An Owner’s Guide to IVDD
From recognising the signs to recovery
Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD), also known as slipped disc, is one of the most common spinal conditions affecting dogs.
For owners, the diagnosis can feel overwhelming. One dog may only have back pain, while another may suddenly struggle to walk. Some recover with conservative management, while others require surgery.
The important thing to understand is that IVDD exists on a spectrum.
This guide covers the important things owners need to know: how to recognise the signs, what happens after diagnosis, treatment options, recovery and rehabilitation.
1. What is IVDD?
Your dog’s spine is made up of individual bones called vertebrae, with soft discs sitting between them.
These discs help cushion the spine and allow it to move.
With IVDD, a disc becomes damaged and may bulge or rupture. When disc material presses against the spinal cord, it can cause pain and neurological changes.
Depending on how severely the spinal cord is affected, you may see anything from discomfort to weakness, unsteadiness or paralysis.
2. Why do dogs get IVDD?
Chondrodystrophic breeds
Some dogs are genetically predisposed to earlier degeneration of their spinal discs.
The centre of the disc becomes dehydrated and may mineralise, making it more likely to rupture suddenly.
This is particularly common in breeds such as:
Dachshunds
French Bulldogs
Corgis
Beagles
Shih Tzus
Pekingese
Degenerative disc disease
Other dogs tend to develop slower, progressive changes within the discs as they age.
Rather than suddenly extruding, the disc may gradually protrude into the spinal canal.
This form is more commonly seen in older, larger dogs, although dogs of any breed can develop disc disease.
While breed can increase risk, IVDD is multifactorial.
Age, disc degeneration, activity, body condition and individual anatomy may all contribute.
3. Can IVDD be prevented?
There is currently no guaranteed way to prevent IVDD, particularly in genetically predisposed dogs. However, supporting good general conditioning and reducing avoidable stresses may help support long-term spinal health.
4. Early signs owners commonly miss
IVDD does not always start with a dog suddenly being unable to walk.
Sometimes the first clue is simply that your dog is moving differently from usual.
When should I see a vet?
Seek veterinary attention if you suspect spinal pain.
‼️ More urgent signs include:
weakness
wobbliness
knuckling
difficulty standing
inability to walk
changes in bladder/bowel control
rapidly worsening symptoms
5. How is IVDD diagnosed?
Your veterinarian will first perform a physical and neurological examination. This helps determine where the problem may be and how severe it is. Advanced imaging may then be recommended.
MRI is generally considered the gold-standard imaging modality for IVDD, particularly because it allows the spinal cord, discs and surrounding soft tissues to be assessed in detail.
CT can also be very useful in certain cases, particularly when mineralised disc material is suspected.
The most appropriate imaging will depend on your dog’s presentation and your veterinary team’s recommendations.
6. What does IVDD grading mean?
IVDD is commonly graded according to the severity of neurological signs. At the milder end, a dog may have pain but still walk normally. As spinal cord involvement becomes more severe, you may see:
Pain → unsteadiness → weakness → inability to walk → paralysis
The neurological grade helps guide treatment decisions and prognosis.
7. Conservative management or surgery?
Not every dog with IVDD requires surgery.
Dogs with milder neurological signs may be managed conservatively, but you should discuss the options with your vet. Your vet will advise on the most appropriate approach based onyour dog’s:
Condition
Neurological signs
Pain levels
Overall health
Conservative management usually includes:
prescribed medication
restricted activity
controlled rehabilitation
gradual return to activity
Surgery may be recommended when neurological deficits are more severe, the dog loses the ability to walk, symptoms are worsening, or pain cannot be adequately controlled.
The decision should be made with your vet and is based on the individual dog.
8. Understanding recovery
Different tissues heal at different speeds. Your dog may look better on the outside while deeper tissues and the nervous system are still recovering.
🩹 Surgical wound & soft tissues
Timeline | What’s happening & what to do |
First few days |
|
~10–14 days |
|
Following weeks–months |
|
⚠️ Contact your veterinary team if the wound becomes increasingly red, swollen, hot or painful, develops discharge, opens, or your dog becomes unwell.
