“IVDD is intervertebral disc disease. This condition affects around 1 in 4 dachshunds. A first episode is most likely to happen between the ages of 4 and 7.
In the dog suffering from IVDD, the discs that sit between the vertebrae of the spine bulge or burst into the spinal cord space.” Dedicated to Dachshunds.
Our IVDD Experiences
We have first hand experience with IVDD, to date Holly has had 5 episodes. Two of these required surgery and three required crate rest.
If your dog shows any symptoms please seek medical advice. Our experience may differ from others. Holly's symptoms has not always been the same and were at times hard to spot. Sometimes symptoms can be the similar to something else such as blocked anal glands. I have listed symptoms Holly has presented below but there are others that were not experienced with Holly.
Some of the symptoms that Holly has presented (not all at the same time);
- Struggling to stand
- Shaking
- Soiling herself
- Keeping her head low
- A lot of yawning and jowl licking
- Looking towards her backend
- Not wanting her food
- Yelping when being picked up
- Yelping when moving
- Personality different
- Unsteady on her legs
Thankfully we have been supported by The Red Foundation and Dedicated to Dachshunds as well as some savings from AlbeeDax. I have also fostered dachshunds with IVDD that have been surrendered to The Red Foundation including one that was abandoned on a country lane.
Holly did fully recover after her first and second episodes, however from around the third she struggled to recover fully. Holly can now walk for short periods albeit a bit wonky but still loves getting out.
Holly will need a stroller and hydrotherapy long term unfortunately but she lives a very happy and full life. She even goes on dachshund social gatherings!
Insurance companies won’t insure Holly which is why it’s so important to have a good cover. Our rescue puppy has insurance up to £16’000 which I hope will never be needed. A complicated episode of IVDD can easily reach this limit.
I’d like to try and do something to help those going through IVDD so will be making crate bumpers with recovery in mind. There is no profit and the price goes towards covering the filling and fabric. These are priced low to make them accessible and can be found here. They can be used in a crate, round a pen or in a pushchair.
What we have needed for crate rest
You may not need everything here but they are things that have helped us. It was useful to have a basket next to the pen set up with things like medication, nappies, liners, wipes and nappy bags.
- A crate that your dog can easily stand up in and turn around- this was a size small for Holly. She now has a medium as her brother likes to share.
- Play pen
- Puppy pads (we found washable ones were good).
- Nappies as Holly did not have bladder control. For boys you can get belly bands. I’d recommend Glenn Darcy. Sanitary towels are quick and easy with these. As they need a tail hole after trialling a lot including big brands we found the Tesco number 3 green packaging to be the best. With others we found the gel crystals fell out or the plastic was hard to get a tail hole in.
- None scented wet wipes/ toilet wipes
- Blankets that are not too big so they wash and dry easily
- Dettol do a laundry sanitiser that is reasonably priced and great for washing anything soiled
- Sling for taking them out to toilet with
- Harness
- Lick mats to help boredom, toys if they like them
- Heat disk for in the winter or when it’s cooler as it’s safer than a hot water bottle
- A raised water bowl and food bowl. Our regular ones are raised but on crate rest I bought one that attached to the pen and crate bars at shoulder level.
- Baby gates are no longer a must have for us as Holly will not try to use the stairs. However they were needed at the beginning of Hollys journey to stop her going down the stairs.
- Although not an item.. a good support network makes a huge difference.
Things I made and tested during Holly's IVDD and colitis journey
Elasticated mattress covers
At the beginning of our IVDD journey we used disposal puppy pads. They are convenient but produce a lot of waste and slip around a lot. They also got chewed by two puppies we had at the time. The washable pads had the same slip issues and chew temptation.
I knew humans can get waterproof mattress covers so decided to make some for Holly. These are PU backed terry towelling covers with elastic that slips over a pet mattress or bed. They are easy to get on and off, don't slip and there's no corners for chewing. The covers also wash and dry really quickly, quicker than the reusable pads that we'd tried.
Bed toppers
The bed toppers went hand in hand with the mattress covers for Holly but they can be used on their own. These have a soft velvet side and a PU backed terry towelling side. They can be used both ways round and come with elastic straps to go over the sides of the beds or without the elastic. I used these as a layer for Holly so if/ when she had an accident I could take the topper off to wash and there was the mattress cover there already for her. Just like the mattress covers these wash and dry very quickly. The toppers can also be used in a car bed for travelling, on the sofa or when out and about.
Bumpers
Bumpers have been something I made from the start but their use has expanded since having Holly. I used these to keep drafts out of her pen and in her pushchair when going out. Making crate sets leaves long strips of fabric that have limited use, I used to send these to another small business however they no longer need them. This is where the idea of the sustainable bumpers came from. The sizes and fabrics vary but for crate rest this does not matter which means the cost can be kept low. Everything I make is washable which means the bumpers are also washable.
Blankets
The washing involved with Holly's IVDD episodes was off the scale sometimes. It quickly became obvious that the smaller the blanket the easier the washing would be. Instead of one huge blanket filling the machine I could fit the mattress cover and multiple blankets in on a quick wash. If you have a sick or incontinent dog I'd recommend flat fabrics such as polar fleece. Teddy, tufted or faux fur fabrics are harder to rinse out and wash (trust me).
Waterproof Topped Mattress
You may have a crate set already or would like to buy a crate set but would like to incorporate a waterproof aspect. This is why I designed a mattress cover using our fabrics from the main collection which is reversable. One side is the chosen fabric that matches you crate set, flip it over and there is a waterproof PU backed terry towel panel!
Snuggle Beds and Converters
A lot of pets love to snuggle but dachshunds particularly seem to love it! The snuggle bed incorporates the waterproof topped mattress with a snuggle sack. The means the sack aspect can be taken off to wash on its own and/ or the mattress cover be removed to wash. The snuggle sack aspect can also be bought separately to covert a normal bed into a snuggle bed. Being able to wash different aspects separately is something that was very useful during a colitis flareup or when incontinence was an issue.
Accessible Mattress Beds;
Post IVDD Holly could no longer get inside high sided beds unfortunately. This where the idea of a sofa bed came in. It is an orthopaedic mattress with three sides as she can get in the front. The mattress has a waterproof cover as standard and is removeable and the three side cushion inners are removable. The sizes are compatible with Ellie-Bo crates but can be used as a standalone bed.
Orthopaedic Mattresses
As standard all of the mattress are orthopaedic mattress, its the type that is a foam with a cone like top which can be use either way round. This type of bed is good for any dog but helps support medical marvels without being too soft. Holly struggled on occasion to get out of beds that were too soft without help.
Full Mattress Waterproof Covers
This is a cover that fully encompassed the mattress as a protector. It is something that is useful for medical marvels, golden oldies that may have accident, puppies still training or for general use to prolong the life of the mattress. It is another washable product but that is not very cosy if used on its own. I would recommend at minimum to use a topper with this. Holly is no longer incontinent however has long term colitis so this cover is standard here underneath her normal cover and bedding.
Helpful links;
https://dedicatedtodachshunds.co.uk