Humans aren’t the only ones with back problems or disc issues. Our furry friends also encounter them as well. Dogs often get intervertebral disc disease or dog ivdd. Some other terms or diagnoses that are used interchangeably or may be similar are: slipped disc in dogs, herniated disc in dogs, or back pain in dogs. Some owners may even wonder “did my dog pull a muscle in his back leading to leg symptoms”. First let’s talk about ivdd in dogs.
What is Dog IVDD?
Intervertebral disc disease in dogs is the most common cause of spinal dysfunction or back injury in dogs. This most often occurs in an aging dog and is a degenerative process where the discs deteriorate and push on the spinal cord. IVDD in dogs often goes undetected. It is most common in short leg dogs (beagles, shih tsu’s, dachshunds, etc.), but can happen in any dog.
IVDD can lead to disc herniations, but disc herniations can also happen independently in any dog.
Can A Dog Recover From IVDD Without Surgery?
I get this question all the time, as people often are only told about pain meds and surgery. The overwhelming answer is yes! IVDD and disc herniations are the most common conditions that I see as a canine physical therapist and there is so much that can be done. Don’t take my word for it though. Meet Mylo, a 13 year old dog that had IVDD and herniated discs, and was told he only had a few months left, due to extreme pain and inability to walk normally. Through canine or dog physical therapy at Salt Lake Animal Physical Therapy he is now able to walk and has greatly improved his quality of life and time with his owner. Here his story:
Can A Dog’s Herniated Disc Heal On It’s Own?
Dogs can make an amazing recovery from disc herniations, without constant pain meds or surgery. But completely on their own? I would say not, meaning that the help of a knowledgeable and skilled canine physical therapist with experience treating this condition is a must. There are many treatments that can help, but not all treatment is equal. Here at Salt Lake Animal Physical Therapy we specialize in helping dogs with disc herniations recover. We often even see dogs with severe disc herniations that lead to their rear legs not working. Check out Cookie’s story and Violet’s before and after videos below:
Cookies Story:
Violet before canine physical therapy:
Violet after one month of canine physical therapy:
As you can see there is so much that can be done to help a dog with IVDD, a disc herniation or back injury. Pain meds and surgery are not the only option and often not the best long term solution. If you would like more information about dog IVDD, disc herniations, or back injuries then check out our page: https://saltlakeanimalphysicaltherapy.com/dog-ivdd-disc-back-injury/ If you would like to talk to a canine IVDD or disc herniation specialist, you can schedule a call here:
Or schedule a free discovery visit so we can meet you and look at your dog: