05/28/2026
IVDD (Invertebral Disc Disease) is not a death sentence! There are still primary vets that recommend euthanasia and to uneducated dog owners they take that recommendation as solid advice. It’s not. This is why it’s very important to have a consult with a neurologist if IVDD is suspected. Ideally, if your dog shows signs of IVDD (muscle spasms, trembling, paw knuckling, hind limb paralysis) you would take them to an emergency room with a neurologist on staff. The ER doctor if not a neurologist is not good enough. Waiting to see your primary vet when they have an opening is also not good enough. With IVDD TIME is of the utmost importance. The longer that disc pushes on the nerve in the spine is the greater chance of permanent damage. Teaching schools often have a neuro team at a reduced price.
A tip from my primary vet: have a prescription from your vet already in your medicine cabinet for prednisone. Administer the prednisone at the first sign of IVDD to decrease swelling and inflammation on the spine. This is to buy you some time while you call around to find the best place to go. When I say “buy time” it’s not to sit around for multiple days on prednisone it’s a day or two at most till the neuro visit is lined up.
Can you believe in this day and age, too many still think putting a dog to sleep is a treatment for disc disease? Let's all get the word out…. the two treatments are: conservative or surgical https://dodgerslist.com/emergency-treatment-options/