🦴 Disc & surrounding tissues
Timeline | What’s happening & what to do |
First 4–6 weeks |
|
After 4–6 weeks |
|
Following weeks–months |
Many dogs make substantial progress by around 12 weeks, but recovery may continue for several months, depending on the severity of the spinal cord injury and neurological status. |
Feeling better does not mean the underlying tissues have fully healed.
⚡ Nerve healing
Spinal cord recovery is less predictable and often takes longer.
Timeline | What may happen |
Days–weeks |
|
Weeks–months |
Progress may not be linear. |
Months & beyond |
|
There is no fixed nerve-healing timeline. Recovery depends largely on the severity of the original spinal cord injury and your dog’s neurological status.
9. Setting up your home for IVDD recovery
A good home setup helps prevent uncontrolled movements while still allowing your dog to move safely during recovery.
Illustration created with the assistance of AI for educational purposes.
10. Rehabilitation after IVDD
Rehabilitation is tailored to your dog's stage of recovery. It starts with understanding where your dog is now, before deciding what support and exercises are appropriate.
A rehabilitation assessment looks at your dog's movement and function as a whole:
🧠 N – Neurological Assessment
🦴 I – Individual Joint Health
💪 M – Muscle Profile
⚙️ B – Biomechanical Analysis
🐾 L – Locomotor Analysis
📋 E – Evaluation
This helps guide an individual rehabilitation plan based on your dog's needs.
2. Early rehabilitation
Early rehabilitation doesn't necessarily mean strenuous exercise. Depending on your dog's condition, the initial focus may include:
maintaining joint mobility
supported standing
safe, controlled movement
assisted walking where appropriate
Treatment may also include manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, gait retraining, hydrotherapy, supportive equipment or selected rehabilitation modalities, where appropriate.
3. As recovery progresses
As neurological function improve, rehabilitation can gradually progress towards:
rebuilding strength
improving balance and postural control
paw placement and coordination
gait retraining
building endurance
returning to everyday activities
Rehabilitation should progress with your dog's individual recovery. The goal isn't simply to do more exercise, but to provide the right challenge at the right stage of recovery.
11. Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my dog still knuckling?
Knuckling occurs when your dog places the top of their paw on the ground instead of correcting its position.
After a spinal cord injury, the pathways responsible for sensing and correcting paw position may still be recovering so walking may return before paw placement and coordination fully recover.
Rehabilitation can help practise appropriate standing, stepping and coordinated movement as neurological recovery continues.
Can IVDD happen again?
Yes. Treating one affected disc does not prevent other discs from degenerating in the future.
Recurrence varies between dogs, with studies reporting a wide range of recurrence rates depending on treatment, breed and other factors.
Long-term management focuses on maintaining a healthy body condition, appropriate exercise, good traction and sensible management of repeated high-impact activities.
Knowing your dog's early signs can also help you recognise a possible recurrence quickly.
When can my dog use stairs again?
There is no fixed timeline for returning to stairs.
Your dog should first have sufficient strength, balance and coordination.
Reintroduce stairs when your veterinary or rehabilitation team considers it appropriate.
Can my dog jump again?
Some dogs may eventually return to jumping, depending on their recovery.
Frequent or uncontrolled jumping, particularly down from height, may not be appropriate for every dog after IVDD.
Ramps or steps can be useful for frequently accessed furniture.
When should physiotherapy start?
This depends on your dog's neurological status, treatment and veterinary recommendations.
Early rehabilitation begin with pain management, positioning, comfortable movement, joint mobility and supported standing or walking, progressing as recovery allows.
Will my dog walk normally again?
This depends largely on the severity of the spinal cord injury.
Some dogs recover quickly; others may require weeks to months of rehabilitation.
Some dogs may retain changes in gait or coordination while still achieving good functional recovery.
Final thoughts
IVDD recovery looks different for every dog. It isn't always linear, slower neurological progress does not necessarily mean your dog has stopped improving.
The important things are to:
recognise changes early
seek veterinary care
allow appropriate time for healing
gradually rebuild movement and function guided by certified rehabilitation therapists.
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