IVDD in Dogs: What Every Pet Owner Needs to Know About Back and Neck Disc Disease

What Is IVDD?

Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is a condition in which the cushioning discs between the vertebrae of the spine degenerate, bulge, or rupture — pressing on the spinal cord or nerve roots. It is one of the most common neurological conditions we treat at Bentonville Veterinary Specialists, and it can range from mild back pain to sudden paralysis.

While any dog can develop disc disease, certain breeds are at significantly higher risk. These are called chondrodystrophic breeds — dogs with long spines and short legs whose discs begin to mineralize and degenerate much earlier in life than other dogs. In some Dachshunds, disc mineralization has been detected as early as 3 months of age.

Which Breeds Are Most Affected?

Chondrodystrophic breeds — those with a genetic predisposition to early disc degeneration — are most commonly affected by IVDD. These include:

• Dachshunds (by far the most commonly affected)
• French Bulldogs
• Corgis
• Basset Hounds
• Shih Tzus
• Beagles
• Cocker Spaniels

That said, larger breeds can also develop disc disease — particularly in the neck region — so IVDD should be on the radar for any dog showing signs of spinal pain or neurological weakness.

Additional risk factors include obesity and high-impact jumping activity, both of which place extra stress on the spine over time.

Where Does IVDD Most Commonly Occur?

The anatomy of the dog's spine makes certain regions more vulnerable than others. The area where the relatively rigid thoracic spine meets the more flexible lumbar spine — called the thoracolumbar junction — bears the most mechanical stress. As a result, the majority of disc herniations in dogs occur between T11 and L3 (the mid-back region).

The neck (cervical spine) is the second most common location, and disc herniations there can cause front leg weakness, neck pain, or in severe cases, all-four-limb dysfunction.

Types of IVDD

There are three main types of disc herniation in dogs:

• Hansen Type I (disc extrusion): The disc's inner material ruptures suddenly through the outer layer and compresses the spinal cord. This is the most common type in chondrodystrophic breeds and often causes acute, severe signs.
• Hansen Type II (disc protrusion): The disc bulges gradually without fully rupturing. More common in larger, older dogs and typically causes a slower progression of symptoms.
• Hansen Type III (acute non-compressive extrusion): A high-velocity disc extrusion that causes concussive injury to the spinal cord with minimal ongoing compression. Often seen after sudden activity or trauma.

Recognizing the Signs of IVDD

IVDD can present very differently depending on which disc is affected and how severely. Neurological function is lost in a predictable order as the condition worsens — from pain, to difficulty walking, to loss of bladder control, to loss of deep pain sensation. Recognizing early signs is critical, because the sooner treatment begins, the better the outcome.

Early warning signs include:

• Reluctance to jump up or go up stairs
• Crying out when touched along the back or neck
• Hunched posture or a tucked-up abdomen
• Stiffness or an unusual gait
• Decreased activity or reluctance to move

More advanced signs include:

• Wobbling, stumbling, or crossing of the hind legs (ataxia)
• Weakness in the hind limbs (paraparesis)
• Inability to walk (paraplegia)
• Loss of bladder or bowel control
• Loss of the ability to feel pain in the hind limbs — a serious sign requiring emergency evaluation

If your dog is showing any of these signs, do not wait. The window for the best possible recovery narrows quickly once neurological deficits appear.

How Is IVDD Diagnosed?

Diagnosis begins with a thorough neurological examination to localize where in the spine the problem is occurring. From there, imaging is essential.

X-rays can sometimes suggest disc disease — showing narrowed disc spaces or calcified discs — but they are not reliable for confirming a diagnosis or pinpointing the exact location of compression. Importantly, there is a poor correlation between what X-rays show and where the actual problem is.

Advanced imaging — either CT or MRI — is required to accurately diagnose IVDD and plan treatment. At BVS, we use a GE 32-slice CT scanner, which provides detailed, high-resolution images of spinal compression quickly and with minimal anesthesia time. MRI offers additional prognostic information and can distinguish between active and old disc herniations, which is valuable when a dog has had multiple episodes.

