Understanding IVDD in Dachshunds

Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) is one of the most significant health concerns affecting Dachshunds and something we believe every prospective owner should understand before choosing the breed.

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Unfortunately, IVDD is not a condition for which responsible breeding can currently offer a simple guarantee. Screening, pedigree knowledge and careful breeding decisions can all contribute useful information, but no breeder can promise that an individual Dachshund will never develop IVDD during its lifetime.

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Our approach is therefore based on understanding risk, following the available evidence and being transparent about the limitations of what we can currently predict.

 

What is IVDD?

Intervertebral discs sit between the vertebrae of the spine and act as cushions, allowing movement while helping to absorb mechanical forces.

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Dachshunds are a chondrodystrophic breed and are predisposed to premature degeneration of these discs. A degenerated disc can eventually herniate, potentially compressing the spinal cord and causing neurological injury.

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The severity can vary considerably. Signs may include:

• Back or neck pain

• Reluctance to move

• Weakness or an unsteady gait

• Loss of mobility

• Paralysis

• Loss of bladder or bowel control

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Some affected dogs recover successfully with appropriate treatment, while others may require specialist intervention or surgery and can be left with permanent neurological problems.

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For owners, IVDD can therefore have significant emotional and financial consequences.

 

Can Dachshunds be tested for IVDD?

There is currently no single health test that can determine with certainty whether an individual Dachshund will or will not develop clinical IVDD during its lifetime.

This distinction is important.

 

IVDD Back Scoring

Radiographic back screening can identify calcified intervertebral discs present at the time of examination.

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The number of calcified discs can provide useful information about an individual dog's degree of disc calcification and can be used as one tool when making breeding decisions.

It is not, however, a guarantee.

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A favourable result does not mean that a dog is incapable of developing IVDD, just as a less favourable result does not mean that clinical disease is inevitable.

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Screening should therefore be understood as a method of assessing and managing risk rather than eliminating it.

 

DNA Testing

There is also no DNA test currently available that can certify a Dachshund as genetically “clear” of IVDD.

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Genetic markers associated with chondrodystrophy and disc disease have been identified, but the genetics of IVDD and the development of clinical disease are considerably more complex than a simple clear, carrier or affected result.

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For this reason, we are cautious of language that implies any Dachshund can be guaranteed to be “IVDD free” or “IVDD proof”.

 

Breeding and IVDD

Responsible breeding is about reducing risk wherever reasonably possible while recognising the limitations of the information available.

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Health screening can form part of this, but so can something much less easily represented by a certificate: knowledge of the dogs behind a pedigree.

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Following our puppies throughout their lives and maintaining relationships with their owners allows us to build a better understanding of the health within our own lines.

We want to know when problems occur.

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That information matters because breeding decisions should not be based solely on the health of the individual dog standing in front of us. Patterns among parents, siblings, offspring and other relatives can provide valuable information when considering future generations.

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Where concerns or repeated patterns emerge, they should form part of future breeding decisions rather than being ignored.

 

Conformation and physical health

Correct, functional conformation is important to us throughout our breeding program

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The Dachshund is deliberately a long-bodied, short-legged breed, but the breed standard does not call for exaggeration. A Dachshund should remain balanced, muscular and capable of free, efficient movement.

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We therefore select for overall soundness and functional construction rather than increasingly exaggerated features.

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This should not be confused with claiming that good conformation can prevent IVDD. It cannot.

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IVDD is fundamentally a disease of the intervertebral discs, and even a beautifully constructed, responsibly bred Dachshund can be affected.

 

Living with a Dachshund

Owners cannot completely remove the possibility of IVDD either, but maintaining good general physical condition is sensible throughout a Dachshund's life.

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Keeping a Dachshund lean and appropriately exercised helps maintain muscle and overall physical fitness. Excess body weight should be avoided, and unnecessary repetitive high-impact activity can be sensibly managed.

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Ramps and other adaptations can also be useful within the home, particularly where dogs would otherwise repeatedly jump from significant heights.

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At the same time, Dachshunds should not be wrapped in cotton wool.

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They are active, intelligent dogs that benefit from regular exercise, opportunities to explore and the freedom to behave like dogs. Restricting normal activity through fear of IVDD can be counterproductive if it results in poor fitness, reduced muscle condition or obesity.

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The aim should be sensible management, not fear.

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Our Approach at Deliciaedax

At Deliciaedax, we take IVDD seriously, but we also believe it should be discussed accurately and without false reassurance.

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We cannot promise that a puppy bred by us will never develop IVDD. We do not believe any breeder can responsibly make that promise.

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What we can do is continue to make breeding decisions using the best information available to us.

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We consider health, pedigree, conformation, movement and temperament when planning our litters. We maintain an interest in the long-term health of the dogs we breed and encourage our owners to keep us informed of significant health problems throughout their dog's lifetime.

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As our programme develops, so does our knowledge of our own lines.

We will continue to follow developments in IVDD research and screening recommendations and adapt our breeding decisions as the evidence evolves.

For us, responsible breeding does not mean claiming that risk can be eliminated.

It means understanding the risks that exist within our breed, being honest about them, and doing what we reasonably can to make informed decisions for the generations that follow.