat or similar instrument. As soon as a dog shows any sign of feeling the pain, the vet stops pinching.
Some of the signs of deep pain the vet is looking for include flinching, yelping, turning toward the paw, or trying to bite. Just drawing the leg back, however, is not a sign of pain, as this is just a reflex.
Note: Do not attempt to test for deep pain in your dog at home. The vet will decide if the test is warranted after he or she performs the rest of the neurologic exam.
X-rays
Your vet may or may not recommend a back X-ray if he or she suspects IVDD. Discs don’t show up on a normal X-ray unless they are calcified (mineralized). And even if there are mineralized discs (which are common in Dachshunds), that doesn’t mean the disc is causing spinal cord compression.
However, finding a calcified disc positioned in such a way to suggest herniation can potentially point to IVDD. Additionally, X-rays can show a narrowing of the spaces between the vertebrae where the disc might be missing.
The vet will weigh the pros and cons of X-rays in your dog’s particular case and then make a recommendation.
Advanced imaging
If IVDD surgery could be in your Dachshund’s future, advanced diagnostic imaging is necessary to confirm the diagnosis and gather information. This may include tests such as a myelogram (injecting dye around the spinal cord, then taking an X-ray), CT scan, or MRI. A veterinary specialist, not your family veterinarian, generally performs those tests.
What are the Dachshund IVDD stages?
IVDD in Dachshunds can be classified into five clinical stages (or grades) based on the dog’s symptoms and the results of the neurologic exam. Your veterinarian can help you understand which grade of IVDD your Dachshund currently has and what it means for him or her.
- Stage 1—Mild pain without neurological deficits (no weakness, decreased reflexes, ataxia, etc.)
- Stage 2—Moderate pain, weakness, decreased conscious proprioception (sense of body position)
- Stage 3—Partial paralysis (paresis), ataxia, difficulty standing
- Stage 4—Complete paralysis, inability to walk, but maintains sensation
- Stage 5—Complete paralysis and loss of feeling in limbs, inability to control urination and defecation
What is the treatment for IVDD in Dachshunds?
After reaching a diagnosis, your veterinarian will discuss the treatment options with you that are best suited for your dog’s severity or stage of IVDD. Generally speaking, treatment falls into one of two categories: medical management or surgery.
Dogs with more advanced cases may require surgery to have a chance at recovery. In contrast, mild IVDD may resolve on its own or with medical treatment.
IVDD surgery for Dachshunds
IVDD surgery for dogs is recommended for Dachshunds who:
- Are paralyzed and still have deep pain
- Are paralyzed and have lost deep pain sensation in the last 24 hours (or sometimes a bit longer)
- Did not respond to medical management (pain or weakness persisted)
- Got worse with medical management (pain, weakness, and other signs progressed)
The most common surgical treatment for IVDD is a hemilaminectomy. This is a very specialized procedure and is typically performed by a board-certified veterinary neurologist at a specialty hospital or veterinary school.
In this procedure, the neurologist makes a window in the side of the spinal canal so he or she can remove any herniated disc material that is compressing the spinal cord. This relieves the pressure on the spinal cord and should, hopefully, restore function in time.
In some cases, the neurologist will also perform a fenestration in the surrounding discs to decrease the chances that they will rupture at some point. This involves making a small hole in the annulus fibrosus and removing the nucleus pulposus.
Recovery from IVDD surgery
A hemilaminectomy is a very involved procedure, and recovery can be extensive. Typically, dogs are hospitalized for a few days. And then they must adhere to strict activity restriction (crate rest for dogs) for several weeks after discharge. It is absolutely imperative to avoid any activity that may reinjure the back.
Many Dachshunds need several days to weeks for the swelling in the spinal cord to decrease. If everything goes as planned, movement will gradually come back to the legs during that time. The same is true for bladder control. In some cases, it can take one to three weeks for this to happen. And a dog might even go home with a urinary catheter in place.
Just like with any other surgery, post-op incisional care is essential to avoid infection. Your vet will likely prescribe anti-inflammatories and possibly antibiotics for you to give at home. Plus, he or she will schedule a series of post-operative rechecks to monitor your dog’s recovery and give further care instructions.
