Hemilaminectomy - Frenchies versus Dachys and a sneak peak at a hemilaminectomy
- Abbie Tipler
- Jul 2
- 3 min read
Intervertebral Disc Disease: Not All Breeds Are Equal
Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) is one of the most common neurological conditions encountered in canine practice. While both Dachshunds and French Bulldogs are highly predisposed to IVDD, emerging research demonstrates significant differences in disease presentation, prognosis, recurrence rates, and long-term management between these breeds.
Why Are Dachshunds and French Bulldogs at Risk?
Both breeds are chondrodystrophic, meaning they carry genetic traits that accelerate degeneration of the intervertebral discs.
Dachshunds
Dachshunds are considered the classic IVDD breed, with studies suggesting that up to 20–25% may develop clinically significant IVDD during their lifetime.
Typical characteristics include:
Younger age of onset (often 3–7 years)
Acute disc extrusion
Thoracolumbar disease predominates
Single-site disc extrusion is common
Relatively low incidence of concurrent spinal malformations
French Bulldogs
French Bulldogs have rapidly become one of the most commonly affected breeds presenting to me.
Compared with Dachshunds, French Bulldogs frequently exhibit:
Earlier onset disease
Higher prevalence of cervical disc disease
Greater frequency of multiple disc extrusions
Concurrent congenital vertebral abnormalities (hemivertebrae, kyphosis, scoliosis)
Increased incidence of spinal arachnoid diverticula and other complex spinal disorders
These factors can complicate both diagnosis and long-term management.
Clinical Presentation
Dachshunds
The classic presentation is acute onset thoracolumbar pain progressing to paresis or paralysis over hours to days.
Neurological signs are often directly attributable to a single compressive disc extrusion.
French Bulldogs
French Bulldogs frequently present with a more complex neurological picture.
Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for:
Multiple concurrent disc extrusions
Cervical and thoracolumbar disease occurring simultaneously
Congenital vertebral malformations
Chronic spinal cord compression
Recurrent episodes of neurological dysfunction
Advanced imaging often reveals multiple abnormalities requiring careful interpretation.
Surgical Outcomes and Prognosis
Dachshunds
Dachshunds generally have an excellent prognosis following surgical decompression.
Reported outcomes include:
90–95% recovery in dogs retaining deep pain sensation
60–70% recovery in deep pain negative dogs when surgery is performed promptly
Relatively predictable postoperative recovery
Most owners can be advised that return to functional ambulation is highly likely when intervention occurs before irreversible spinal cord injury develops.
French Bulldogs
Surgical outcomes remain favourable but tend to be less predictable.
Contributing factors include:
More severe spinal cord compression
Multiple affected disc spaces
Concurrent vertebral abnormalities
While many French Bulldogs recover well following decompression, recovery times may be longer and residual neurological deficits are more common.
Recurrence Risk
One of the most important differences between the breeds relates to recurrence.
Dachshunds
Following successful surgery, recurrence rates are generally reported between 10–20%.
Recurrence may occur:
At a different disc space
At the original site if residual disc material remains
Months to years after the initial event
Prophylactic fenestration performed at the time of surgery can significantly reduce future thoracolumbar disc extrusions in appropriately selected cases.
French Bulldogs
French Bulldogs appear to have substantially higher recurrence rates.
Several studies have reported recurrence rates approaching 30–50% depending on follow-up duration and case selection.
Factors contributing to recurrence include:
Multiple degenerated discs present at diagnosis
Ongoing degeneration of remaining discs
Complex vertebral anatomy
Higher prevalence of multifocal disease
As a result, French Bulldog owners should be counselled that surgery often treats the current problem rather than eliminating future risk.
Postoperative Expectations
Dachshunds
Most Dachshunds:
Regain ambulatory function rapidly
Require relatively straightforward rehabilitation
Experience excellent long-term quality of life
French Bulldogs
French Bulldogs often benefit from:
Longer rehabilitation programs
More intensive physiotherapy
Ongoing monitoring for recurrence
Repeat imaging if new neurological signs develop
Owners should be prepared for a more prolonged recovery period and a higher likelihood of future spinal disease.
Key Take-Home Messages for Veterinarians
Both Dachshunds and French Bulldogs are highly predisposed to IVDD, but they should not be considered equivalent disease models.
Dachshunds typically develop isolated thoracolumbar disc extrusions with excellent surgical outcomes and comparatively low recurrence rates.
French Bulldogs frequently present with multifocal disease, concurrent vertebral abnormalities, and higher recurrence rates.
Surgical decompression remains the treatment of choice for dogs with significant neurological deficits in both breeds.
Accurate client counselling requires breed-specific discussion regarding prognosis, recovery expectations, and future risk.
As French Bulldogs continue to rise in popularity, veterinarians should anticipate seeing increasing numbers of complex spinal cases requiring advanced imaging, specialist referral, and long-term management strategies.
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