A minimally-invasive treatment for severe intervertebral disc disease in small dog breeds is now available at the University of Cambridge’s Queen’s Veterinary School Hospital – the only place in the UK currently providing the procedure.
Dogs with severe intervertebral disc disease can now be treated with a new enzyme injection at the Queen’s Veterinary School Hospital (QVSH), part of the University of Cambridge Department of Veterinary Medicine, offering a safe, less invasive, and significantly more affordable alternative to spinal surgery for suitable cases.
Severe intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is a serious and debilitating disease that affects many of the most popular breeds of dog in the UK. It occurs when a disc ruptures causing damage to the spinal cord. It can cause sudden paralysis and the inability to stand or walk, severe pain, and the loss of bladder or bowel control.
IVDD affects around 25% of dachshunds and is also common in other short-legged dog breeds like French bulldogs in the UK.
The new treatment, called percutaneous intra-discal chondroitinase injection, involves delivering an enzyme directly into damaged intervertebral discs. This dissolves the central part of the spinal disc, potentially relieving pressure on the spinal cord without the need for expensive open surgery.
Since early 2025, 24 dogs have been successfully treated in Cambridge – all regaining their mobility within days of the injection. The QVSH is currently the only place in the UK where this treatment is available.
The treatment was co-developed by Professor Paul Freeman at the University of Cambridge Veterinary School, in collaboration with colleagues at Texas A&M University in the United States. Earlier this year they published the results of a clinical trial involving 54 dogs who had lost the ability to walk due to IVDD. The trial found that dogs receiving the injections recovered the ability to walk at a similar rate to those who underwent other forms of treatment. The results were published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
The procedure is now recognised by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons as routine veterinary practice, allowing it to be offered outside the original trial conditions.
The QVSH is also continuing to accept eligible dogs into the ongoing clinical trial.
Professor Paul Freeman, European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology at the QVSH and lead investigator on the trial, said: “This is not a miracle cure, but it is an exciting new option for some dogs with severe spinal cord injury caused by a herniated disc. The injections are much less invasive than surgery and can offer similar outcomes for the right patients. Our aim is to give owners more choice, particularly where surgery may be difficult, and ultimately to help more dogs get back on their feet.”
A success story
The clinical potential of this non-invasive approach is already being seen. Milo, a dachshund whose owner was searching for an alternative to invasive surgery, received chondroitinase injections at the QVSH and showed rapid improvement.
Milo’s owner, Lani, said: “A massive thank you to Paul and his team. The fruits of your research have given Milo a new chapter full of hope. Every day there is something new and he’s steadier. He started walking without falling one week post-injections. Now, just a few days later, it is really hard to keep him still!”
Milo’s owner was signposted to the treatment by Charlotte Baldwin, Founder of the UK charity Dedicated to Dachshunds, who said: “We’re thrilled to see the improvement in dogs like Milo following this new enzyme treatment. Being able to refer owners to a less invasive and more affordable option at Cambridge is hugely encouraging. This gives owners real choice in how they manage IVDD and offers many dogs the chance to regain their mobility.”
The treatment and study in the UK have been made possible thanks to funding and long-standing support from dachshund welfare charities including Dachshund Health UK and Dachshund Rescue UK.
Lynn Hall, Chair of Dachshund Rescue UK, said: “We’re so proud to have played a part in supporting the ongoing IVDD research at Cambridge. IVDD impacts so many dogs and the families who care deeply for them, and progress like this wouldn’t be possible without collaboration. It’s wonderful to see a non-surgical, affordable solution emerging - especially when so many dogs are sadly euthanised because their owners can’t afford surgery.”