Medical management of IVDD in Dachshunds
Not all dogs with IVDD need surgery or are good candidates for surgery. Milder cases of IVDD in Dachshunds may resolve with medical management. Plus, surgery may be dangerous or complicated due to other health concerns the dog has. Or in some cases, dog parents understandably have financial constraints that make the specialized surgery cost prohibitive.
Non-surgical conservative treatments for IVDD can be broken down into the following three main categories:
1. Strict rest
Crate rest with a herniated disc is absolutely the single most important aspect of home care. Without rest, the disc can cause more trauma to the spinal cord, leading to paralysis and a need for emergency surgery.
Crate rest is not easy, and many Dachshunds are full of energy! The vet may prescribe medications such as gabapentin for dogs or trazodone for dogs to help your dog stay calm during this stressful period. Additionally, you can ask your vet about which mental stimulation games or toys for dogs are ok for your pup during his or her recovery.
Pain management
Controlling pain and reducing inflammation is also critical for keeping Dachshunds comfortable as they recover from IVDD.
Veterinary-prescribed medications useful for treating IVDD can include:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Carprofen for dogs: Veterinary-prescribed NSAIDs are great for relieving pain and also reducing inflammation.
- Gabapentin: In addition to keeping a dog calm, gabapentin can relieve nerve-related pain.
- Methocarbamol for dogs: The muscle relaxer methocarbamol helps decrease muscle spasms to make your dog more comfortable.
Additionally, the vet may recommend alternative therapies such as acupuncture for dogs, physical therapy, laser therapy for dogs, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and joint supplements for dogs. These modalities can reduce pain and inflammation and promote healing.
Lifestyle modifications
Some environmental modifications can help with IVDD management.
Adding ramps for furniture, stairs, and cars can prevent future injury from jumping up and down. Training your Dachshund to use them may take some time, but it is worth it in the end.
Additionally, maintaining a healthy body weight is essential for any dog recovering from IVDD. Obesity is a major predisposing factor for both initial and recurrent IVDD episodes. Finding your dog’s body condition score (BCS) is a great place to start. Then, if you discover your Dachshund is overweight, you can talk to your vet about how to help your dog lose weight.
Applying Dr. Buzby’s ToeGrips® dog nail grips helps provide traction on hard floors. This is a great way to prevent your dog from slipping or sliding and possibly worsening a herniated disc.
What is the prognosis for Dachshunds with IVDD?
The prognosis for Dachshunds with IVDD depends not only on the severity of the condition and the treatment approach, but also on how quickly they receive veterinary care.
Studies have shown that more than 90% of dogs with stage 1 through 4 intervertebral disc disease will recover successfully with surgery. However, with Grade 5 IVDD, success drops to only 50-60% if the surgery occurs within 24 hours of symptoms. Additionally, if surgery is performed after that initial 24-hour window, the success rate drops dramatically.
Contrast that with medical management. One study of 223 dogs with IVDD (various stages) showed a 54.7% success rate, a 30.9% rate of recurrence down the road, and a 14.4% “failure” rate as determined by questionnaires filled out by dog parents. (Note that this method of data collection does have its limitations.) Generally speaking, though, as the grade of IVDD increases, the prognosis with medical management tends to worsen.
How can you prevent IVDD in Dachshunds?
Preventing IVDD in Dachshunds is difficult. The genetic predisposition for the condition is so prevalent in the breed, and their conformation makes back injuries likely even with minor insults.
However, Dachshund parents can certainly take steps to decrease the chances of their beloved pup having a ruptured disc. Dachshunds can, unfortunately, have an IVDD episode multiple times because they are already at high risk and have many discs in their back. Sometimes, subsequent IVDD episodes increase in severity, so taking preventive measures is important.
The same environmental changes that pertain to treating IVDD medically are also relevant for preventing it.
- Use ramps or short stairs to help minimize jumping on and off furniture or in and out of the car.
- Carry your Dachshund up and down stairs whenever possible.
- Always support your Dachshund’s entire spine when you lift him or her.
