What Is IVDD?
IVDD stands for intervertebral disc disease. That is a long name for a problem with the soft cushions between the bones in a dog's back or neck.
These cushions are called discs. When a disc is damaged, it may push against the spinal cord or nearby nerves. This can cause pain, weak legs, or trouble walking.
Some dogs need urgent care for IVDD. Other dogs may need medicine, rest, surgery, or rehabilitation. A veterinarian must decide what is right for each dog.
What Did the Researchers Study?
In a study published in 2025, researchers looked at information from 43,517 pet dogs in the United States. The information came from the Dog Aging Project.
They looked for links between a dog's history of IVDD and things such as breed, body size, weight, and daily activities.
The researchers used owners' reports of whether their dogs had ever had IVDD. That matters: the paper does not say that each reported case was checked through a new veterinary exam.
What Did They Find?
Among the 43,517 dogs:
- 520 dogs (1.2%) had an owner-reported history of IVDD.
- Overweight dogs had higher odds of reported IVDD than dogs that were not overweight, after the researchers accounted for other factors.
- Small and toy-sized dogs, purebred dogs, and male dogs also had higher adjusted odds in this study.
- Dachshunds had the highest percentage of reported IVDD: 83 of 541 Dachshunds (15.3%).
- Among purebred dogs, French Bulldogs had the highest adjusted odds of reported IVDD.
These numbers describe dogs in this study. They do not tell us the chance that any one puppy or adult dog will get IVDD in the future.
What About Exercise, Stairs, and Food?
The study found that dogs with more daily active time, dogs whose owners reported regular stair use, and dogs eating commercial diets had lower odds of reported IVDD.
But here is the important part: a link is not proof that one thing caused another.
For example, a dog with back pain may already be using stairs less. The study cannot tell us whether using stairs helped healthy dogs, or whether dogs with back problems avoided them. It also cannot prove that a certain type of food prevents IVDD.
Do not start stair workouts or increase exercise because of this study. Dogs with known or possible IVDD may need strict activity limits. Your veterinarian can help decide what is safe. Guidance from UC Davis Veterinary Medicine specifically discusses limiting stairs and jumping for some dogs recovering from disc disease.
What Can You Do for Your Dog?
These are sensible steps to discuss with your veterinarian. They are not prevention methods proven by this study.
- Ask about a healthy weight. Your veterinarian can check your dog's body condition and help with a feeding plan if needed.
- Choose safe activity. Regular movement may be helpful for many healthy dogs, but the right kind and amount depend on your dog's health.
- Watch for changes. Tell your veterinarian about new back pain, wobbly steps, trouble jumping, or weakness.
- Make a plan for dogs with IVDD. Do not give medicine, start exercises, or change activity limits without veterinary advice.
When Is Back Trouble an Emergency?
Get urgent veterinary care if your dog suddenly cannot walk, has quickly worsening leg weakness, seems to be in severe back or neck pain, or cannot urinate normally. Do not make a dog with these signs exercise or try stairs.
These warning signs come from separate veterinary guidance from the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and UC Davis Veterinary Medicine. They were not tested as part of this 43,517-dog study.
How Can ATC Help?
If your dog has IVDD or is recovering from a back problem, start with veterinary medical advice. Some dogs need emergency care or surgery before rehabilitation can be considered.
When your veterinarian says rehabilitation is appropriate, Animal Therapy Center can assess your dog's comfort and movement and help make a supervised plan. We can also work alongside your regular veterinarian.
Learn how to request a veterinary rehabilitation evaluation at ATC.
Read the Research
Main study: Wee C, Nin DZ. Demographic and lifestyle characteristics impact lifetime prevalence of owner-reported intervertebral disc disease: 43,517 companion dogs in the United States. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Published online January 15, 2025; 263(5). DOI: 10.2460/javma.24.08.0553.
Read the original JAVMA article or view the study abstract on PubMed.
Additional veterinary guidance (not part of the study): American College of Veterinary Surgeons: Intervertebral Disc Disease; UC Davis: Disc Disease.
This ATC page summarizes the publicly available study abstract and separately labeled veterinary guidance. The publisher's full text was not verified during drafting. The research found links, not causes. This page is for learning only and does not replace a veterinary examination or care plan.
