IVDD Resource Library

Ralph is my 7-year-old golden retriever, goofy, athletic, wildly enthusiastic about life, and honestly a little unhinged in the best possible way. He lives for fetch, running full speed for no apparent reason, and swimming like he was born in water. He has a ridiculous talent for finding things (especially the TV remote), and his love language is very clearly food.

Ralph didn't come to me as an "easy" dog. He has a significant resource guarding history, and when we moved from Denver to Seattle, the adjustment hit him hard. The traffic, sounds, and constant stimulation overwhelmed him, and he developed leash reactivity that took months of structured training, patience, and management to improve. It wasn't quick, but we got there.

Fast forward to now: Ralph is a healthy, active golden retriever, but recently, he was diagnosed with Grade 1 Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD).

IVDD isn't common in goldens, but Ralph is a big dog. His ideal weight is around 80 pounds, which is large even for the breed. Large dogs carry more load through their spine, and gravity is not exactly their ally. Degenerative spinal changes can happen quietly, until one day something tips the balance.

I learned about Ralph's diagnosis at the end of November. It shook me, not because his case was severe, thankfully it is grade 1, but because spine issues are scary, nuanced, and often misunderstood. I went into full research mode.

I'm an obsessive dog owner, and I mean that as a strength. I read everything. I asked every question. I tracked every symptom. I planned for best case scenarios and worst case ones. My goal from that moment on became very clear:

Give Ralph the longest, happiest, pain free life possible and slow spinal degeneration as much as science allows.

This log exists to document Ralph's journey, honestly, thoroughly, and without sugarcoating, so other paw people navigating IVDD, back pain, or early degenerative changes don't feel lost or alone.