Back problems are one of the biggest health concerns for Dachshunds, and about 1 in 4 will experience intervertebral disk disease (IVDD) in their lifetime. <\/p>\n
Unfortunately, many Dachshund owners are unaware of this risk. Of those that are, a significant portion are either terrified it will happen to their Dachshund and\/or it\u2019s happened to theirs and they\u2019ve made it their mission to educate people about back issues in the breed (the latter is what happened to me).<\/p>\n
Almost all Dachshund around the world are at risk due to a disease associated with a genetic mutation associated with dwarfism, which gives the Dachshund their distinct look. While there is no definitive test for IVDD<\/a>, there has been some progress is preventing the effects of that genetic mutation.<\/p>\n Photo Credit: Depositphotos\/MattiaATH<\/p>\n This is the TL;DR version if you just want to skim over the explanation of why back screening is important and just jump right to the list of US breeders that do it.<\/p>\n While there\u2019s no way to completely prevent disk herniations as a result of the genetic disease that causes spinal disks to age prematurely and rupture (Intervertebral Disk Disease \u2013 IVDD<\/a>), breeders in Europe have been using Radiographs (X-rays) of the spine to help lower the risk in future generations.<\/p>\n Back screening is done between ages 2\u20134 and looks for calcified disks. Fewer calcifications generally means a lower chance of serious back problems later in life.<\/p>\n Because of the high heritability of disk calcification, it\u2019s possible that selective breeding against high numbers of calcified disks could reduce the occurrence of severe disk herniation in Dachshunds. (source<\/a>)<\/p>\n In Denmark, this program has been tracked for more than a decade and has already shown promising results in reducing the average number of calcifications in Dachshunds.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not a guarantee \u2013 any Dachshund can still hurt their back \u2013 but screening is considered the current \u201cbest practice\u201d for breeders who want to give their puppies the best possible start. <\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking for a Dachshund puppy, choosing a breeder who screens their dogs is one of the best ways to stack the odds in your favor.<\/p>\n One of the biggest health challenges Dachshunds face is Intervertebral Disk Disease (IVDD), which can cause painful spinal disk bulges or ruptures. Unfortunately, some ruptures will cause a dog to become paralyzed (luckily, there are treatments, which include conservative<\/a> and surgery<\/a>).<\/p>\n Since around 25% of Dachshunds will experience IVDD in their lifetime, breeders and owners alike have looked for ways to reduce the risk. One of the most promising approaches is using X-ray to screen for spinal calcifications in potential mates.<\/p>\n This method, widely used in Denmark and Finland, involves taking specific radiographs of a Dachshund\u2019s spine when they are between the ages of 2 and 4 to count the number of calcified disks. The number of calcifications gives breeders an indication of how severely the dog may be affected by IVDD and how likely they are to experience a disk herniation later in life.<\/p>\n The results are reported as a back score, called the K Number:<\/p>\n In 2014, veterinarians Tine Marx and Charlotte M\u00f8rck Andersen conducted a Masters thesis on back heath and concluded: Dogs with five or more calcified discs had 11 times greater risk of disc herniation compared to dogs with fewer than five calcifications. (source<\/a>)<\/p>\n By avoiding breeding dogs with high calcification counts together, or making sure to only breed one that has a high count with one with one that has a very low count, breeders can slowly shift the population toward fewer back problems over time.<\/p>\n Genetic testing for the genetic mutation that causes IVDD exists, but because nearly all Dachshunds have at least one copy of this gene, DNA results don\u2019t provide useful predictions. X-ray screening offers practical, measurable information that reflects how severely a dog is affected. This makes it one of the best tools available for breeders committed to reducing IVDD.<\/p>\n Denmark has been at the forefront when it comes to research into disk rupture and prolapse. The Danish Kennel Club (DKC) has tracked the results of this breeding scheme for almost 20 years. <\/p>\n They\u2019ve found that selective breeding based on back scores has gradually reduced the average number of calcifications in the population, showing real progress toward lowering risk.<\/p>\n This information is so clear, that in 2019, new breeding rules for Dachshunds were established in Denmark. The DKC mandated that both parents must<\/em> be back X-rayed before breeding and only Dachshunds that are K0-K2 can be used in breeding.