Slipped disc in dogs – symptoms and treatment

Overview

Intervertebral discs are flexible structures between the vertebrae that cushion loads on the spine.

Intervertebral disc disease, or IVDD, is a common cause of back pain in dogs.

The estimated lifetime prevalence in dogs is about 3.5%.

About 65% of disc problems occur in the thoracic and lumbar spine, the mid-to-lower back.

About 18% occur in the neck alone.

The condition has also been informally nicknamed 'Dachshund paralysis'.

However, it is not limited to Dachshunds and occurs in many other breeds too.

Factors affecting treatment choice include whether the dog can walk unaided or is paralysed.

A gradually bulging disc and a suddenly rupturing disc can therefore cause different patterns of illness.

Causes

A disc has an outer ring of cartilage and a soft, jelly-like centre.

A degenerating disc may become calcified, reducing its flexibility.

When a disc ruptures, disc material is pushed towards the spinal cord.

An acute herniation can damage the spinal cord through both compression and impact.

The duration of compression also affects the extent of injury.

In large dogs, age-related fibrous changes can cause a gradually developing disc protrusion.

A non-degenerated disc can also rupture suddenly during activity in a young dog.

In this situation, the spinal cord may suffer an impact injury without an accumulation of material causing persistent compression.

In susceptible short-legged breeds, structural disc changes can begin within the first months of life.

In slowly developing disc disease in a large dog, the gait often becomes gradually unsteady and the limbs weaken.

Risk factors

Short-legged breeds predisposed to disc degeneration include Dachshunds, French Bulldogs, Beagles, Shih Tzus, Lhasa Apsos and Pekingese.

Lifetime prevalence in Miniature Dachshunds has been estimated at about 20%.

In susceptible short-legged breeds, symptoms usually begin at 3–6 years of age.

In dogs such as Labrador Retrievers and German Shepherds, the usual age of onset is 5–12 years.

An extra copy of the FGF4 gene on chromosome 12 predisposes dogs to early disc degeneration.

Almost all Dachshunds inherit this gene variant from both parents.

Nevertheless, the severity of degeneration varies between dogs.

Disc calcification may be visible on X-rays in a susceptible dog as early as two years of age, before the usual age of symptom onset.

Typical symptoms

Symptoms depend on which disc is affected.

• Your dog avoids turning their head in a particular direction.

• Your dog approaches the food bowl but will not lower their head to eat; a raised bowl may seem easier.

• The back becomes arched and your dog is reluctant to move.

• The hindquarters are unsteady, and the back legs may cross when walking.

• The back legs become so weak that your dog can no longer get up unaided.

• Normal bladder control or emptying is no longer possible.

• A herniated disc in the neck may also cause front-leg lameness.

Severe pain can change even a familiar dog's behaviour: they may growl or snap when handled.

Painful spasms may occur in the neck muscles.

Complications and consequences

Spinal cord injury and outlook

Loss of deep pain perception indicates severe spinal cord injury.

When pain perception is preserved, limb function returns after surgery in about 90% of dogs.

With medical treatment, the corresponding proportion is about 60–80%.

When pain perception is completely absent, limb function returns after surgery in about 50–60%.

Without surgery, the corresponding estimate is below 10%.

In studied groups of dogs with acute thoracolumbar disc herniation, 61% of dogs with paralysed back legs and no pain perception regained the ability to walk after surgery.

In studies of the same type of thoracolumbar herniation, the corresponding result with medical treatment was 21%.

Differences between patient groups and definitions of recovery make these results difficult to compare.

A new herniation may occur later in another disc; recurrence associated with surgical treatment has been reported at about 25%.

After conservative treatment, recurrence of symptoms has been reported in 30–40%.

For disc disease in the neck, recovery after surgery has been estimated at 95% if the dog can walk before treatment.

For dogs with neck disc disease that cannot walk, the corresponding range is 65–95%.

In large dogs with chronic thoracolumbar disc protrusion, surgical recovery in those unable to walk has been estimated at 25–50%.

Urinary tract infections have been found in 17–36% of dogs during the first six weeks after surgery.

Progressive softening of the spinal cord

After severe injury, destruction of spinal cord tissue may spread forwards and backwards from the original site.

This progressive myelomalacia has been found in 10–33% of dogs with paralysed back legs and loss of deep pain perception.

It can develop between 24 hours and 14 days after the acute injury.

Progression can lead to failure of the breathing muscles.

A lower estimate of myelomalacia frequency, about 5–10%, has also been reported in acutely paralysed dogs without deep pain perception.

Diagnosis at the vet

MRI or CT can distinguish a disc problem from conditions such as a tumour around the spine.

The vet first assesses the dog's general condition and locates the neurological injury by examining limb function.

In a paralysed dog, deep pain perception behind the injury site is assessed particularly carefully.

The limb withdrawal reflex is not the same as conscious perception of pain.

Blood and urine tests can assess the dog's other health conditions.

An ordinary X-ray may show a calcified disc or a narrowed space between vertebrae.

However, X-rays do not confirm spinal cord compression caused by a herniation reliably enough.

MRI also shows damage within the spinal cord, which can provide further information about the outlook in severe cases.

CT is particularly suitable for finding calcified disc material in a short-legged dog.

Contrast imaging of the spinal canal, called myelography, is an alternative test, but carries a risk of seizures.

In breeding screening of a young, symptom-free Dachshund, the number of calcified discs reflects the severity of degeneration throughout the back.

CT has identified herniation in 81–100% of studied cases involving a short-legged dog and a calcified disc.

