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Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)

Key conditionsBack or neck pain; crying out or yelping unexpectedly or when picked up; reluctance to jump, climb stairs, or exercise; Wobbliness or weakness in the legs; Loss of bladder or bowel control in severe cases
CommonalityModerate
TransmissionNot contagious
Impact on healthMedium to High
Treatment cost~$2,000 to $8,000 AUD for Surgery Only (excluding any pre, post-op treatment or diagnostic tests)
Treatment durationDepends on the severity, usually around 6 to 8 weeks
Ease of preventionMedium

Most affected dog breeds

  • Dachshunds
  • French Bulldogs
  • Lhasa Apsos
  • Shih Tzus
  • Doberman Pinschers
  • German Shepherds

What is IVDD?

Has your dog suddenly become reluctant to jump, yelp when picked up, or seem weak or wobbly in the back legs? Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) is a spinal condition where the cushioning discs between the bones of the spine become damaged, bulge, or rupture, placing pressure on the spinal cord and nerves. This can cause pain, weakness, difficulty walking, and in severe cases, paralysis.

IVDD can range from mild discomfort to sudden inability to walk. Some dogs develop symptoms gradually, while others deteriorate rapidly over just a few hours. Early recognition and prompt veterinary treatment can greatly improve recovery and long-term comfort.

Which dogs are most at risk?

  • IVDD is especially common in breeds with long backs and short legs due to a gene variant causing early degeneration of the spinal discs. High-risk breeds include:
  • Dachshunds (15.3%) - highest of any breed
  • French Bulldogs (8.4%)
  • Corgis
  • Beagles
  • Shih Tzus
  • Lhasa Apsos
  • Pekingese
  • Larger breeds such as German Shepherds, Labradors, and Doberman Pinschers may also develop a slower, more chronic form of IVDD (Type II).
  • Additional risk factors include:
  • Excess body weight
  • Increasing age
  • Repetitive jumping

Common signs of IVDD

  • You may notice:
  • Sudden yelping or signs of pain
  • Back or neck sensitivity
  • Reluctance to jump, run, climb stairs, or exercise
  • Hunched posture or trembling
  • Wobbliness or weakness in the limbs
  • Dragging paws or knuckling
  • Difficulty standing or walking
  • Loss of bladder or bowel control in severe cases
  • Things to know:
  • A trigger event (the sofa jump, the slip) is usually the moment you notice, not the moment the disc problem started. Plenty of disc herniations happen with zero dramatic precipitating event.
  • If your dog suddenly cannot walk, loses bladder control, or develops rapidly worsening weakness, this is considered a veterinary emergency.

What should I do if I suspect IVDD?

  • If you suspect IVDD:
  • Restrict movement immediately by keeping your dog confined to a crate, pen, or small room
  • Avoid stairs, jumping, or rough movement
  • Carry your dog carefully with the spine supported
  • Seek veterinary attention as soon as possible
  • Do not attempt massage, stretching, or chiropractic manipulation, as this may worsen spinal cord damage.

How is IVDD diagnosed?

Your veterinarian may perform:

  • A physical and neurological examination for IVDD Grading (Table 1) as it drives both treatment and prognosis
  • X-ray
  • CT scans (fast, excellent in acute onset/emergencies) 
  • MRI imaging (gold standard for spinal cord assessment)

Advanced imaging helps determine the location and severity of spinal cord compression and guides treatment decisions.

How is IVDD treated?

Treatment depends on the severity of the condition.

When conservative management is reasonable

For mild to moderate cases (Grade 1 and most Grade 2 dogs), conservative management is a legitimate first-line approach:

  • Strict crate rest for 4–6 weeks
  • Anti-inflammatory medication for pain and inflammation control 
  • Adjunct pain medications for nerve pain
  • Bladder management if there’s any urinary retention: manual expression every 3-6 hours until voluntary urination returns 
  • Close monitoring, often with a short 24-48 hour hospital stay so any neurological deterioration is  caught early

 

When surgery is recommended 

For Grade 3 (non-ambulatory but still has voluntary movement), Grade 4 (paralysed but deep pain intact) and Grade 5 (paralysed without deep pain), surgical decompression is the standard recommendation. Speed matters most in Grade 5.

Recovery 

Post-op recovery is hospital based (a few days to a week), followed by weeks of strict crate rest at home, then a structured return to activity.

Post-treatment recovery often involves:

  • Controlled exercise on flat, non-slip ground with a sling or harness support 
  • Underwater treadmill therapy
  • Targeted strengthening and proprioceptive exercises
  • Laser, electroacupuncture and other adjuncts with mixed evidence

Can IVDD be prevented?

