I have researched this breed thoroughly and I know they are prone to disc injury. The one thing I am having difficulty finding is just how common is it? Are there any people here on CD who have this breed and what experience have they had with this problem. Just curious as to how many and what the outcome was.

kat

Kat,

If Snoopy comes along she'll tell you.  She's had discs go in her dachshunds six times if my memory serves me correctly.  It is quite common and the operation to put it right is very expensive so it's prudent to get yourself insurance.  Don't go for the basic cover as that sometimes only covers up to £1000 and the op is twice that even for a mini dachshund.  Also check that your insurance will pay out a second time if another disc should be damaged.  Some don't and it's not unheard of for the same dog to have problems with a number of discs.

There was only a sad outcome in one case. :(

Not all disc injuries need an operation and some right themselves with cage rest.

Keep your little darlings from jumping up and down too much (I know - impossible task) and act quickly if you see an loss of mobility as swift vet treatment can have a huge impact on recovery rate.

And now that I've worried you.............. none of my dachshunds have ever had a problem.

Mind, i've only ever had two!

Joe :)

Hiya Kat, as Joe says, don't worry about it, as it may never happen, but you need to be aware of any signals that show there is a problem.
You'll find people on here have different views with degenerative disc disease. There are several people who swear by cage rest.
I have had four dogs suffer with ddd, three have had surgery and as Joe says, only one was the worst outcome, but i do believe that it had a lot to do with her character, than anything else. She just wasn't a fighter.
I am fortunate to have a brilliant surgeon just an hour up the road, so will never hesitate to go for surgery if it is warranted.
I have had one dog who's disc problem was minor, therefore cage rest and antiinflammatories did the trick.
Another had two discs go within six months. He had surgery the first time, which is extremely expensive. Second time around wasn't quite so serious, but it still cost my insurance company over £500. Cage rest and pain relief was all that was used the second time.
I do believe that disc problems are more common in the mini's than the standards though. Some may disagree with me here.
I've had problems over the years with getting vets to diagnose it quickly too. One treated my dog for 'WIND', and another was treated for a urine infection. It was only because i was persistant with my vets that we then realised it was down to their backs.
'If' your dog does ever have back problems, then it's down to you to decide which way you want it to go.
I would opt for the 'op' every time as i have 100% faith in the surgeon who performs them. It is something that needs to be decided quickly on though. As the longer it goes on the more paralysed the dog can become, and surgery is much more effective straight away.
On a better note, they can go on to live many happy years, normally, after disc problems.

Hi there, thanks for your replies. I am getting my wee boy next month and I am looking forward to it. As I have already said I have researched the breed and know the types of problems to expect. So thankyou for letting me know just how common it is. Also is age a factor, do they become more succeptable to injury at certain ages i.e. during growth? Also what insurance company would you recommend as this is something I have started to seriously look at.

many thanks
kat

Wait for someone elses advice on insurance.  I wouldn't recommend the company I'm with but as I'm mid-claim, I'm stuck with them.

I don't know the facts and figures relating to age but it can happen at any age.  Obviously, the more active they are, the more likely they are to do damage.  That said, as it's usually degenerative, it can happen just as easily to the oldies.  :)

Hiya Kat.
I've come to think, over the years that the age of 4 is a susceptible time for back problems. I don't know why, but two of mine certainly started at that age and i know of other dachsie owners that have had the same thing happen at that age. Saying that, i also had one who was 8 and another who was 11.
I also tend to think it's hereditary.
As for insurance, i'm with Pet Pals (domestic and general). They don't exclude after a year, which is extremely important.
Other good companies are Pinnacle and Pet Plan.
You really do need to read the small print though before you go with any of them.