CT does not show the severity of spinal cord tissue damage as comprehensively, so its value for predicting the outcome is more limited.

Treatment

Pain relief and restricted activity

Treatment for a dog with mild symptoms that can still walk may begin with rest and vet-prescribed pain relief.

Mild or moderate neurological signs may improve with 2–3 weeks of rest.

Nevertheless, at least four weeks of restricted activity is recommended for acute thoracolumbar disc herniation to support healing of the disc's outer ring.

Rest means a confined space, with the dog mainly leaving it for toilet breaks and agreed rehabilitation exercises.

Stairs, jumping onto furniture and running freely are not part of recovery.

Pain relief without rest can lead to increased activity and worsening compression.

Corticosteroids are not recommended as routine treatment for acute thoracolumbar disc herniation.

Surgery and rehabilitation

Surgery is particularly recommended for a dog that can no longer walk unaided.

Surgery removes bone and the disc material compressing the spinal cord.

For a dog with severe signs, the aim is to relieve compression as early as possible.

However, loss of pain perception and paralysis lasting more than one week do not automatically rule out regaining the ability to walk after surgery.

Discharge often takes place 3–7 days after surgery.

Activity is restricted for at least four weeks after surgery too.

Basic rehabilitation exercises include assisted standing and walking, and passive movement of the joints.

In partial spinal cord injuries, more intensive rehabilitation has not restored walking faster than basic exercises.

Recovery can take weeks to months.

A dog unable to urinate needs assistance with bladder emptying or catheterisation according to the treatment plan.

A medically treated dog with progressive signs may be monitored in hospital for 1–2 days to detect deterioration.

If surgery is not possible, conservative treatment may be attempted even for severe injury, provided there are no signs of progressive myelomalacia.

During surgery, more material may be removed from the disc's centre to reduce the risk of another rupture.

This procedure, called fenestration, may also be considered for neighbouring degenerated discs.

Fenestration alone, without relieving spinal cord compression, is unsuitable for a severe herniation that has caused loss of walking ability.

Urinary catheter use is kept as short as possible because prolonged catheterisation increases the risk of urinary tract infection.

Antibiotics are not routinely given to prevent urinary tract infections after surgery.

Acupuncture is not recommended as a substitute for surgery when spinal cord compression needs surgical treatment.

Extremely severe pain requiring strong pain relief may require hospital care until pain is adequately controlled.

Combining a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicine with a corticosteroid increases the risk of digestive adverse effects.

Supervised rehabilitation after surgery can begin between 24 hours and 14 days afterwards, depending on the dog's condition.

Rehabilitation usually continues for at least 2–6 weeks.

Prevention

Back injuries cannot always be prevented, but a lean weight and good general fitness help reduce risks.

In everyday life, reduce repeated stair use and jumping down from furniture.

A harness can replace a collar for a dog with back symptoms.

In Dachshund breeding, X-ray screening helps identify severely degenerated backs before symptoms develop.

One research-based breeding recommendation is to use dogs with no more than four calcified discs.

Selection based solely on excluding the common gene variant may harmfully narrow genetic diversity in Dachshunds.

For back screening to benefit Dachshunds, it must be carried out widely, including in dogs intended for breeding.

Important for dog owners

Bladder function needs separate monitoring during home care: urination can occur even when normal bladder function has not returned.

Adequate bladder emptying can be checked by palpation or ultrasound.

A soft, well-padded bed reduces pressure sores in a dog that cannot move.

Urine leakage can irritate the skin and predispose the dog to urinary tract infections.

Tingling associated with nerve damage can cause a dog to injure their own skin or limbs.

Ask for practical instruction in bladder emptying and home exercises before discharge. Record changes in movement, urination and pain-related behaviour for monitoring agreed with the treating vet. Assessing pain perception is the vet's responsibility; do not test it yourself by squeezing toes.

When needed, bladder emptying is assisted 3–4 times daily, but the method and suitable frequency are taught for each individual dog.

Bladder function may remain below normal even six weeks after mobility returns.

Frequently asked questions

Can a slipped disc improve without surgery?

Yes. A dog that can walk and has mild symptoms can often be treated with restricted activity and pain relief. Surgery is considered if neurological signs progress or pain persists despite appropriate treatment. Recovery with medical treatment usually takes longer than recovery after surgery.

Does pulling a back leg away mean pain perception is preserved?

Not necessarily: withdrawal can be a reflex even if the dog does not consciously feel pain. Assessing deep pain perception is the vet's responsibility. Do not squeeze your dog's toes at home to imitate the examination; worsening walking or urination is enough reason to seek assessment.

Is surgery pointless if paralysis has lasted more than a day?

Not automatically: some dogs have regained the ability to walk even after deep pain perception was absent for a week or longer before surgery. Nevertheless, severe neurological deficits support operating as early as possible. Preserved pain perception is a key finding when assessing the outlook.

Does a slipped disc show on an ordinary X-ray?

An X-ray may show calcified disc material, for example. However, a definite herniation diagnosis requires MRI, CT or contrast imaging, because ordinary X-rays are not accurate enough. The number of calcifications in breeding screening reflects degeneration, rather than directly identifying an acute symptom. The investigation is chosen according to the dog's symptoms and the injury's location.

Can my dog go for walks as soon as the pain improves?

Pain relief does not remove the need for restricted activity, because increased activity can worsen spinal cord compression. At least four weeks of restriction is recommended for acute thoracolumbar herniation, with toilet breaks and individually supervised rehabilitation exercises fitted into the plan. Free exercise, stairs and jumping onto furniture are excluded during the rest period.