While IVDD cannot always be prevented, especially in genetically predisposed breeds, risk may be reduced by:

  • Maintaining a healthy body weight
  • Using ramps for couches, stairs, and cars. Eliminate the jumping habit. 
  • Providing non-slip flooring
  • Using harnesses instead of neck collars when appropriate
  • Keeping exercise regular but controlled
  • Keeping nails trimmed and paw hair tidy for traction

 

What you might pay, and where insurance fits in 

This is the part nobody wants to think about in the middle of an IVDD episode, but it’s part of the picture. 

Conservative management is the cheaper path on paper. Vet consultations, imaging, medications, possibly a few days of hospitalisation. Costs vary enormously by clinic and how much imaging is needed. 

Surgical management is the bigger ticket. MRI plus surgery and a few days of specialist hospital care typically runs into $8,000 to $15,000 or more, depending on location, surgeon, complications and the length of stay. Rehabilitation and physiotherapy may add additional ongoing costs.

 

Does Petsy cover IVDD?

IVDD is considered a “Specified Condition” under Petsy Pet Insurance policies. Specified Conditions have a 6-month exclusion period from the policy start date before eligible treatment costs may be covered. This category also includes conditions such as cruciate ligament disease, hip dysplasia, and patellar luxation.

Unlike some insurers, Petsy does not apply sub-limits to eligible IVDD claims, meaning cover is not capped to a smaller condition-specific limit within your annual benefit amount. Full policy terms, conditions, waiting periods, exclusions, and eligibility criteria apply.

Frequently asked questions about Intervertebral Disc Disease

Crate rest means keeping your dog confined to a small, quiet area to minimise movement and allow the spinal discs to heal. Jumping, running, and climbing stairs can worsen spinal cord injury and delay recovery.

Recovery time varies depending on the severity of the condition and whether surgery is required. Many dogs need several weeks of strict rest, while some may require months of rehabilitation and ongoing management.

  • Some dogs can recover very well, especially if treatment occurs early. Recovery depends on factors such as:
    • Severity of spinal cord damage
    • How quickly treatment is started
    • Whether deep pain sensation is still present
    • Response to surgery or medical management
  • Unfortunately, some severe cases may have permanent neurological deficits.

Yes. Dogs that have had IVDD are at higher risk of future episodes because other spinal discs may also degenerate over time.

Yes. IVDD can be very painful because the damaged disc presses on nerves and the spinal cord. Dogs may show pain by trembling, panting, hiding, yelping, or refusing to move.

Table 1: IVDD grading system 1 to 5 scale

Grade What it looks like Typical management Prognosis
1 Pain only — no neuro signs. Hunched, sensitive, reluctant to move Pain only — no neuro signs. Hunched, sensitive, reluctant to move Strict rest + pain relief, usually conservative
2 Walking but wobbly — knuckling, scuffing, weakness Conservative or surgical depending on severity and progression Very good recovery either way
3 Can't walk on their own but can still move the legs voluntarily Surgery strongly recommended Very good with surgery (93% recovery in meta-analyses)
4 Paralysed but deep pain perception is still intact Surgery strongly recommended Still very good with surgery (~85–93% recover ambulation)
5 Paralysed with no deep pain perception Surgery urgent — every hour counts Guarded: ~50–60% regain walking with surgery; ~10% with conservative care

 

 

 

Eva | Pet Lover
Eva Wang is a final year veterinary student at the University of Sydney with a passion for companion animal health and client education. Through clinical placements and experience in the pet insurance industry, she has developed a strong interest in helping pet owners better understand common medical conditions and make informed decisions about their pets’ care.
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Specified Conditions includes:

  • Cruciate ligament damage
  • Intervertebral disc disease
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Patella luxation
  • Elbow dysplasia
  • Cherry eye
  • Entropion
  • Ectropion,
  • Osteochondritis dissecans (‘OCD’)
  • Lumps

Lumps means the protuberance or localised area of swelling or unusual growth that can occur anywhere on or in the body including tumours, warts, cysts, growths, mucoceles, haematomas and abscesses.

You can apply to reduce the 6-month exclusion period for Specified Conditions by using our request for Waiver Form. Simply take this form to your next vet visit and submit the completed form back to [email protected] within 14 days of the visit.

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Optional Extra Benefits

During the application process You will be provided with the option to include Optional Extra Benefits that cover certain conditions and Treatments which are not otherwise covered under the Policy.

The Optional Extra Benefits are:

Alternative Therapies, Behavioural Problems, and Dental Illness.

Examples of Alternative Therapies: Acupuncture, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy.

Examples of Behavioural Problems: Excessive licking, fur pulling, pacing and destructive chewing.

Examples of Dental Illnesses: Dental diseases, gingivitis, periodontal disease.