Disc Dilemmas: Intervertebral Disc Disease in Dogs

Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is a common condition among dogs, especially older dogs and long-backed breeds. This degenerative disease causes pain and weakness along the spine, alters mobility, and increases the risk for disc herniation or rupture—a potentially emergent situation.

If your dog has been diagnosed with IVDD, your knowledge and care  can help them live more comfortably and potentially slow progresssion.

What is intervertebral disc disease?

From your dog’s neck to their tail base, the spinal cord is located in a protective tunnel formed by 30 bony vertebrae. Between the vertebrae, gel-like discs provide a cushion, allowing the spine to bend and flex. Unfortunately, when these discs are placed under pressure such as a sudden impact, trauma, or natural age-related deterioration, the disc or its contents can move upward and press on the spinal cord and its associated nerves. Depending on the degree of compression, dogs can experience mild to severe pain, weakness, or paralysis.

IVDD signs in dogs

You’d be hard-pressed to overlook your dog’s sudden inability to walk or rise, but there are many other, less obvious ways that IVDD can present itself such as:

• Changes in posture — This includes how your dog stands, sits, rests, and moves from one position to the next. Depending on which part of your pet’s spine is injured, they may hold their head low, arch their back, or struggle to posture to defecate.
• Uncoordinated gait — Wobbly or ataxic walking can indicate weakness and pain. These dogs may stumble or drag one or more limbs. 
• Reluctance to move — These dogs may shake or tremble and are extremely painful. 

• Reluctance to jump or use stairs — These movements can worsen pain. Dogs may comply but will hesitate or perform the action hastily or clumsily.

• Hesitation to eat or drink — Neck pain can make it painful for your dog to lower their head.

• Vocalizing — If you’ve ever experienced nerve pain, you know its sharp, stabbing sensations can make you yelp, too!

• Behaving aggressively or hiding — Pets can’t rationalize pain but they do have the instinctive need to protect themselves. Some dogs may lash out while others avoid social contact

Pain is always a strong indicator that your dog needs prompt veterinary care, but sudden mobility loss, extreme weakness, collapse, loss of coordination, and severe pain are veterinary emergencies. Seek immediate veterinary attention if your dog shows any of these signs.

After diagnosis: IVDD treatment for dogs

Dogs with IVDD are managed based on the severity of their injury. If the spinal cord is compressed, surgery is required within 72 hours to preserve or restore the pet’s mobility. Still, dogs must undergo a lengthy recovery process and physical rehabilitation to regain strength and the ability to walk. Moderate to mild cases may be conservatively managed with aggressive pain management and strict crate rest for at least a few weeks. 

In all of these cases, decreasing compression, pain, and inflammation/swelling are the primary goals. If pain and inflammation aren’t well managed, dogs experience persistent discomfort, reduced mobility, spinal arthritis, and a significantly reduced quality of life. After their initial recovery, dogs with IVDD must be carefully monitored for relapse. 

Living with IVDD: Supporting your dog’s spinal health

IVDD is an incurable, chronic condition but that doesn’t mean your pet can’t enjoy an incredible quality of life. There are many powerful and effective ways you can influence your dog’s future health and mobility by supporting their spinal health. My favorites include:

• Managing pain — Early and appropriate pain management during flare-ups keeps your dog comfortable and reduces harmful inflammation. Your veterinarian can help you create your dog’s unique pain management protocol, which may include a combination of crate rest, medications, laser therapy, thermotherapy (i.e., heat or cold), shockwave treatments, acupuncture, or massage. 

• Keeping your pet lean — Extra weight puts an incredible strain on your pet’s already vulnerable spine. 

• Avoiding high-impact activity — Your dog may love catching a disc or hurtling themselves after their ball, but these concussive games put enormous stress and pressure on the spine. Safer options include swimming, walking, hiking on easy trails, and activities such as nose work or tracking.

• Building core strength — Your dog’s abdominal core muscles can provide crucial support to the weakest areas of the spine. In addition, a well-developed core decreases injury risk by helping your dog move with greater efficiency. Work with a certified rehabilitation veterinarian to design an exercise program for your dog.
• Modifying your dog’s home environment — Reduce daily challenges that could injure your dog’s spine by installing pet ramps to decrease jumping and stair climbing, laying down rugs or non-slip mats over slick surfaces to prevent slipping and falling, and replacing lumpy bedding with a supportive orthopedic dog bed.

Promote healthy mobility with joint-enhancing supplements

There’s a saying in veterinary medicine that motion is the lotion, meaning that your dog’s mobility has a protective element to not only their ability to walk, run, and play, but their overall health as well. Mobility is LIFE for pets, and we must do everything we can to protect and improve it—namely by decreasing pain and inflammation.

Feed your dog’s spine and joint health by supplementing their diet with powerful anti-inflammatories such as:

• Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) — ALA is an incredible antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that has been clinically proven to improve back pain in humans. ALA also provides brain health benefits and can ease arthritis pain. 
• Rapamycin — Rapamycin is a prescription medication with astounding longevity benefits, which you can read about here. Among its many features is its impressive anti-inflammatory properties which can calm spinal inflammation and help your pet enjoy a comfortable, active life.

• Longevity Plus — This supplement is a game changer for dogs with IVDD. By blending curcumin, Boswellia, and ashwagandha, Longevity Plus provides potent pain and inflammation relief while also strengthening your dog’s immune system against other common health threats such as cancer, allergies, infections, and viruses.

IVDD can be a frightening diagnosis. Whether your dog experiences sudden paralysis or a more gradual mobility change, you want to do everything you can to take away the pain and limitations of this progressive disease. Lucky for you, you’re in the right place to take the first step toward a healthier, happier, longer-lived dog. 

Start your journey by downloading our free ebook, exploring our line of spinal health supplements, or scheduling a concierge consultation to unlock the secrets of Helping Pets Live Longer.