Caring for a dog with IVDD: Our personal experience

Our little toy poodle Dilly has been on strict crate and pen rest for the last six weeks. One evening she jumped up, cried out and within hours we were at the vet. She spent five days in hospital and came home with a confirmed IVDD diagnosis. 

When the vet told us no walks or exercise for at least a month, we were stunned. Dilly is normally playful and bouncy... how would we keep her calm? It’s been tough, but it doesn’t have to mean chaos. With the right setup, there are comforting, manageable ways to care for a pup with IVDD.

What is IVDD?

IVDD, or intervertebral disc disease, is when a disc in a dog’s spine ruptures. Our vet has told us to picture a doughnut: IVDD is when the jam oozes out and presses on the spinal cord or surrounding nerves. In Dilly’s case, the jam squeezed sideways and trapped nerves, meaning she couldn’t use one back leg.

Disclaimer: I’m not a vet! This is purely our experience at home. We’ve worked closely with our vet, neurology specialists and a veterinary physiotherapist and I’d always recommend professional advice if you're worried.

Our tips for coping with IVDD

1. Create a cosy, calming environment

Dilly isn’t crate trained, so we set up a clip-in pen alongside her crate. This gave her the option to snooze in a covered space or stretch out more freely.

What’s helped:

• Lots of blankets and an orthopaedic mat (keep surfaces flat)
• A cooling mat for comfort (maybe more for summer, but meds can affect dogs' temperature)
• Fresh water within easy reach at all times
• An old t-shirt that smells like you: it brings instant comfort
• Raised bowls if needed: we like EasyEat feeders
• Careful loo trips: if your dog is small enough to lift, slide one arm between their back legs and the other between their front legs - it helps keep their spine straight

2. Gentle entertainment & enrichment

Just 20 minutes of sniffing can equal an hour’s walk in terms of stimulation. Brain games are essential when physical activity is limited.

We’ve loved hiding treats in our plush snuffle toys: the baguette, ice cream and cassette have been some of Dilly’s favourites. They keep her entertained indoors without overexertion.

3. Caring routines

Walks, baths and full grooming sessions were off the table. But if your pup has curly or long hair, keeping them mat-free is key.

Our routine:

• Give a spritz of 2-in-1 no-rinse conditioner (we like Bugalugs)
• Using our slicker brush, comb through fur following the curve of the brush
• For concentrated knots, use the dematting comb to gently brush them out
  
• Brush through the entire coat with the everyday comb to ensure all knots are out
• Give a quick freshen with a no-rinse facial shampoo and a damp flannel pat-down 

This kept Dilly comfortable and smelling lovely without full grooming.

For you, the human

It’s hard seeing your pup on rest and harder still when you’re juggling everything else. A few things that have helped me:

• Playing calming music (relaxing dog music on Spotify, Classic FM, smooth jazz, lo-fi)
• Giving Dilly a versatile comfort toy: our fawn toy has different textures and has reassured me she’s not alone at night
• Taking 30 minutes for myself each day, be it a run or coffee with a friend. It's made me feel more human again!
• Reading aloud to Dilly (even Instagram captions!) 
• Reminding myself this is temporary. Some days will feel hard, but it will pass

Recovery takes time but with calm care, patience and love, you’ll come out the other side. Amidst the restrictions, there are still lovely moments and snuggles to share. You're not alone!

Explore our edit of toys and grooming products to make rest and recovery feel a little more normal.