- Maintain your Dachshund at an ideal body condition score (or help him or her lose weight if necessary).
Because IVDD has a strong genetic component, breeding dogs responsibly is crucial. It is now possible to test dogs for the CDDY and CDPA mutation through the UC Davis Veterinary Medicine Veterinary Genetics Laboratory prior to breeding them. This may help decrease the rate of IVDD in the Dachshund breed in the future.
Loving Dachshunds means loving their backs
Part of loving a Dachshund is knowing that their short little legs and long body are going to predispose them to IVDD. You can’t change that for your beloved pup, so the goal is to control the things you can control.
Be educated about IVDD in Dachshunds, so you know what to look for, and head to the vet promptly if you suspect an IVDD episode. Watch your dog’s weight so he or she looks more like an Oscar Mayer hot dog than a bratwurst. Teach your Dachshund to use ramps and stairs as soon as he or she joins the family. These and other measures can make a difference.
Finally, if your Dachshund does develop a ruptured disc from IVDD, don’t be too hard on yourself. Sometimes it happens despite doing everything right. What matters at that point is working closely with the veterinary team and supporting your Dachshund through his or her recovery.
Do you have a question or comment about IVDD in Dachshunds?
Please comment below. We can all learn from each other.
This post was originally published on July 17, 2019 and updated on February 27, 2026 .
Hi Dr. Buzby,
Thank you for this wonderful blog it has really helped ease my mind. My senior dog Simba has recently been in a lot of pain. He has a history of patella surgery on the left and ACL on the right. He has been taking Rimadyl anti inflammatory for several years which has helped with arthritis. Newly, he seems to be in a different type of pain, which started upon return from vacation. He is arching his back when walking and seems to have muscle atrophy to the hind legs. He still walks but his gait has changed to a waddle like motion. He seems to be in extreme discomfort when trying to sit or lay down, where he circles many times and whimpers or yells. He has had one or two accidents lately but still defecting and peeing on his own. We tried tramadol for pain but he gets really anxious.
I took him to the vet where we had x rays and there is clear degenerative changes in his thoracolumbar spine. The vet says he has a slip disc with slight decrease in vertebral space between the adjacent vertebrae.
For treatment she does not recommend surgery. She gave me the option of steroid treatment with a muscle relaxer and if all else fails “to put my dog down”. You can imagine how upset I got.
After reading your blog it sounds like Simba is grade two. Are there any back braces, physical therapy, medication, ect you would recommend and or have used to help him recover. What is the risk of me trying steroids and holding off on surgery? Is surgery successful in 13 year old dogs? Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Dr. Stephanie Lubin
Hi Dr. Lubin,
I am so sorry you are dealing with such a difficult situation with Simba. He is very lucky to have someone like you in his life who is willing to take such an active role in advocating for his health and wellbeing. I highly recommend you have him evaluated by a veterinary neurologist/neurosurgeon. I have definitely seen senior dogs have successful outcomes with this type of surgery. As long as your boy maintains motor function to his rear legs and can still feel deep pain, it can be ok to try pain meds and anti-inflammatories with strict cage rest to see if the nerve damage can heal a bit on its own. In the meantime, there are several things that can help with the recovery process. I am not aware of any back braces for this type of injury in dogs, but routinely recommend physical therapy, supplements, and other treatments such as laser therapy. You may want to reach out to a veterinary rehabilitation professional or an integrative vet that can offer a combination of western and eastern medicine. I will attach links to other articles with more information. I am hopeful you can find the answers and advice you need to make the best decision for you and your senior guy. Wishing Simba the best of luck!
1. IVDD: Can a dog recover without surgery?
2. IVDD Surgery: When Your Vet Recommends Surgery for Your Dog
3. Natural Pain Relief for Dogs: 13 Methods
9/22/25
I had 3 dogs.
Purebred Shih Tzu lived till 16.
Mixed Shih Tzu lived till 16 & 1/2. No IVDD.
Nov. 23, 2024, adopted Shih poo, very active & walked fast, played ball 10 mins. Was told estimated age almost 3. Suddenly IVDD no chance for recovery. Had to say goodbye. This all happened suddenly!
