Aubenord IVDD · Start here
Think your dog may have IVDD? Start with the signs and next steps
You do not need to understand everything at once. Start with what you are seeing, protect your dog from unnecessary movement and use this page to choose the right next step.
IVDD can cause spinal pain, wobbliness, weakness, loss of walking and bladder problems. These signs can also occur with other neurological or orthopaedic conditions, so symptoms alone cannot confirm IVDD. A veterinary examination is the right next step.
First steps
What to do right now
Keep movement controlled
Prevent running, jumping and stairs while you arrange veterinary advice. Do not stretch, manipulate or repeatedly “test” your dog’s back or walking.
Support them when moving
Move slowly and keep the body supported. If your dog is painful or weak, ask the veterinary team how they want you to transport them.
Contact a vet
IVDD cannot be confirmed from symptoms alone. If your dog cannot walk, is rapidly worsening, has severe pain or cannot urinate, treat it as urgent.
Match what you see
What are you seeing?
Sudden loss of walking
Unable to stand, collapsing, dragging one or both back legs, or suddenly losing use of the hind limbs.
Weakness or wobbling
Unsteady or swaying back legs, crossing the hind feet, knuckling, scuffing the nails or another noticeable gait change.
Pain or sensitivity
Yelping when lifted or moved, trembling, a guarded posture, or reacting around the neck or back.
Bladder changes
Leaking urine, difficulty emptying the bladder or appearing unable to pass urine can occur with neurological dysfunction.
Could it be something else?
Yes — symptoms alone cannot tell you the cause
IVDD can resemble other neurological, orthopaedic and spinal conditions. A veterinary examination helps localise the problem and decide whether referral or advanced imaging is appropriate.
Common questions
Questions owners ask when IVDD is suspected
Could these signs be something other than IVDD?
Yes. Similar signs can occur with other neurological, orthopaedic and spinal conditions. A veterinary examination is needed to work out the cause.
Is suspected IVDD always an emergency?
Not every suspected case has the same urgency. Inability to stand or walk, rapidly worsening weakness, severe uncontrolled pain or inability to urinate needs urgent veterinary care.
How quickly should my dog see a vet?
If urgent warning signs are present, contact a veterinary service now. Otherwise, contact your vet promptly rather than waiting for major deterioration.
What will the vet usually assess first?
Your vet will usually start with the history and a physical and neurological examination, including pain, posture, walking ability and neurological function.
Choose where to go next
Choose the guide that matches the question you have now
Emergency signs
If your dog cannot walk, is rapidly worsening, has severe uncontrolled pain or cannot urinate, start here.
Understand IVDD & diagnosis
Learn what IVDD is and why your veterinary team may discuss neurological assessment, MRI or CT.
Find specialist referral support
Use the directory when your veterinary team is discussing neurology or spinal referral care.
Already diagnosed?
If surgery, conservative treatment or recovery care is already part of the conversation, continue with the relevant guide.
When everything else is terrifying, every step matters
We are here to make the next question clearer — with practical resources, evidence-aware guidance and routes to specialist support inspired by Loui’s own IVDD journey.
Trust & safety
Medical limitations & how this guide is prepared
This page helps owners decide what to do next when IVDD is a concern. It cannot confirm IVDD or distinguish it from other causes of pain, weakness or neurological change.
Medical information & limitations
Aubenord cannot assess neurological function, pain, bladder function, diagnosis or treatment needs online.
Sudden inability to stand or walk, rapidly worsening weakness, severe uncontrolled pain or inability to urinate needs urgent veterinary assessment.
How this guide is researched
Aubenord uses peer-reviewed veterinary research and specialist consensus guidance, translated into plain-English owner guidance.
Evidence base
Sources & further reading
- Griffin, Levine & Kerwin (2009) — canine thoracolumbar IVDD and emergency assessment
- Olby et al. (2022) — ACVIM consensus statement
Evidence limit: symptoms overlap with other neurological and orthopaedic conditions, so this guide cannot diagnose an individual dog.