Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)
What is the Intervertebral Disc
Between the bones of your dog's spine sit small discs that act as cushions. They let the spine bend and absorb shock as your dog moves. In IVDD, one or more of these discs breaks down and pushes up against the spinal cord.
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When a disc presses on the spinal cord it causes pain, and it can affect the nerves that control the legs. Depending on how bad it is, this ranges from a sore, stiff back through to weakness or loss of use in the legs.
What Causes IVDD
The discs can break down in two main ways. In some dogs the disc hardens early in life and then bursts up into the spinal cord, often suddenly. This is common in breeds with long backs and short legs, like Dachshunds, but it happens in other breeds too. In other dogs the disc wears down slowly with age, and signs build up over time.
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Things that affect the risk:
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Breed, with long-backed breeds far more prone to it
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Age
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Being overweight, which loads the spine more
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Jumping and high-impact activity, which can trigger a flare in a dog already prone to it
Signs to watch for:
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A sore, hunched back or neck
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Reluctance to jump, climb stairs or be picked up
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Crying out when moving or being touched
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Stiffness or a wobbly, uncoordinated walk
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Dragging a back leg or knuckling over on the paws
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In bad cases, weakness or no movement in the back legs
When its a emergency
Some IVDD cases need a vet straight away. Get to a vet urgently if your dog can't use their back legs, can't stand, can't feel their feet, or loses control of toileting. The sooner these cases are seen, the better the chance of recovery. If you're not sure, ring your vet.
Why It Matters
IVDD affects the spinal cord, so it's more serious than a joint problem. Pain is the mildest end. At the other end, pressure on the cord can cause lasting weakness or loss of use in the legs if it isn't managed in time.
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How it's managed depends on how bad it is. Milder cases are often managed with rest, pain relief and rehab. More severe cases may need surgery to take the pressure off the spinal cord. Your vet or surgeon will guide that decision. Either way, rehab is a big part of getting your dog moving again afterwards.
How we Help
Rehab helps whether your dog is being managed without surgery or recovering after an operation. We work to rebuild strength, retrain the legs to move properly, and support your dog's comfort as they recover. This is done gently and in stages, at a pace that suits where your dog is at.
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The treatments we usually use for IVDD are:
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Hydrotherapy — the water supports your dog's body weight, so they can practise moving their legs without the load of standing on land. It's a safe way to rebuild strength and help retrain the legs after a spinal injury.
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Laser therapy — used to ease pain and inflammation and support healing.
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Targeted exercises — gentle movements matched to your dog's stage of recovery, to rebuild strength, balance and coordination.
We build the plan around your dog and adjust it as they progress, working alongside your vet or surgeon's instructions.
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If you think your dog might have a back or neck problem, talk to your vet first for a diagnosis. If your dog suddenly can't use their back legs, treat it as an emergency and get to a vet straight away. Once your dog is diagnosed and stable, we're happy to help with the recovery.