I have three minis and I have been through ruptured discs three time, one dog twice. All have recovered without surgery. I am not anti-surgery, but i feel it is not the way we want to go. (the surgeon my vet referred me to told me 50% chance of surviving surgery and then 20% chance of walking again! Maybe it is better odds in the area you live)
I have read that the most common age for IDD is 5-7 years old. My first boy was 10 when he first had problems and twelve when he had the second bout (totall paralyzed in the back end, no bowel or bladder control).  He has just turned 13 and is walking fine, a little wobbly at times, and he has full bowel and bladder control. My girl was 6 when she went down, also with total paralysis, but she didn't lose bowel or bladder control. She was treated with steroids and total crate rest for 6 weeks, and she now is fine. I give them both 1000mg Ester C every day and I believe that has helped them. My little boy is now 18 months old, and so far no problems.
In my opinion, the most important way to protect them from IDD is to not allow them to get overweight, and to feed a good quality diet.
Good luck with your new puppy!
Pauline

Pauline,

I think we're lucky up North in that we have a specialist in Blythe.  His predictions aren't half as terrible as yours.  I think surgery is personal choice and I'm pleased your lot got through without it.  :) The specialist up here paints a dark picture if surgery is delayed and the disc gets worse.  That said, he has recommended cage rest for some and doesn't rush into an unnecessary operation.  The particles can splinter off and cause permanent damage to the spine.  There are varying degrees of rupture and many will fix themselves with cage rest.  Some are so badly shattered that an operation is needed.  An x-ray will show how bad it is. :)

Once again, thanks everyone for replying.

What was the first sign that your dog had a problem?

kat

The first signs are very small. Once you know your dog it's normally just something you can't put your finger on. Thats what i've found anyway.
They have been diagnosed with 'stomach' problems, hence the wind and urine infection (Dillon was holding his wee and reluctant to poo).
Proper signs are wobbliness on back legs or complete paralysis (dragging of back end). It goes side by side with alot of pain.
Mitzy my mini wire girl, whom i lost, shook alot, due to the pain. I hasten to add that, she was operated on by a different surgeon to the one i use now.
He takes referrals from all over the country. And normally states that there is a 90% success rate. He really is excellent.
Dillon stayed with them for 6 days, the last time his back 'went'. Due to the fact that he wasn't weeing. They had to catheterise him, aw bless.
Biddy was 'just not right'. I can't really say what made me take her to the vets. She was diagnosed with wind. Sometimes when the vet feels along the spine there's no reaction to pain, but there is with the stomach.
Within days they all started going off their back legs. It's heartbreaking to watch.
I don't know where you live Kat, but i'd certainly recommend Malcolm Ness in Blyth, if you ever need a specialist. He really knows his stuff.

I am in Dundee, Scotland. Where is Blyth, I have heard of it.

kat

Blyth's in Northumberland.

Re disc disease ,Braund -US Vet Neurologist - refers to certain breeds (including Dachshunds, Beagles, Pekes, French Bulldogs, Bassets, Corgis and Cocker Spaniels) as being chondrodystrophoid. In the chondrodystrophoid breeds, the aging pattern of the canine disc appears to be rapid compared to other breeds. He argues that changes to the central gelatinous part of the disc could be underway as early as 4 months and degenerative change can be complete by 18 months of age. Dogs not catagorised as chondrodystrophoid would reach that same level of change at about 7 to 8 years, he says. The degenerated discs appear to loose capacity to absorb shock.  Stress and compression results in mechanical failure of a disc which allows it to extrude or protrude and pressure or damage nerves in the ventral canal (spine).  Interestingly, he suggests that "there is no evidence that external trauma plays a role in disc degeneration." Note also his caution that the degerative theory does not explain why other breeds can have the problem nor why disc disease is uncommon in older dogs of any breed.

Currently, one of my beloved bullmastiffs (5.5 years) is suffering from disc disease and the call between surgery and medical intervention is a hard one. There is some suggestion that accupuncture can assist in remedy. Wish us luck!

Ref: K. G. Braund, Degenerative and Compressive Structural Disorders, 2003

Good luck Patrick.  If you're anywhere in the North go to Malcolm Ness as Snoopy said.

Joe