Canine Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD): Symptoms, Treatment, and Recovery

Canine intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) in dogs is a painful spinal condition in which a disc bulges or bursts and puts pressure on the spinal cord. It can cause symptoms ranging from pain and difficulty walking to paralysis and requires veterinary management.

Treatment depends on severity and may include strict rest and medication or surgery.

What Is IVDD in Dogs?

IVDD in dogs is a neurological condition that occurs when the cushioning discs between the bones of the spinal column bulge or burst into the space containing the spinal cord.

When this disc material pushes on the spinal cord, it can cause pain, nerve damage, and even paralysis.

IVDD is also known as a slipped disc, herniated disc, or bulging disc.

The spinal column is made up of vertebrae, or back bones, which protect the spinal cord and the nerves that transmit impulses to and from the brain and the rest of the body. The spine also supports the weight and movement of the body.

Between each vertebra is a soft, jelly-like disc surrounded by thick fibrous tissue. This intervertebral material serves as a cushion to absorb shock and help provide flexibility as the body moves.

Certain dog breeds with long backs and short legs are predisposed to IVDD, including:

• Dachshunds 

• Basset Hounds 

• Shih Tzu  

• French Bulldogs 

• Lhasa Apso 

• Pekingese 

• Beagles  

IVDD has also been known to occur in large-breed dogs, such as German Shepherds and pitbull-type dogs.

Types of IVDD in Dogs

There are two types of IVDD in dogs: Hansen Type I and Hansen Type II.

Hansen Type I occurs suddenly, while Hansen Type II develops gradually over months to years. Both types cause a disc to press painfully against the spinal cord.

• Hansen Type I: The soft, jelly-like center of the disc becomes hardened. With one wrong jump or sudden impact, this rock-like disc can shoot out of its thick shell and push upward into the spinal cord and surrounding nerves.
  
  
  • This movement of disc material, called a herniation, causes compression and bruising of the spinal cord.
  • This causes sudden, sharp pain with varying degrees of reduced nerve function.
  • Type I disc disease is most common in Dachshunds and other similar breeds with the same body structure.
• Hansen Type II: This type involves a much slower degenerative process in which the disc material impinges on the spinal cord and spinal nerves over a period of months to years.
  
  
  • The thick fibers around the soft disc material slowly collapse over time and push upward, causing more long-term pain and spinal cord compression.
  • Type II disc disease is common in German Shepherds and other large-breed dogs.

What Are the Symptoms of IVDD in Dogs?

Symptoms of IVDD in dogs depend on the type and location of the disc herniation and may include pain, limping or unsteady walking, weakness, dragging the back legs, loss of bladder or bowel control, and paralysis.

Symptoms of IVDD in dogs include:

• Limping or lameness and unsteady walking
• Dragging the back legs
• Stumbling over the back feet
• Hunched back or neck with tense muscles
• Weakness
• Pain
• Unwillingness to jump
• Anxious behavior, such as shivering or panting
• Decreased activity level
• Decreased appetite
• Loss of bladder or bowel control (urinary or fecal incontinence)
• Difficulty posturing to urinate or defecate
• Paralysis

Starting at the neck and moving toward the tail, there are five regions of the spine: the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and caudal vertebrae.

The most common sites of disc herniation in dogs are at the end of the thoracic vertebrae (T11–T12) and the beginning of the lumbar vertebrae (L2–L3). These herniations are painful and impact a dog's ability to move.

Cervical (neck) herniations are less common, but when they occur, it's almost always in Dachshunds, Beagles, or Poodles. They tend to cause more pain but less loss of function.

What Causes IVDD in Dogs?

IVDD in dogs results from a herniated disc that compresses the spinal cord. Depending on the dog, disc damage may lead to a sudden rupture or develop gradually over time.

Sudden Disc Rupture

In chondrodystrophic dog breeds (those with a hereditary cartilage development abnormality), such as Dachshunds, Corgis, and Basset Hounds, IVDD is commonly caused by an acute or sudden rupture of the disc material.

While wear and tear damages the disc over time, the rupture generally occurs suddenly as the result of a forceful impact, such as jumping or landing.

Gradual Disc Degeneration

In large-breed dogs, such as Shepherds, Labradors, and Doberman Pinschers, the discs become hardened over a longer period, eventually bulging or rupturing and causing spinal cord compression.

This type develops gradually, and a specific forceful impact isn't usually the cause of the damage.

How Is IVDD in Dogs Diagnosed?

