Life After IVDD

IVDD recurrence and flare-ups

A dog can experience another episode of spinal pain or disc herniation after recovering from IVDD. New symptoms should be taken seriously rather than assumed to be “the old injury playing up”.

New weakness, loss of walking, severe pain or difficulty urinating should be treated as a new urgent problem. Contact a veterinary professional and restrict movement while you seek advice.

Does IVDD come back?

It can. Degenerative disc disease often affects more than one disc over a dog’s lifetime. ACVS notes that another disc herniation later occurs in a proportion of patients; risk varies with the dog, disease type and treatment history.

Possible warning signs

New reluctance to jump, climb stairs or move the neck.
Yelping, trembling or a hunched posture.
Wobbly walking or crossing the hind legs.
Knuckling or dragging paws.
New weakness or loss of walking.

What should I do if I suspect another episode?

Stop unrestricted activity and prevent jumping or stairs.
Contact your vet and explain the previous IVDD history.
Do not restart leftover medication unless the veterinary team tells you to.
Ask whether the current signs warrant referral or imaging.

Can recurrence be completely prevented?

No strategy can guarantee that another disc will never herniate. Weight management, safe handling and reducing unnecessary high-impact jumping may form part of long-term planning, but owners should be wary of products or supplements claiming to eliminate recurrence risk.

Prevention & risk reduction Emergency signs Stairs, jumping & ramps

Source:
American College of Veterinary Surgeons — IVDD

A recurrence cannot be diagnosed online. New neurological signs should be assessed by a veterinary professional.