IVDD in Corgis

Clinical overview

Why Corgis carry elevated IVDD risk

Pembroke and Cardigan Welsh Corgis are chondrodystrophic breeds with early disc degeneration. Hansen Type I disc extrusion can convert a “sore back” into a surgical emergency within hours. A chronological symptom and mobility timeline—paired with MRI dates, crate-rest protocols, and neurology reports—is the difference between recoverable paresis and permanent deficit.

Watch list

Symptom checklist

• Reluctance to jump onto furniture or climb stairs
• Kyphosis (hunched back) or yelping when picked up
• Ataxia, knuckling, or dragging of the pelvic limbs
• Loss of bladder / bowel control in advanced grades
• Acute paralysis after a jump or rough play

Digital vault protocol

Emergency & longitudinal management

1. Log daily mobility grade (pain → ataxia → paresis → plegia) with timestamps
2. Enforce crate rest windows exactly as prescribed; document exceptions
3. Archive neurology consults, MRI summaries, and surgical decompression reports
4. Track bladder expression schedules and urinary tract infection treatment
5. Use ramps and ban jumping; photograph home setup for sitters and rehab teams