Research:
What is intervertebral disc disease (IVDD)?
- Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is the most common spinal disease in dogs and is also seen occasionally in cats. The most common spinal surgery performed in the dog is for intervertebral disc disease.
- Intervertebral discs are fibrocartilaginous cushions between the vertebrae (except the first two cervical vertebrae) that allow movement, are supportive and act as shock absorbers.
- They consist of a fibrous outer rim, the annulus fibrosis, and a jelly like centre, the nucleus pulposus. intervertebral disc degeneration results in diminished shock-absorbing capacity, and can ultimately lead to disc herniation and spinal cord compression.
Causes
- Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is an age-related, degenerative condition. However certain, ‘at-risk’ dogs (chondrodystrophic breeds and crosses) can suffer disc problems from when they are young adult dogs.
- Disc degeneration is thought to occur because of loss of the disc to “hold water” becoming dehydrated. Chondrodystrophic dogs, which characteristically have disproportionably short and curved limbs, for example, the Basset Hound, Dachshund, Lucas Terriers, Sealyhams and Shih Tzus.
- Thus chondrodystrophoid dogs suffer early degenerative changes in the disc making them likely to herniate. When intervertebral discs of chondrodystrophic dogs degenerate, they can calcify making the discs visible on radiographs.
IVDD for Dachshunds
Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) is by far the most common health problem in UK Dachshunds: around 1 in 4 may be affected at some stage in their lives. Whilst many recover well in time, there is significant risk of permanent damage so severe it is life changing or threatening. On this website, you can find out more about the causes, symptoms, treatments, expense, how to reduce the risks, plus details of our IVDD screening initiative.
Why are Dachshunds at risk?
Did you know the Dachshund is a short-legged breed, not a long-backed one? It's the genetics of short legs that pre-dispose Dachshunds to back disease.
All dogs' discs degenerate with age; they lose water, become more fibrous and sometimes mineralised. Degeneration of a Dachshund's discs happens at a much younger age than in dogs with normal length legs. Read more about calcified discs.
The two main types of disc disease are known as Hansen Type 1 and Type 2. Dachshunds suffer from Type 1.
Prevention
It’s always best if you can prevent a disc from bulging/bursting in the first place. With IVDD, discs become more susceptible to bursting over time as the outer fibrous layer hardens and loses its elasticity. Bursting usually occurs from some sort of impact or sharp movement, like wrestling, jumping off or over things, stairs, an injury, etc.
Here are some good tips on how to prevent an injury:
- Keep your dog strong! A strong back puts less stress on the discs themselves to absorb impacts.
- Don’t let your dog do stairs! Here at Crusoe’s house, we have baby gates set up at the top and bottom of all staircases.
- Use ramps for couches and beds.
What already exists?
- Stories based on existing Dachshund owners experience with IVDD
- Websites with online information - https://www.dachshund-ivdd.uk/
- Dog health blogs
What's missing?
A physical informative approach focused on IVDD - this could be useful for dog owners and could be placed in context at Veterinary clinics.
Further development
Through identifying a refined common problem among the dachshund breed IVDD. As well as research identifying what formats already exists, there are no focused physical informative material for owners at the minute and putting the leaflet in context by placing a leaflet in Veterinary clinics would be useful for dog owners to have both as an informative preventive measure where possible. The leaflet can also show there are some symptoms to look out for as well as some solutions.
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