Earlier this month, Southfields Veterinary Specialists hosted an educational seminar dedicated to intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), bringing together Dachshund owners, veterinary professionals and researchers to discuss our current understanding of this important condition.
The event was organised in association with Dachshund Health UK and included presentations covering the causes and clinical signs of IVDD, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and rehabilitation.
Bruno Lopes, veterinary neurologist at Southfields and PhD student at the University of Cambridge Vet School, delivered two presentations during the event. The first provided an overview of IVDD and its clinical management, while the second explored recent developments in our understanding of the disease, including its prevalence in different Dachshund varieties and the potential influence of lifestyle, neutering and genetics.
Copyright Bruno Lopes and Southfields Referrals – used with permission
Genetics remains an important but complex part of the IVDD story. The presentation discussed the association between the FGF4 retrogene on canine chromosome 12 and chondrodystrophy and IVDD, while highlighting that this genetic variant is already present at very high frequency in Dachshunds and several other predisposed breeds. Importantly, not every dog carrying this genetic background develops IVDD, suggesting that additional genetic and environmental factors are involved.
Bruno also gave a short update on ongoing research at the University of Cambridge investigating these additional factors. This includes whole-genome studies in Miniature Smooth-Haired Dachshunds and work investigating the relationship between genetics, radiographic disc calcification and IVDD. The latter project is being undertaken in partnership with Wisdom Panel and Dachshund Health UK.
The clinical presentations were complemented by a practical session on physiotherapy and hydrotherapy, including techniques that can be used during rehabilitation and an explanation of how underwater treadmill therapy can be adapted to dogs recovering from IVDD surgery.
Events such as this provide an important opportunity to bring together owners, clinicians and researchers, sharing current evidence while also highlighting the questions that remain unanswered. Continued participation from Dachshund owners remains particularly valuable to the CGC’s ongoing work to better understand the genetic factors contributing to IVDD.
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