IVDD Emergency Guide
New spinal pain or neurological changes such as wobbling, weakness or loss of walking need prompt veterinary assessment. Inability to walk, paralysis, severe or uncontrolled pain, or difficulty urinating should be treated as urgent signs. [1]
Seek urgent veterinary help now: if your dog cannot stand or walk, is dragging or paralysed, has severe or uncontrolled pain, or is unable to urinate. New loss of bladder control alongside weakness or paralysis also needs urgent assessment.
Emergency Warning Signs
If any of these signs are new or worsening, keep movement to a minimum and contact a veterinary professional urgently.
Sudden inability to support weight or take normal steps needs urgent veterinary assessment. IVDD is one possible cause, but other neurological or orthopaedic problems can look similar.
Dragging one or both back legs, sudden paralysis or rapidly worsening weakness is an emergency sign. Keep movement to a minimum and contact a vet immediately.
Crying out, shaking, panting, a rigid posture or being unable to settle can indicate significant pain. If pain is severe or not controlled, seek urgent veterinary care.
Being unable to urinate needs urgent veterinary attention. New urinary leakage or loss of bladder control, particularly with weakness or paralysis, should also be reported urgently. [1]
Assessment of pain sensation is part of a neurological examination and should be performed by a veterinary professional. Do not pinch toes or try to test “deep pain” yourself.
Immediate Steps
Prevent walking, running, jumping and stairs while you arrange veterinary care. Restricted activity is a core part of conservative management for acute thoracolumbar disc extrusion. [2]
Move slowly and support the chest and hindquarters together. Avoid twisting the spine. If you are unsure how to move your dog safely, ask the veterinary team before travelling.
Use a quiet, small, secure space with flat supportive bedding while you arrange veterinary care. Do not allow repeated attempts to stand or walk.
Describe exactly what changed, when it started, whether your dog can stand or walk, whether pain is controlled and when they last urinated. Ask whether to attend immediately or go directly to an emergency or referral hospital.
Follow the clinic’s instructions. Use secure, well-supported transport and avoid letting your dog walk into or out of the vehicle.
Avoid Further Harm
Do not repeatedly stand your dog up or make them walk to see whether they improve. Let the veterinary team assess mobility and neurological function.
Prevent access to sofas, beds, steps and slippery floors while you are waiting for veterinary advice.
Do not manipulate the back, neck or legs unless your veterinary team has specifically told you to do so.
Do not give human painkillers or other medication unless a veterinary professional has explicitly instructed you to do so. Some human medicines can be toxic to dogs or interfere with veterinary treatment.
If weakness, walking ability, bladder function or pain is deteriorating, contact a veterinary professional urgently rather than waiting to see whether it settles.
Safe Transport
Keep your dog securely supported during transport. For a small dog, support the chest and hindquarters together. For a larger dog, two people or a firm, flat support may help if this can be done safely.
Call the veterinary clinic before travelling and follow its instructions. Avoid allowing your dog to walk into or out of the vehicle.
Prepare for the Call
Note the earliest change you noticed and whether symptoms appeared suddenly or gradually. Tell the team if anything has worsened since then.
Explain whether your dog can stand or walk and whether you have seen wobbling, crossing feet, knuckling, dragging or paralysis.
Tell the vet when your dog last urinated and whether they can urinate normally. Mention any new leakage, loss of control or bowel changes.
Share all current medication, previous back or neck problems, recent falls or jumps and other medical conditions.
At the Veterinary Clinic
The team may first assess and control pain and make sure your dog can be handled and supported safely.
A veterinary neurological examination assesses gait or movement where appropriate, posture, reflexes and sensory function to help localise and grade the problem. [1]
Advanced imaging such as MRI or CT, or referral to a veterinary neurologist or surgeon, may be recommended depending on the examination findings and severity.
The recommendation depends on the individual dog and neurological severity. It may include conservative management, hospital care, surgery and/or rehabilitation.
Choose your country in our IVDD specialist directory to find referral centres and veterinary specialists experienced in spinal and neurological cases.
Quick Answers
Not every dog with back or neck pain has the same level of urgency, and IVDD cannot be diagnosed from symptoms alone. New pain or neurological changes need prompt veterinary advice. Inability to walk, paralysis, severe or uncontrolled pain, or inability to urinate should be treated as urgent signs.
No. Restrict unnecessary movement and let a veterinary professional assess mobility and neurological function.
Do not give human medication unless a veterinary professional has explicitly instructed you to do so. Some human painkillers and other medicines can be dangerous to dogs.
Move slowly, support the chest and hindquarters together and minimise twisting. Call the veterinary clinic before travelling and follow its transport advice for your dog.
Evidence & References
[1] Griffin JF IV, Levine JM, Kerwin SC. Canine thoracolumbar intervertebral disk disease: pathophysiology, neurologic examination, and emergency medical therapy. Compendium. 2009. PubMed.
[2] Olby NJ, Moore SA, Brisson B, et al. ACVIM consensus statement on diagnosis and management of acute canine thoracolumbar intervertebral disc extrusion. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 2022;36:1570–1596. DOI / journal record.
These references support the clinical concepts discussed on this page. Aubenord explains the evidence in owner-friendly language; it is not a substitute for an individual veterinary assessment.
Important
Aubenord provides general educational information based on publicly available veterinary research and other reputable sources. We are not veterinary professionals, and this website is not intended to diagnose, treat or replace advice from a qualified veterinarian.
IVDD can resemble other neurological and orthopaedic conditions. Every dog is different, so symptoms, treatment options and urgency must be assessed by a veterinary professional who can examine your dog.
If your dog suddenly cannot stand or walk, is paralysed, has severe or uncontrolled pain, or cannot urinate, seek urgent veterinary care.
Trust & safety
This emergency guide is designed to help owners recognise warning signs and organise the next step. It cannot determine the cause of those signs, assess neurological severity or replace an examination by a veterinary professional.
Aubenord cannot assess your dog’s neurological function, pain, bladder or bowel function, diagnosis, rehabilitation needs or treatment plan.
Follow your veterinary team’s individual advice. Seek prompt veterinary assessment for new or worsening pain, weakness, wobbliness, bladder changes, paralysis or loss of walking ability.
Aubenord’s IVDD content is prepared by the Aubenord Editorial Team using peer-reviewed veterinary literature, specialist consensus guidance and reputable clinical sources.
Where owner experience, including Loui’s story, is included, it is clearly separated from veterinary evidence.
