13/03/2025
‼️Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)‼️
With Dachshunds growing in popularity and seeing first hand the potentially devastating effects of IVDD, I felt the need to spread some awareness.
❓️What is it❓️
IVDD is a degenerative disease in which the discs in the spine become damaged and can bulge or breakdown, putting pressure on the spinal cord. If anyone has slipped a disc, you can imagine how painful this can be.
There are varying degrees, ranging from grade 1 to grade 5 and I happen to have 2 lovely little Dachshunds I visit on either end of the spectrum.
🌸Poppy🌸
This sweet girl just didn't seem herself and appeared a bit slower and quieter than normal. After vet appointments, travelling to a specialist for a scan and an overnight stay, she was diagnosed with grade 1 IVDD. She is now nearing the end of the prescribed 8 weeks of pen rest and restricted movement. She's doing much better now and will soon be able to go for walks again. However, there is no cure and so it's something that will always have to be monitored as Poppy ages.
💙Chimi💙
I've been walking this cutie on and off for over 2 years now. Due to his diagnosis of IVDD, his walks had to get shorter and shorter until last year when we had to go down to just toilet breaks in the garden, cuddles and restricted movements (no jumping). Despite adhering to this, unfortunately, a few weeks ago his owner discovered that he suddenly had no use of his back legs. The vet confirmed that his IVDD had progressed to grade 5 and he was paralysed from the waist down.
The care he needs now is not for the faint-hearted but his lovely owners are doing everything they can for him. He's had back surgery and is having regular hydrotherapy and physio but it's still only a 50% chance that he will walk again. He has to have his bladder manually expressed throughout the day, be given tablets regularly and he has no control over when he poops, so lots of puppy pads and clean up is needed.
There is hope for him though, as he managed to support himself enough to drink from his bowl during one of my visits yesterday! It was brief and wobbly but progress, so fingers crossed Chim makes a full recovery!
💭Things to consider💭
🔸️If getting a puppy, please research reputable breeders. Find one who health tests all their dogs and ask about the parents and grandparents history as their is a genetic component to IVDD.
🔸️Insurance! Obviously all of the above care has not come cheaply. We all know how much it costs to even get a check up at the vets these days, so please do make sure who have good pet insurance.
🔸️Give your dog a quality diet and maintain a healthy weight.
✋️I feel I need to say that I am in no way saying not to get a Dachshund! They are cracking little dogs. I just think that this should be known about, in the same way most people know that Labradors are prone to hip dysplasia and brachycephalic breeds such as pugs and frenchies are prone to breathing problems.
🙅♀️I also just want to clarify that IVDD is not exclusive to Dachshunds. Other breeds with short legs and long bodies are also susceptible to it and even those without that body composition can get it. However, I have focused on Dachshunds as they are significantly more likely to get it than any other breed.
If this has been helpful to even one person then I'll be happy 😊