Disbelief & very heartbroken.
Dear Judy,
I am so sorry for the sudden and unexpected loss of your young dog. Wishing you peace and comfort during this emotionally difficult time. ♥
Hi Dr Busby, I’m on holiday in France with our 13yr old dog, Mudflap. He is a dingo/Kelpie crossbreed from Central Australia and in good condition for his age. He has occasionally developed temporary rear leg lameness over the least few years, but has always recovered full use of his legs afterwards. Our home vet tells us that he has a bit of arthritis that is normal for his age. But last week while running along the street, he turned too quickly into our house and pinched/damaged/twisted something and he now walks with a slight left rear leg limp and snake like gait. He has a little knuckling on his right foot indicating the proprioception problem of which you speak. A local vet held and stretched out his rear legs and he didn’t wince, and i think she said this indicated he didn’t have a severely slipped/herniated disc, but rather neurological spinal degen. Could you please give me any advice as i am possibly about to embark on an expensive scanning process with him and my understanding of French is very limited. I guess i’m interested in….
– can toe grips re-stimulate lost or damaged neural pathways and possibly correct the knuckling and snaking?
– what other non-invasive treatments are there?
– how much spinal surgery is conducted on 13yr old dogs for nerve impingement problems, who have natural spinal arthritis anyway?
– does glucosamine and green lipped muscle supplements work?
Finally he has improved a little…how long do i give him before moving to scans etc?
Many thanks from Provence!
LOVE your website
Jon
sorry i meant to say knuckling on the left foot!
Hi Jon,
I am sorry your senior guy has injured himself while you are on vacation and away from your home vet. Since I haven’t examined him myself, I can’t make specific conclusions, but it definitely sounds like he has a neurological issue. The most common and conservative way to treat IVDD medically is to have the dog taking anti-inflammatory medications and have them very restricted to crate rest. Sometimes I will even add on a muscle relaxer if needed. ToeGrips can help give extra stability/traction while the hind limbs are weakened and help stimulate proprioception in the toes and foot. They will not do anything for the spinal cord or nerves close to the damaged spinal disk and will probably not correct the knuckling or snaking. The goal of treatment at this point is to reduce inflammation around the damaged disk and spinal cord. As the inflammation resolves, the function should return if the spinal cord is not too badly damaged. This healing process can take several weeks. If you are interested in surgical correction of the IVDD or just need advice, I highly recommend you talk to a veterinary neurologist. Glucosamine and green lipped muscle supplements do help quite a bit and would be great to add to pain medications prescribed by the vet. I hope you can find the answers you need to make the best decision for you and Mudflap (love his name!). Feel free to leave an update if you have time. Wishing you both the best!
Hi Dr. Buzby,
Thank you for sharing this helpful information. My 2 year old maltipoo was just diagnosed yesterday with a herniated disc by my regular vet. She cannot walk unassisted as she is very wobbly and would fall to the side if I was not supporting her. She can’t stand from sitting without assistance. She can bend and lift her back legs on her own but her paws knuckle as she walks and most of the time the legs are dragging. I have been reading a lot about IVDD and the paws knuckling seem to be an indicator that it could be more serious. I’m really unsure where the line is between trouble walking but still manageable medically and paralyzed in need of emergency surgery. When the vet checked her he said she had delayed function in her back legs and she was already dragging and knuckling then, but I don’t know what the signs are that it could be getting worse. She peed twice today and pooed once which makes me hopefully she hasn’t lost all neurological function. I am currently giving her pain meds, anti inflammatories, a muscle relaxer and antacids as prescribed by my vet and keeping her on bed rest. Given her symptoms, do you think we should consider surgery or should we only consider surgery if she is completely paralyzed in her back legs and cannot feel pain? Any advice or guidance you can provide would be much appreciated!
Thank you in advance.
Hi Beatrix,
I am sorry your pup has experienced a herniated disc so early in life. I am glad she is being treated and seems stable for now. In my experience, there is a much greater chance of a positive outcome with surgery if it is performed before a dog completely loses sensation in the limbs. I will attach links to other articles that may offer additional information. I highly recommend you talk with a veterinary neurologist in your area. They can give you their expert opinion and answer any lingering questions. I hope you find the answers you need to make the best decision for you and your sweet girl. Praying for a positive outcome and a complete recovery.
