Welcome to the Corgi Corner! This series is posted on the first Saturday of every month! These posts will help spread education and awareness on topics like general dog care, corgi specific things, medical care, health facts, etc. This month’s Corgi Corner post will be all about intervertebral disc disease! Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is a degenerative disease that can affect a dog’s spinal cord and causes a range of painful mobility issues. It’s a neurologic condition in which the protective material around the spinal cord has undergone some kind of change. Spinal cords consist of nerve tissue that connects the brain to the lower back and transmits nerve signals between the brain and body. Surrounding the spinal cord are bones called vertebra and in between them is a jelly-like disc, which acts like a cushion. If there’s any kind of damage to the vertebrae or if a disc moves, it causes pressure on the spinal cord. With IVDD, the disc, or cushion, either bulges next to the spinal cord because of inflammation or ruptures because it’s damaged. The result can be pain, dysfunction, or even paralysis. IVDD is a common source of back pain in dogs, especially in older dogs or in younger dogs of predisposed breeds. The severity and type of disc injury can vary widely, ranging from mild discomfort to paralysis. The type of IVDD your dog is dealing with depends on what portion of the spinal cord has been affected. Cervical IVDD occurs when the neck is affected. Thoracolumbar IVDD involves the chest and mid to lower back region. Sacral IVDD involves the area near the dog’s tail. The symptoms of IVDD can vary based on the severity of the damage to the disc. Unlike degenerative myelopathy (DM), these symptoms will have sudden onset and are typically associated with pain. Common symptoms may include pain, limping/lameness, looking drunk while walking, arching their back like a cat, difficulty going to the bathroom, refusing to eat due to pain, and sometimes paralysis. All of these symptoms require immediate medical attention. If the dog is unable to walk, it is an absolute emergency. The first step for diagnosis of IVDD is a thorough physical exam by a veterinarian. For mild cases, this is often all that is necessary. Although, x-rays may be done as well. For dogs with more advance cases, a referral to a veterinary neurologist may be recommended. Specialized imaging techniques like a MRI or CT scan may be done. During diagnostics the veterinarian will be able to tell if the problem is due to disc degeneration or another issue. IVDD is treated based on the severity of the disease. Mild cases may be managed medically and treatment can include restricted activity, pain medication, and possibly muscle relaxants. If surgery is recommended as treatment, it should be done as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the greater the chance the spinal cord will degenerate to the point where it may not recover and the compression of the spine can cause irreparable damage. Surgery is an intensive operation. Bone gets removed so that the extruded disc material can be extracted, and pressure taken off the spinal cord. Dogs who undergo the spinal surgery will need crate rest initially, followed by strictly controlled exercise while they heal. Post-surgery dogs may need help going to the bathroom, and they will need to be monitored for pressure sores. As the dog’s recovery progresses, rehabilitation may include laser therapy and underwater treadmill work. Exercises may be prescribed to be done at home, with a gradually increasing program of walks. Full recovery can take months. Any dog can develop IVDD, but some breeds may be predisposed to this condition because of their anatomy. However, recent IVDD research suggests that body shape alone doesn’t necessarily make dogs prone to IVDD. There may be a genetic component to IVDD predisposition, even among dogs of the same breed. Another cause of IVDD is an injury that results from jumping or experiencing a hard landing. The force of the movement can damage a disc, resulting in acute pain and pressure on the spinal cord. Breeds like Pembroke Welsh Corgis, Cardigan Welsh Corgis, Dachshunds, and Basset Hounds have short legs and a long body that is low to the ground. So there’s a long area of their body that doesn’t get a lot of support. If these dogs are overweight, they may be at elevated risk for developing IVDD because of the added pressure on the spine. This is why it’s so imperative to keep this breeds at a healthy weight and not allowing them to become heavy. Any extra weight can do a lot of damage to their spines. Large dogs like German Shepherds, Doberman Pinschers, and Labrador Retrievers are also prone to IVDD. The discs that are meant to cushion the spine can become brittle with age. Little pieces of the disc can dry out and break off, causing damage to the spinal cord.