Intervertebral disc disease in chondrodystrophic breeds causes severe pain and paralysis, with preventive management reducing but not eliminating risk.
IVDD causes acute severe pain and, when untreated, permanent paralysis. The conformation that predisposes affected breeds to IVDD is a human-created welfare problem. Preventive management reduces but cannot eliminate risk. Breed standard reform to reduce chondrodystrophic conformation would prevent the underlying cause.