1. IVDD Surgery: What If Your Vet Recommends Surgery for Your Dog?
2. IVDD: Can a dog recover without surgery?
3. IVDD in Dachshunds: Lady Penelope’s Experience
Hi Dr Buzby. Thanks for your very useful articles on this topic. Today, my Yorkie, Benji suddenly started to topple to the left side and could not walk properly on his hind leg/s. I immediately took him to the vet. He says Benji has poor placing reflex but deep pain is present and referred me to get an X-ray and an ultrasound. I read what you said about X-rays, so will the ultrasound provide additonal informationhelp to pick up if it is an IVVD? Thanks in advance.
Hi Trish,
I am glad you were able to get Benji examined so quickly. It sounds like your vet has a good plan in place to try and make a diagnosis. Since I have not seen your dog personally, it is hard to know the details and offer specific advice. While x-rays are good at imaging bone, ultrasound is better to evaluate soft tissue. The ultrasound may also be used to evaluate blood vessels or help rule out other causes of the decreased placing reflex besides IVDD. If your referral is with a neurologist, they may recommend a CT or MRI as well. Just remember that you need to be honest with your vet about your concerns and ask as many questions as you need to feel comfortable with the progression of tests and/or treatment. I hope your sweet boy will recover fully and that you get a diagnosis that allows for a happy future. Best wishes to you both and keep us updated!
Hello Dr. Buzby.
Our family recently have a Coton de tulear puppy and we did a health DNA check with Embark and the result came back showing that the pup inherited one copy of a variant and has increased risk of type 1 ivdd. My question is will the pup eventually develop ivdd with this condition or it’s something that can be prevented? Thank you!
Hi Quinn,
Congratulations on the new puppy! This is an excellent question. Based on our current understanding of IVDD, having one copy of the variant doesn’t automatically mean your pup is doomed to have IVDD at some point. However, it is helpful information because knowing that the pup could have an increased risk of IVDD can help you to take some precautions to help protect the back and neck. One of the most important things you can do is keep your pup at an appropriate body condition score. Being overweight or obese greatly increases the risk for IVDD. You may also want to consider getting some steps or ramps that your pup can use to get up on the bed/couch or into the car to prevent him or her from jumping up and down. While I don’t typically recommend starting young puppies on a joint supplement like Encore Mobility, it is definitely something to keep in mind for the future. Best of luck to you and your new furry family member!
Hi Dr. Buzby,
My 2 year old Chihuahua loves to run, leap and chase her sister (a 2 year old cat) and play. She is my heart and I was shocked to hear her yelping in the backyard last week. I went to pick her up and she was in extreme pain, writhing and panting. All the vets in my area were booked for 5 days and I finally got an appointment today where the doctor told me that she has a herniated disc and most likely IVDD. When she does walk, she’s like a drunk salior and her back legs cross, tripping over them and landing on her bum. I’m so sad and worried – it’s been terrible to see her in so much pain. She’s on three types of pain meds and strict crate rest for two weeks.
My question is this – will this be a chronic condition that comes and goes? Is it possible that this was a singular episode and won’t happen again? What can I do now that I know she has this disease? Thank you so much for your help!
Hi Christine,
Sorry to hear about your sweet Chihuahua’s IVDD episode. It is so difficult to watch a beloved dog struggle to walk when just days before everything was normal. It sounds like the vet has a great plan with the multiple types of pain meds and cage rest. You can learn more about non-surgical IVDD recovery in my article IVDD: Can a dog recover without surgery?. Sometimes unfortunately dogs with IVDD do require surgery (more about that in my article IVDD Surgery: What If Your Vet Recommends Surgery for Your Dog?)
