What is IVDD (Intervertebral Disc Disease) and why are Dachshunds at risk?

When we were researching the dachshund breed before getting our dog, one of the topics that we found came up again and again when we were researching was IVDD (Intervertebral Disc Disease) and you may have also come across this term when reading about the breed. It is something that is really common with dachshunds (around 1 in 4 dachshunds will have an episode during their lifetime) so it’s important to be aware of the condition, the possible risks and precautions that you may need to take as a dachshund owner. This includes ensuring that you have adequate insurance in place to cover any veterinary bills that may be needed should your dachshund be affected by IVDD and need treatment.

What is IVDD?

IVDD, which stands for Intervertebral Disc Disease (sometimes also referred to as Slipped Disc Disease) is a degenerative condition that affects the discs between the bones of the spine. 

All dogs can be affected by degeneration and calcification of their discs as they age, however for dachshunds this typically can happen at a much earlier age, in part due to their long backs which can be more easily under strain, but a number of other factors play into the potential risks. The calcification of discs can mean that they don’t absorb shock as well as a healthy disc, which can lead to disc herniation and compression of the spinal cord if subjected to a forceful movement or injury. This is an incredibly painful condition for dogs which in severe cases requires surgery and may cause paralysis or even death through the dog needing to be put to sleep.

What are the risk factors for IVDD?

As noted in the introduction, the risk of a dachshund being affected at some point in their life by IVDD is roughly 1 in 4, with it being by far the most common disease that affects the dachshund breed.

It is in part an inherited condition, with certain genes making a dog more or less susceptible to developing issues with their spine. However other external factors also have an impact too, including several lifestyle factors like diet and exercise. The risks tend to increase as the dog gets older and also if they are carrying excess weight.

How to reduce your dachshund’s risk of IVDD

It is also often advised to not let your dachshund engage in activities that may put excess stress on the back and neck, to avoid the risk of any spinal injuries. This may include not letting them go up and down stairs, or providing ramps for certain areas of the house to avoid them jumping up and down from high areas.

From personal experience, our approach with our boy was cautious but not totally restrictive, as from talking to our breeder we believed his overall inherited risk is low due to low incidence of IVDD within the previous dogs they had bred. The Kennel Club has an IVDD Scheme which some breeders may use to assess potential risks of breeding puppies with IVDD, so you can ask the breeder whether this has been done. We also read some discussion around how allowing the dog to develop their muscles to support the spine through exercise can potentially help reduce risk, provided this is not too extreme. So for example, we have always avoided letting our dog jump from high places (he will always be supervised while on the sofa or the bed) but we have let him carefully go up and down some steps once he was big enough to be able to do this unaided. However this is ultimately a personal decision as to how much risk you are prepared to take with this.

There are also considerations around use of harnesses or collars for walking dachshunds tor reduce the strain on their necks and backs. We have always preferred using a harness for this reason, and have also written a previous post about our choices of the best harnesses for dachshunds which explores this in a bit more detail.

Another significant risk factor for IVDD is linked to neutering, especially when this is done too early. There are studies that have suggested there is a higher risk of your dachshund having an IVDD episode if neutered before the age of 12-24 months, likely due to their bodies not being fully developed at this stage. The decision on whether or not to neuter your dachshund is a personal choice, however the possible links to IVDD shouldn’t be ignored here if you are looking to ensure your dog’s risk is as low as possible.

What are the signs and symptoms of IVDD?

The signs and symptoms to watch out for include:

• Any signs of severe pain in the back or neck.

• The dog may also be unwilling to move their head or neck.

• The dog may yelp when they move or are touched.

• The dog may be unable to move their limbs or to walk properly.

• If paralysed, they may also lose control of their bladder and bowel functions too.

If you suspect your dog may have IVDD or a back injury, contact your vet immediately as this can be life threatening. In the most severe cases, it does require surgery, so it’s always best to seek professional advice.

What pet insurance should you get for IVDD?

If your dachshund does sadly require surgical intervention from a vet to deal with a case of IVDD, this can run up quite a significant bill, which is why having a really solid insurance plan in place is highly recommended to ensure you don’t run into any nasty shocks if your sausage dog hurts their back. We were advised to look for a cover that provides at least £10,000 (ideally covering per condition as the surgery if required can cost this much), and that offers lifetime cover for each condition in case of recurrence, as some dachshunds can have multiple issues with IVDD through their lifetime which may leave you out of pocket.

We currently have insurance with Many Pets (formerly Bought By Many) as they offer a policy that covers up to £15,000 per year, so we felt this gave us the most peace of mind when it comes to ensuring our boy is covered for any potential instances of IVDD. The premium wasn’t the cheapest, but we felt it was important to us to have that extra level of cover. They do offer the ability to pay the first 20% of each claim to reduce the overall monthly premium (this was the option we went with to make it more affordable). There are however several insurers out there that offer cover levels of £10,000+ so it’s worth shopping around to find the best cover for you - just make sure the policy definitely covers conditions like IVDD.

Ultimately, due to 1 in 4 dachshunds developing IVDD at some point in their lifetime, it is impossible to completely avoid it, even with taking the lowest risks and ensuring you have insurance. The most important thing - especially if you are researching the dachshund breed - is to be aware of the condition and the potential precautions to take, particularly with insurance, to cover the worst if it was to happen.