Is It “Just” Back Pain? Understanding Spinal Pain in Dogs

Back pain in dogs is often more than simple discomfort. It can be debilitating, affecting everything from how your pet moves to whether they eat, rest, or even sleep comfortably.

In this blog, we'll walk through what causes back pain, where it comes from, and how it's typically approached, especially in dogs where pain is the primary sign without other neurologic issues like difficulty using the back legs.

Where Does Back Pain Come From?

Back pain doesn't come from just one place. It can originate from several structures around the spine, including:

• Bones of the vertebral column
• Nerves as they exit the spinal cord
• The meninges (the protective sac surrounding the spinal cord)
• Intervertebral discs
• Muscles supporting the spine

Here's something that surprises many people: The spinal cord itself cannot feel pain. Even though it serves as the highway that transmits pain signals to the brain, the spinal cord does not have the ability to perceive pain directly.

This is why certain spinal cord conditions like a fibrocartilaginous embolism (FCE), essentially a stroke of the spinal cord, often cause sudden dysfunction but not back pain.

There is also the concept of "referred pain." Dogs with discomfort in their abdomen (like the stomach, pancreas or liver) can present for back pain. That's because those organs' nerves often don't transmit pain signals and the brain misinterprets them as back pain. If your dog is vomiting with back pain, it might not be back pain at all!

It's also important to recognize that neck pain and back pain are not the same. They often have different causes, behave differently clinically, and may be managed with different strategies. This blog focuses specifically on back pain (the thoracolumbar region).

What Are the Most Common Causes of Back Pain?

Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)

The most common cause of back pain in dogs is intervertebral disc disease (IVDD). Certain breeds like Dachshunds, French Bulldogs, and Corgis are chondrodystrophic, meaning their cartilage develops differently. This predisposes their discs to early degeneration and herniation.

A key point: Even significant disc compression can cause severe pain without neurologic dysfunction.

Discospondylitis

Discospondylitis is an infection of the disc and adjacent vertebral bones. These infections can be caused by bacteria or fungus and can arise through:

• The bloodstream (for example, from a urinary tract infection)
• Migrating plant material (like grass awns) that travel through the body

Dogs with discospondylitis are often in pain and may feel generally unwell with a fever.

Trauma

External trauma can arise from falls, rough play, or car accidents, and sometimes these traumatic events are a surprise. We have seen many cases of dogs around wildlife or livestock that get kicked and present for back pain with no knowledge of their injury.

Tumors

Tumors can arise from the vertebral bones, the meninges, or other surrounding tissues. These can create pain through inflammation, instability, or compression of nearby structures.

What Should You Do If Your Dog Has Back Pain?

The first step is a visit to your veterinarian. Their evaluation may include:

• A physical and neurologic examination
• Bloodwork (to look for infection or systemic disease)
• Spinal radiographs (X-rays)

Radiographs can be helpful for identifying discospondylitis, detecting tumors, and evaluating for trauma. However, they are not perfect tests and can miss these causes. X-rays are two-dimensional and are insensitive to small changes or those that have not eroded enough mineral (calcium). They are considered a weak test for IVDD, as they show shadows and structural changes but not whether a disc is actively causing the problem.

Initial Treatment

Most dogs with uncomplicated back pain are treated conservatively with:

• Anti-inflammatory medications
• Pain control
• Activity restriction

When Is a Referral Needed?

If your dog does not improve quickly, improves but then relapses after a short period (e.g., two weeks), or develops new neurologic signs (like difficulty walking or weakness in the back legs), a specialist referral may be warranted.

At that point, advanced imaging (such as MRI) may be used to identify the exact cause, guide treatment decisions, and determine whether surgery is indicated.

The Good News

The outlook for dogs with back pain is generally very favorable:

• Over 80% of dogs improve with conservative (non-surgical) management
• Over 95% recover when surgery is required

Even for less common conditions, outcomes can be excellent with the right diagnosis and treatment.

The Bottom Line

Understanding where back pain comes from is the first step toward helping your pet feel better. And while the list of possible causes can seem overwhelming, the majority of dogs respond very well to appropriate care.

If your dog is showing signs of back pain, start with your primary veterinarian. Their evaluation will help determine whether conservative management is appropriate or whether a specialist referral makes sense. If The Animal Neurology Center can help, we are here. Call us at 314-246-9780 or visit animalneurology.com.