<\/p>\n Important note: Neither<\/em> the Dachshund Club of America (DCA) or American Kennel Club (AKC) suggest back screening as a way to help prevent IVDD related back issues in Dachshunds.<\/p>\n While the American Kennel Club (AKC), which takes direction from the Dachshund Club America (DCA), emphasizes health testing like patella, cardiac, and eye exams, they do not suggest back x-ray screening before breeding.<\/p>\n In a letter sent from DCA to in June 2019, it\u2019s stated, \u201cdiseases such as LaFlora Disease, IVDD (Intervertebral Disk Disease), and PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy) In all of my research, it appears that, despite the evidence coming out of Denmark, the DCA still does not consider back x-ray screening \u201creliable\u201d or \u201cmeaningful\u201d, which is why they do not recommend it.<\/p>\n It is<\/em> important to understand that even the best screening program cannot eliminate disk herniations completely. A dog with a low calcification count can still suffer a back injury, and a dog with a higher score may never have problems. Screening is a \u201cbest practice,\u201d not a guarantee. <\/p>\n However, I think it\u2019s the best chance we have to prevent back injuries at this time. <\/p>\n In more recent years, I have become somewhat of a believer in X-ray back screening. It\u2019s very rarely done in the United States (US) though. In the almost 3 years I have been searching, I\u2019ve only found three breeders that I can confirm do it.<\/p>\n I decided to make this list for:<\/p>\n I will add to this list if I learn of more breeders doing it.<\/p>\n Eridox Dachshunds<\/a> is located near Kansas City, MO and Lisa J. Emerson has been using x-ray screening for calcifications in her breeding program for close to 20 years (for 8 generations!). She is extremely knowledgeable about the Dachshund breed, is the author of the Wienepedia<\/em> <\/a>educational website and book The Dachshund Spine<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n Lisa is also co-author on the paper The PMEL gene and merle (dapple) in the dachshund: cryptic, hidden, and mosaic variants demonstrate the need for genetic testing prior to breeding<\/a><\/em> and is working on a paper called Dapple (merle) genotype influence on ocular and undercoat phenotypes in the dachshund<\/em>, which is set to publish in 2026 (Otter is included in research for the latter).<\/p>\n Lisa breeds both miniature (primarily) and standard (occasionally \u2013 typically small standards) Dachshunds with short, long, and wire coats. She is the only breeder that does both back screening and<\/em> breeds fancy and unique coat colors and patterns (dapples, dilutes, etc.).<\/p>\n My boy Otter came from Eridox and I am still in regular contact with Lisa. We like to nerd out on Dachshund stuff and I plan to get Otter back screened after he turns 2 years old so that information might help her in the future.<\/p>\n She is the founder of the Dachshund IVDD Reduction Initiative<\/a>, a study that aims to look at the correlation between nutrition and spinal calcifications.<\/p>\n Dachshunds in the Sky With Diamonds<\/a> is located in Rochester, MN and is owned by Michelle Kutzler, a veterinarian and board certified veterinary reproduction specialist at Oregon State University (OSU). I don\u2019t know how long she has been x-ray screening, but I imagine it\u2019s been a long time.<\/p>\n Michelle is an AKC Breeder of Merit<\/a> of show and performance miniature Dachshunds (wire-haired, long-haired, short-haired). She is also an AKC judge for scent hound field trials, earthdog, CGC, and farm dog.<\/p>\n Michelle has been involved in way too many publications<\/a> to list, but a couple of her YouTube interviews I find very valuable are The Truth About Early Spay and Neuter<\/a><\/em> and The Powerful Role of Hormones in Your Pet\u2019s Health<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n While I have never spoken with her personally, we do \u201crun in similar circles\u201d in the Dachshund and IVDD communities. I hope to connect with her personally one day and perhaps interview her for our YouTube channel<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/youdidwhatwithyourweiner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Back-Screen-Breeders-US-800x533.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nThe Too Long; Didn\u2019t Read Version<\/h2>\n
A Deeper Look \u2013 Why Back Screening is Useful<\/h2>\n
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should be considered by breeders and will be potentially addressed as reliable, meaningful tests become available.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nDirectory of US Dachshund Breeders Using X-ray Back Screening<\/h2>\n
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1) Eridox Dachshunds<\/h3>\n
2) Dachshunds in the Sky With Diamonds<\/h3>\n
3) Majors Dachshunds<\/h3>\n