Your question about reoccurrence is a good one. In general, there is always the potential that the IVDD could flare up again, either in the same location or in different location. Depending on what studies you look at, around 20% of dogs who have IVDD surgery and 40% of dogs who don’t have surgery may end up having an IVDD episode again. As far as what you can do to prevent further episodes, keeping her at a correct body condition score is very important (learn more about BCS from Your Dog’s Body Condition Score (BCS): Find Your Dog’s Number in 3 Easy Steps). Avoiding her jumping and twisting can also help prevent IVDD. That is a harder one because she loves to run, leap, and play with her kitty sister. You will probably have to find some balance between letting her having fun and protecting her back once she has recovered (and definitely be very good about strict cage rest in the recovery time period). I wish you all the best and hope she recovers well. If you have any doubts about how she is doing during the recovery period, don’t hesitate to reach out to your vet for a recheck exam.
Hello Dr. Buzby! Thank you for give so much information about this topic to us pet parents that feel lost and confused on what is happening to their fur baby! Our dog Biscuit has recently been diagnosed with possible IVDD. We had to bring her to an emergency vet on the Saturday prior to 4th of July just 2 weeks ago. They took X-rays and did testing on her to see if they could figure out what was wrong. The knuckling test she did not try to pull her toes back in the correct position at all. And the test she did pushing down along her spine she reacted slightly to the pressure. She has never made any noise of being in pain, but we knew that she had something going on because she was stumbling on her hind side and walking very slow. It came on out of nowhere and very all of a sudden.
As of now we have been keeping her on restricted movement. (She’s not caged, but we have gates the stairs to the second floor and both my son and myself have slept downstairs on the couch and air mattress since this has happened. She is on prednisone (weaning off), methocarbamol (2 times a day), and gabapentin (also 2 times a day). She has days where she seems better than others, but we know she is still not right. I’m trying to figure out if we need to get a CT Scan or if we should continue the current treatment and see if she gets better? It’s so hard to know when they can’t tell us how they truly feel! I at least now understand a bit more of what it is she most likely has, but feel like without a CT Scan we won’t know for certain.
Hi Sheri,
Sorry to hear that Biscuit may have IVDD. It sounds like you and your son are doing a great job taking care of her. That is so sweet that you are sleeping downstairs with her. ❤ It is hard to watch our beloved pets struggle and be unsure if they are making the progress that they should. Since I haven’t examined Biscuit, I can’t really tell you if you should or should not go forward with the CT. The best way to get an answer would be to have her rechecked by your vet or a veterinary neurology specialist. He or she would be able to tell you if Biscuit is recovering as expected or if he or she thinks that Biscuit should have imaging such as a CT to confirm this diagnosis, evaluate the discs and spinal cord further, and check for other problems. I hope you are able to find some clear direction for Biscuit and that she recovers well!
So glad I came across your article!!! My 8 yr old shih tzu/yorkie mix suddenly began yelping in pain a few weeks ago and I was thankful that her vet immediately suspected her lower discs were inflammed and he also said there was not much cartilage in between the lower vertebrae. He has been doing acupuncture along with laser treatment and I give her CBD with turmeric and frankenscense. She is not yelping in pain as much any longer but still seems to get “twinges” every once in awhile. Would those be muscle spasms? I am thinking she would benefit from the gabapentin and perhaps look into the carprofen. I was wary of meloxicam for the possible side effects. She is all I have left but don’t want her to suffer . I think she is a grade 1 from your description. I have ramps and carry her up and down the stairs as I live on the second floor. I look forward to your input . Thank you !
Hi Susan,
It sounds like you are doing a great job caring for your dog and I am glad that overall her pain has lessened! It does sometimes seem like dogs with IVDD will have painful twinges. These could be muscle spasms or potentially nerve root pain (pain that comes from the area where a nerve exits the vertebrae and sometimes radiates outward). I would suggest mentioning those twinges to your vet and getting his opinion on ways to improve your dog’s pain control. This may be in the form of medications like gabapentin or carprofen (as you mentioned) or potentially other therapeutic modalities. Since I can’t examine your dog myself, I can’t say for sure which of these options would be best but it sounds like your dog is in great hands with your vet! I hope she continues to improve, and I am so glad that you found the article helpful! If you haven’t already, you may want to check out my other articles on IVDD: IVDD: Can a dog recover without surgery? and IVDD Surgery: What If Your Vet Recommends Surgery for Your Dog?. All the best to you and your sweet pup!
