While any dog can suffer intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), smaller breeds and breeds with longer backs are particularly susceptible. Disc degeneration usually happens gradually over a dog's lifetime, though the onset of symptoms is usually sudden. Your dog requires immediate veterinary attention if they exhibit any symptoms of IVDD. Treatment can range from administering medication to surgical intervention, and prognoses vary depending on the extent of disc damage.
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Spinal Physiology
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Your dog's spine consists of a series of vertebrae separated by discs. Discs provide cushioning from the attendant impacts of running and jumping. Their exteriors are composed of a mesh of fibrous tissue, and their interior is filled with a gelatinous mixture of fluid and cartilage. The spinal cord rests above the discs, threaded through the vertebrae.
Dogs at Risk
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IVDD most often afflicts dogs between three and seven years old. Smaller dogs bred for dwarfism, such as the Pekinese, Lhasa Apso and Cocker spaniel, are particularly susceptible to spinal problems and are prone to suffer IVDD at an earlier age than larger breeds. Obesity is also a factor in IVDD, as the dog's extra weight adds stress to the midpoint of the spine, the location where disc damage most frequently occurs.
IVDD Onset
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When a disc herniates, the disc's contents bulge outward and exert pressure on the spinal cord, restricting or blocking transmission of nerve impulses along the spine, while a ruptured disc spills its contents into the spinal column. While a single instance of trauma can result in a herniated or ruptured disc, disc degeneration usually occurs slowly, the result of years of cumulative forelimb impacts from jumping and playing.
Symptoms
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The most prominent IVDD symptom is extreme pain. A middle back injury will cause your dog to arch his back, while a disc injury in his neck will make him reluctant to move his head, even to eat or drink. Lower disc damage can result in partial to complete paralysis. Your dog will move awkwardly and have particular difficulty climbing stairs. Partial to complete incontinence can occur following disc trauma.
Treatment and Prognosis
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Mild IVDD symptoms are typically treated with medication. Your dog will be prescribed an anti-inflammatory steroid such as prednisone and may be prescribed painkillers as well. Surgical intervention is taken when the symptoms are particularly severe. A reliable prognosis usually can't be given until your dog has had several weeks for recovery, though prognosis for dogs who can feel pain in their limbs is much better than for dogs who lose sensation.
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