IVDD in Dachshunds

IVDD (Intervertebral Disc Disease) is a condition where the cushioning discs between the vertebrae of your dog's spine degenerate, bulge or rupture. When disc material presses on the spinal cord, it can cause pain, weakness, and in severe cases paralysis.

Dachshunds are genetically predisposed: their elongated backs and a form of early disc degeneration (chondrodystrophy) mean roughly 1 in 4 will show signs of IVDD in their lifetime.

• Reluctance to jump, climb stairs, or be picked up
• Yelping when moving or being touched near the back
• A hunched or roached back posture
• Shivering, panting, or restlessness that seems pain-related
• Wobbly, uncoordinated back legs; crossing over; knuckling
• Dragging one or both hind legs
• Loss of bladder or bowel control

Sudden hind-leg weakness or paralysis is an emergency. Contact a vet immediately.

• Breed & genetics — Dachshunds are the highest-risk breed.
• Age — most cases appear between 3 and 7 years.
• Weight — even mild excess weight significantly increases risk.
• Jumping & stairs — repetitive high-impact movement.
• Poor conformation — extreme length-to-height ratios raise risk.

• Keep your dog at a lean, healthy weight — ribs easily felt, visible waist.
• Use ramps or steps for sofas, beds and car boots.
• Limit stair use and discourage jumping off furniture.
• Support the chest and hindquarters when picking up — never dangle.
• Use a harness rather than a neck collar for walks.
• Build core and hind-limb strength with vet-approved gentle exercise.

• Immediately (emergency): any hind-leg paralysis, dragging, loss of bladder/bowel control, or severe pain.
• Within 24 hours: new wobbliness, knuckling, or refusal to move.
• At your next visit: subtle posture changes, occasional stiffness, or mild reluctance to jump.

Owners are with their dogs every day, but subtle changes in posture, topline and body condition are easy to miss. DachsCheck uses AI vision to compare each scan against Dachshund-specific reference points and flag early warning signs — before they become an emergency.

Regular scans also give you a timeline: an amber signal that appears where you saw green last month is a much clearer prompt to call your vet.