[Dailydrool] Intervertebral disk (or disc) disease

[Pam McQuade]

<<I have never heard that intervertebral disk disease is a young dog's
problem. Its not a pupster problem and it ususally does start developing
when they are growing up..but my believe is just like in humans back
problems are rarely a one event thing and a lifetime of stress and strain on
a back sometimes shows it weiry head.

Bob the dog is 11 and at age 10 was diagnosised with IDD..he has since had
two big issues one with his neck and the other his back..they were both
serious resulting in surgury.>>

I don't think the site below is the one at which I originally found the age 
range for IVDD, since it gives a slightly older age, but it agrees in 
principle:

http://www.petplace.com/dogs/intervertebral-disc-disease-thoracolumbar-area-in-dogs/page3.aspx

I would also like to point out that it is talking about dogs that suffer it 
in the thoracic and lumbar regions, which I think would exclude Bob's neck 
IVDD. And who's to say that any individual dog cannot have it outside the 
usual age range?

IVDD is most common in dwarf (chondrodystrophoid) breeds, including bassets 
and dachshunds (though no one seems to mention bassets all that much when 
they describe it). It is also common in beagles, according to what I read 
today.

I agree that anyone who goes for the IVDD surgery will have to have nerves 
of steel and a lot of emotional support. The vets do not tell you what a 
traumatic experience it will be for both you and the dog. Constant attention 
is required, along with very strong arms, since you have to lift the dog to 
take it outdoors (yes, get one of the slings that are made for this 
purpose). And if your hound hates to be crated, like our Abner, it becomes 
even more difficult. But in the end, it was worth it for us, since Abner 
more or less completely recovered. His only problem is that he cannot do 
stairs, on the surgeon's advice, for the rest of his life. Not that he 
doesn't occasionally try! And the arthritis that invariably comes up 
following the surgery has caused him to be very cranky indeed.

I would advise anyone whose dog shows any sign of going down in the back to 
go to the vet's IMMEDIATELY. Call ahead and let the vet know you are coming 
Or even better, have someone else call while you start taking the dog. Be 
sure to tell them it's an emergency. The sooner you get treatment, the 
better the outcome. And if you have to drive to a specialist who is a 
distance away, you'll be glad you have that extra time. We waited at the 
specialist's for quite a while to get Abner seen, but he was still there 
well within the recommended range of time. Within 24 hours, the vets decided 
he needed surgery, and he had it before 48 hours were up.

I have to thank the Drool for giving me the knowledge I needed to get him in 
right away. It made a world of difference to Abs.
Pam, food slave to the Dashing Bassets (including the dashing Abner)