Great article. Came across it because my 14.5 year old Beagle has a compressed disk in her neck. She can still walk, hind legs look like they’re slow, and she has to be coaxed out of bed. With her age we aren’t going to do surgery (I think it’s level 2). Doing gabapentin, muscle relaxer, and anti-inflammatory/pain med.. it’s so hard to watch her like this.
Hi Lisa,
Sorry to hear that your Beagle has IVDD in her neck. It is definitely hard to watch our beloved pets struggle, but it sounds like you are doing a great job caring for her. I hope she responds well to her medication plan and is back to feeling like herself again soon. I’m glad the article was useful for you too!
We just got a beagle basset hound shih tzu mix from shelter. He is about 4 months old. His sister’s dna results came back positive for IVDD gene and unfortunately, she was put down this week because of it. Should I be worried that he has the same genes? Is there something I can do to prevent the same fate? I am panicking he will go through the awful nightmare that his sister did. Thanks so much in advance for your help!
Hello Jackie, There is not a genetic test directly for “IVDD” although there has been some recent publications on the identification of a gene associated with chondrodystrophy in dogs, which is a related issue: https://www.dachshund-ivdd.uk/testing-for-ivdd/dna-test-for-ivdd/ I don’t think you need to panic, my friend. You cannot fight genetics. But you can keep your dog lean and fit throughout life, and I’d also recommend purchasing pet health insurance. Enjoy your puppy! ♥️
I just lost my 12 year old pit bull mix to IVDD, it was horrible, she was still there, her mind like the prior woman said, but it happened all so quickly. My primary vets misdiagnosed her and said it was arthritis and gave pain meds, however she then was lame and in discomfort which quickly turned into not being able to walk and then not able to use the back legs, so sad, I was heart broken, she was 12 but had great bloodwork and no arthritis and seemed 1/2 her age. So upsetting that this happened suddenly to her, I keep trying to see if I pulled her on the leash too hard, let her jump up on the bed and other things which are put lots of wear and tear on her back. She had a great life just wished it didn’t end so abruptly and in this manner.
Dear Santhe, I’m so sorry for your loss. I hope your memories together are a comfort to your heart. I sincerely believe that you did nothing to cause the issue for her. Please accept my deepest sympathies. ?
Hi. I’ve worked with pets for 20 years as a veterinary assistant. I just stumbled on your website looking for a connection between IVDD and hardwood floors. I just a week ago lost my 2nd giant breed to Grade 4 IVDD. My Saint had already been operated on by a team of Neurosurgeons at UGA 3.5 years prior, herniated another disc. I lost a Newfoundland to it approx 8 years ago as well. I’m also a basset hound person, so I am aware of type 1 IVDD. But this is 2 giant breeds in a row I’ve lost to type 2, wondering if you have written the article on causes of type 2 in giant breeds yet. It is one of the most heartbreaking ways to lose a dog, their mind is still there. I like the toe grips idea a lot, look forward to your response. Thank you
Hi Leanne, I’m so sorry to hear of your recent loss. I know how heartbreaking that is. We have a 4-part series of articles on IVDD, and this one: https://toegrips.com/intervertebral-disc-disease-dogs/ should contain the information you are looking for.
Very good article. I would like to know what large breeds can have this. By reading it it made me think ones like sight hounds would be a breed that would have this. I really enjoy learning new w. Thank you.
One other thing, I have a 2 1.2 yr old standard poodle that is My service dog. I would really like to know if your gorGeous would help him to not slip on the stores floors. He will get shoes when I have $60 to get some. Thank you for the great read and I really want to know if the ToeGrips would work for what I asked about.
Hi Heather,
Thanks for reading and for your kind words.
1. We will be covering Type II IVDD, the IVDD of large breed dogs, in a few weeks. Stay tuned!
2. Yes, we do have several service and therapy dogs who use ToeGrips for slippery floors. You might enjoy this article: toegrips.com/toegrips-save-day-harry-service-dog
If you have further questions, please reach out to our customer care team at [email protected]. Thanks!