Companion Animal Welfare

Dog Welfare: Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) Prevention

IVDD is a serious and painful spinal condition common in chondrodystrophic breeds, causing paralysis and requiring welfare-focused prevention and management.

Key Facts

IVDD is most common in Dachshunds, Beagles, French Bulldogs, and Cocker Spaniels
Disc herniation compresses the spinal cord, causing pain, weakness, and paralysis
Dogs with IVDD benefit from ramp access to furniture rather than jumping
Physiotherapy and weight management reduce recurrence risk after treatment
MRI scanning allows accurate diagnosis and guides surgical decision-making

Welfare Considerations

IVDD causes acute severe pain and potentially permanent paralysis. Prevention through weight management, restricted jumping, and avoiding activities that stress the spine is far preferable to treatment. For affected dogs, appropriate analgesia and rapid specialist referral significantly improve welfare outcomes and long-term prognosis.

What You Can Do

Provide ramps rather than stairs for at-risk breeds
Maintain healthy weight in chondrodystrophic dogs to reduce disc stress
Seek prompt specialist advice if your dog shows signs of spinal pain or weakness