Veterinarians diagnose IVDD in dogs using a physical and neurological exam along with imaging tests such as X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs to evaluate the spine and surrounding tissues.

If you suspect your dog is having back pain or difficulty getting around, have them examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible. With IVDD, the sooner you treat the problem, the better the chance for a full recovery.

Physical and Neurological Exam

Your veterinarian will perform a complete physical and neurological exam, including blood work and urine testing to assess your dog's overall health.

Imaging for IVDD

If IVDD is suspected based on the examination, your veterinarian will likely recommend imaging tests, such as X-rays, an MRI, or a CT scan, to visualize the spine and surrounding tissues and determine the severity of the condition.

Your veterinarian may be able to tell that IVDD is present with X-rays, but X-rays cannot assess damage to the spinal cord.

CT scans and MRIs often require referral to a specialty center. MRIs are the most effective imaging modality for examining damage to the spinal cord. Your dog will likely be sedated for imaging, and anesthesia is necessary for CT scans and MRIs.

How Is IVDD in Dogs Treated?

Treatment for IVDD in dogs depends on the severity of spinal cord damage and can range from medical management and strict rest for mild cases to emergency surgery for severe cases.

Medical Treatment for IVDD

In mild cases of IVDD in dogs, treatment focuses on reducing pain, inflammation, and swelling with pain medications and strict rest.

Pain medications commonly used include NSAIDs such as carprofen, steroids such as prednisone, gabapentin, and muscle relaxants such as methocarbamol.

Your dog should be kept in a crate or small area where they can't run, jump, play, or exercise. The timeline for strict rest depends on the specific injury and rate of healing.

Physical therapy is often recommended to help speed recovery.

Surgery for IVDD

If spinal cord damage is severe and the dog has paralysis, surgical correction of the herniation is typically suggested. This is usually an emergency surgery intended to minimize permanent neurologic damage.

The goal of surgery is to evaluate the herniation and relieve pressure on the spinal cord. There are several techniques, but this can involve removing a portion of the bony vertebra over the affected part of the spinal cord (laminectomy) and removing disc material.

After surgery, the same activity restrictions apply to allow the spinal cord to heal.

Unfortunately, even with surgery, some dogs will not regain function and may have lasting neurological issues.

How Much Does IVDD Surgery Cost?

IVDD surgery for dogs can cost between $2,000 and $8,000, depending on where you live and the individual veterinary office.

This cost does not include pre-op and post-op treatment, consultations, lab work, medications, or other potential costs needed to treat IVDD.

Recovery and Management of IVDD in Dogs

The prognosis for IVDD in dogs depends on the degree and location of the injury. Most disc ruptures involve minimal neurological issues, and dogs have an excellent chance of returning to walking.

However, if a dog has lost the ability to sense pain in their legs before surgery, they may not walk again and may have ongoing fecal and urinary incontinence.

Activity Restrictions During IVDD Recovery

The spinal cord recovers slowly, so extra care must be taken to prevent:

• Running
• Jumping
• Going up or down stairs
• Playing with other dogs and pets
• Hopping on or off furniture

Recovery From Mild to Moderate IVDD

If your dog has a mild to moderate IVDD injury, treatment may include steroid and anti-inflammatory medications to help reduce pain and swelling, combined with strictly reduced activity for approximately four to six weeks.

Recovery From IVDD Surgery

Recovery from IVDD surgery requires six to eight weeks of restricted activity.

It's not uncommon for a dog, mainly Dachshunds, to have additional herniations in other regions of the spine after surgery.

Surgery outcomes are most successful in dogs that have not lost their ability to walk.

If surgery does not return your dog to normal mobility, a dog wheelchair can help your pup enjoy a happy and active life while living with IVDD.

How To Prevent IVDD in Dogs

It's difficult to prevent future disc herniations in dogs, but the likelihood can be limited by avoiding activities such as jumping and large movements.

• Avoid high-impact activities. Avoid activities such as jumping, frisbee, and stairs.
• Choose low-impact exercise. Stick to low-impact exercises such as walking in predisposed breeds.
• Consider a harness. Some predisposed dogs may do better with a harness rather than a leash attached to a collar around their neck.
• Support your dog when lifting them. When lifting a predisposed dog, support their back and hind end.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Dogs with back problems should be kept at a healthy weight with your veterinarian's guidance to allow a quicker recovery from surgery and avoid future strain on their backs.
• Consider dog-friendly stairs for furniture. Dog-friendly stairs or ramps may help your pet get on and off furniture.