French Bulldog Back Pain and Weak Back Legs: IVDD Signs and Care

Why Frenchies get spinal problems

Between each pair of vertebrae sits a disc with a jelly-like center. In IVDD, that disc degenerates and can bulge or burst into the spinal canal, pressing on the spinal cord.^[1] Cornell notes that about 65% of IVDD cases involve the middle-to-lower back and about 18% involve the neck.^[1]

French Bulldogs carry genes for short legs (chondrodysplasia) and a risk factor called CDDY, linked to early disc degeneration. Both appear on the AKC's DNA health panel for the breed.^[3] The French Bulldog Rescue Network also lists malformed vertebrae (hemivertebrae) among the breed's known problems.^[4] In a UK study of 2,781 French Bulldogs, the breed had about 3 times the odds of spinal cord disorders compared with other dogs.^[2]

Signs of back pain

• Hunched back or tense belly
• Crying out when picked up or touched
• Reluctance to jump, climb stairs or go for walks
• Shivering or panting without an obvious reason
• Stiff neck, or avoiding turning the head to one side^[1]
• Wobbly, drunken-looking walk in the back legs^[1]
• Knuckling: the paw flips over so the dog walks on the top of the foot

Emergency signs

Go to an emergency vet immediately if your dog:

• Cannot stand or use its back legs
• Drags its legs
• Loses control of its bladder or bowels
• Seems to have no feeling in its back paws

Cornell describes severe disc disease as leaving a dog "paralyzed, unable to get up or use their rear legs at all," and possibly incontinent. If surgery is recommended, its advice is: "don't wait. The longer you wait, the greater the chance the spinal cord will degenerate to the point where it might not recover."^[1]

How IVDD is treated

Medical management. Cornell says mild cases "may be managed medically, at least initially," with strict rest, pain medication and possibly muscle relaxants.^[1] Rest usually means crate confinement for several weeks, with short leash outings for the bathroom only. Stopping rest early is a common reason for relapse.

Surgery. For severe or worsening cases, a surgeon removes bone over the affected disc to take the pressure off the spinal cord. Cornell notes recovery "can take months."^[1] Diagnosis usually needs an MRI or CT scan to find the exact disc.

Rehabilitation. Physical therapy, controlled exercise and weight management help many dogs regain strength after either type of treatment.

Other causes of weak back legs

Not every wobbly Frenchie has IVDD. Other possibilities include malformed vertebrae, hip dysplasia, kneecap problems (patellar luxation), injuries and, in older dogs, degenerative myelopathy (a DNA test exists for a common variant).^[3] A vet exam, often with imaging, is the only way to tell them apart.

Protecting your Frenchie's back

• Keep your dog lean. Extra weight strains the spine.
• Use ramps or steps for beds and sofas, and block stairs where possible.
• Pick up your dog with two hands, supporting the chest and the rear together.
• Use a harness, not a collar, especially for dogs with neck pain.
• Avoid rough play that involves twisting and jumping.
• If buying a puppy, ask whether the parents were DNA tested for CDDY and whether related dogs have had spinal surgery.