Environment & lifestyle

Why it is that we are now seeing an explosion of IVDD, particularly over recent times? As we already know, IVDD has a strong genetic (chondrodystrophy short-legs) and heritable (runs in families) aspect. The fact that Dachshunds are a short-legged breed remains the...

Cervical IVDD

The two most common locations of IVDD are thoracolumbar (mid-spine) and cervical (neck). Dogs with spinal IVDD usually have neurological dysfunction (weakness, inability to walk, etc.) and pain. Cervical IVDD in dachshunds refers to intervertebral disc disease in the...

What is neuropathic pain?

Disorders of the somatosensory* system such as neuropathic pain commonly result from an injury or disease (eg IVDD) relating to the body’s nerves and how they function, or within the spinal cord itself. The assessment of neuropathic pain in humans relies heavily...

The dance that is IVDD Support

What is it about being a volunteer Admin on a support group? It can’t be the pay.  Well, there is a payoff. It comes with helping and guiding those owners that land in our group, often confused and frightened, overwhelmed by the experience of their hound being...

Clinical grading scales

Over the years as IVDD has become prevalent throughout the Dachshund community, a clinical grading scale eg: 1 -5 has proven to be useful in working out the dog’s prognosis (how likely they are to get better) and can also make it easier to record any improvement or...