Alrighty- let’s talk intervertebral disc disease in dogs and cats. What a mouthful… this is also known as IVDD. When a pet has IVDD the disc (soft squishy cushion) that sits between the vertebrae (bones that protect the spinal cord) either bulges or bursts. When the disc herniates, it puts pressure on the nerves which can cause pain, nerve damage, and even paralysis. This is similar to when humans have a disc bulge or hernia in their back. Some of the symptoms of a dog or cat with IVDD include hesitancy or inability to jump (on the couch, bed, or even obstacles in agility training), pain/ weakness in the rear legs, crying in pain, anxious behavior, muscle spasms, reduced appetite, or even loss of bladder/ bowel control.

How is intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) diagnosed in dogs or cats? Certified chiropractors and/or veterinarians start by completing a neurologic exam which helps figure out what area of the spine is being affected. From there, x-rays can help determine if there is anything abnormal going on with the physical vertebrae of the spine. An x-ray can also show if the space between the vertebrae is smaller or shows signs of degeneration which would be an indicator that that area may be where the disc bulge is occurring. Based on that information, a certified chiropractor can actually check to see if there is restricted movement in that segment using motion palpation. If there is restricted movement, a gentle chiropractic adjustment can actually help to restore motion, take pressure off of the nerve, and allow fluid to get into that area to promote healing which oftentimes leads to a lessening in the severity of the symptoms. Along with chiropractic care, veterinarians may also recommend anti-inflammatory medication, muscle relaxers, and crate rest. After a couple of chiropractic adjustments the dog or cat may show signs that conservative care has been helpful. If the animal is able to walk better and wants to play more, if the muscle spasms improve and their appetite improves this would all be good indicators that conservative care was beneficial. If the dog or cat does not improve, more testing may be necessary starting with either a myelogram or MRI. Based on the severity of what the testing shows, surgery may be needed to open up the space by removing part of the vertebrae or disc which would take pressure off of the nerves. Surgery is for worst case scenarios. There are different stages of disc degeneration which is listed below:

• Stage I disc disease produces mild pain and is usually self-correcting in a few days.
• Stage II disc disease causes moderate to severe pain in the neck or lumbar (lower back) area.
• Stage III disc disease causes partial paralysis (paresis) and results in the dog walking in staggering or uncoordinated movements.
• Stage IV disc disease causes paralysis but the ability to feel is present.
• Stage V disc disease causes paralysis and loss of feeling.

Having a pet who has IVDD can be very stressful. One of the best things to do as a pet mom or dad is to do your best to prevent IVDD from happening at all. Keeping dogs and cats at a healthy weight helps to reduce stress on their back. When going on walks, harnesses also help to keep stress off of their neck especially if your pet tends to pull. For smaller, longer back dogs like dachshunds and basset hounds, steps or ramps to get up on furniture or into the car can help prevent injury. Jumping and landing from jumping seem to be one of the more common causes of disc injuries. Preventative chiropractic adjustments are also very helpful. Certified animal chiropractors are trained to check all of the joints in dogs, cats, horses, and even some exotic animals. Joints that have limited or no motion tend to degenerate. Areas that have degeneration or decreased disc spaces are areas that are more likely to have disc herniations and disc bulges which results in IVDD.