One important point: neurological grade does not reliably predict the degree of spinal cord compression. A 1996 study found that 80% of dogs with back pain and no neurological deficits had significant spinal cord compression on imaging. This is why advanced imaging matters even when a dog "just seems sore."

Treatment Options: Medical vs. Surgical

Treatment for IVDD falls into two broad categories: conservative (medical) management and surgical intervention. The right choice depends on the severity of signs, how quickly they developed, and how the dog responds to initial treatment.

Conservative Management

Conservative treatment is appropriate for dogs with mild signs — typically pain only, with no or minimal neurological deficits — and involves:

• Strict rest for approximately 6 weeks to allow the annulus fibrosus (the outer disc wall) to heal
• Pain medications, muscle relaxants, and anti-inflammatory drugs to improve comfort
• Physical therapy and, in some cases, electroacupuncture — which has shown benefit for pain relief and even for dogs with chronic deep pain loss

Conservative treatment can be effective: approximately 80% of dogs that are still walking at the time of treatment will improve, and about 65% of dogs that can no longer walk will also improve. However, there is an important caveat — conservative treatment does not address the underlying spinal cord compression. The cord continues to sustain gradual damage during the recovery period, and recurrence rates are high: 55% of dogs treated conservatively experience recurrence of spinal pain within the first year, and 31% develop ataxia or hind limb weakness again.

Surgical Treatment

Surgery is the preferred treatment in many cases — particularly when neurological deficits are present, when pain is not rapidly controlled with medications, or when the dog has had prior episodes. The goal of surgery is to directly relieve compression on the spinal cord and nerve roots.

The outcomes with surgery are significantly better:

• ~95% of dogs with intact deep pain sensation recover the ability to walk after surgery
• 50–60% of dogs that have lost deep pain sensation still recover with prompt surgical intervention
• Recovery is faster and less painful than with conservative management
• When adjacent high-risk disc spaces are also treated at the time of surgery (a procedure called fenestration), recurrence rates drop to just 2–7% — compared to 55% with conservative treatment alone

Timing matters enormously. Prolonged spinal cord compression leads to irreversible changes in the cord tissue (gliosis and myelomalacia). Dogs that lose deep pain sensation are in a race against time — the sooner surgery is performed, the better the chance of a meaningful recovery.

What Happens If IVDD Is Left Untreated?

Without treatment, ongoing compression of the spinal cord causes progressive, permanent damage. Nerve fibers degenerate in a process called Wallerian degeneration. Chronic compression leads to demyelination — the loss of the protective sheath around nerve fibers — which can result in permanent paralysis.

This is why we take IVDD seriously even when a dog "just has back pain." The degree of compression cannot be assessed without imaging, and significant compression can exist even in dogs with no obvious neurological signs.

When Should You Call Us?

Contact us or your primary care veterinarian immediately if your dog:

• Cries out suddenly or seems painful along the back or neck
• Begins stumbling, wobbling, or dragging a limb
• Loses the ability to walk
• Cannot feel you touching or pinching their hind paws

Loss of deep pain sensation is a neurological emergency. If your dog cannot feel their back legs, please seek emergency evaluation immediately — do not wait until morning.

Why Choose a Board-Certified Surgeon for IVDD?

IVDD surgery requires precise localization of the affected disc, careful decompression of the spinal cord, and — when indicated — fenestration of adjacent discs to reduce recurrence. These are technically demanding procedures that benefit from the training and experience of a board-certified veterinary surgeon.

At Bentonville Veterinary Specialists, our surgeons have completed years of advanced residency training specifically in neurological and orthopedic surgery. We combine that expertise with advanced imaging, dedicated anesthesia monitoring, and a team that specializes in surgical recovery — giving your dog the best possible chance at a full return to function.

If your dog has been diagnosed with IVDD or is showing signs of spinal pain or weakness, we welcome referrals from primary care veterinarians throughout Northwest Arkansas. Contact us to learn more or to schedule a consultation.