Table 5 Risk factors (exercise, environment and activity factors) for intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) from univariable analysis (OR = odds ratio, CI = confidence interval)

Less than 30 min exercise

No

231 (13.8 %)

1440 (86.2 %)

1 (base)

Yes

77 (28.5 %)

193 (71.5 %)

2.49

1.85–3.52

<0.001

30 min–1 h exercise

No

212 (15.3 %)

1176 (84.7 %)

1 (base)

Yes

96 (17.4 %)

457 (82.6 %)

1.17

0.90–1.52

0.257

Over 1 h exercise

No

176 (21.2 %)

654 (78.8 %)

1 (base)

Yes

132 (11.9 %)

979 (88.1 %)

0.50

0.39–0.64

<0.001

Off lead exercise

No

204 (17.1 %)

992 (82.9 %)

1 (base)

Yes

103 (13.9 %)

640 (96.1 %)

0.78

0.61–1.01

0.061

Jogging/cycling with owner

No

307 (16.0 %)

1616 (84.0 %)

1 (base)

Yes

1 (5.9 %)

16 (94.1 %)

0.33

0.04–2.49

0.282

Collar use

Neither

23 (18.4 %)

102 (81.6 %)

1 (base)

0.016

Both

1 (10.0 %)

9 (90.0 %)

0.49

0.06–4.08

0.512

Collar

172 (13.7 %)

1086 (86.3 %)

0.70

0.44–1.14

0.149

Harness

107 (19.3 %)

447 (80.7 %)

1.06

0.64–1.75

0.815

Pulling

No pull

217 (15.8 %)

1159 (84.2 %)

1 (base)

Harness pull

35 (17.6 %)

164 (82.4 %)

1.14

0.77–1.69

0.514

Collar pull

39 (12.5 %)

273 (87.5 %)

0.76

0.53–1.10

0.147

Obedience

No

237 (15.5 %)

1290 (84.5 %)

1 (base)

Yes

63 (15.1 %)

353 (84.9 %)

0.97

0.72–1.31

0.851

Participation in group walks

No

260 (15.9 %)

1378 (84.1 %)

1 (base)

Yes

40 (13.1 %)

265 (86.9 %)

0.80

0.56–1.14

0.222

Showing at fun/charity/exemption shows

No

276 (16.1 %)

1434 (83.9 %)

1 (base)

Yes

24 (10.3 %)

209 (89.7 %)

0.59

0.38–0.93

0.022

Showing at Kennel Club Championship shows

No

291 (16.9 %)

1431 (83.1 %)

1 (base)

Yes

9 (4.1 %)

212 (95.9 %)

0.21

0.11–0.41

<0.001

Showing at Kennel Club Open shows

No

289 (16.7 %)

1441 (83.3 %)

1 (base)

Yes

11 (5.2 %)

202 (94.8 %)

0.27

0.15–0.51

<0.001

Canine Good Citizen

No

286 (16.1 %)

1485 (83.9 %)

1 (base)

Yes

14 (8.1 %)

158 (91.9 %)

0.46

0.26–0.81

0.007

Mini agility

No

288 (15.5 %)

1574 (84.5 %)

1 (base)

Yes

12 (14.8 %)

69 (85.2 %)

0.87

0.51–1.78

0.874

Earth/Working trials

No

292 (15.5 %)

1596 (84.5 %)

1 (base)

Yes

8 (14.5 %)

47 (85.5 %)

0.93

0.44–1.99

0.852

Therapy dog (Pets as Therapy)

No

295 (15.5 %)

1609 (84.5 %)

1 (base)

Yes

5 (12.8 %)

34 (87.2 %)

0.80

0.31–2.07

0.648

Heelwork to music

No

299 (15.4 %)

1638 (84.6 %)

1 (base)

Yes

1 (16.7 %)

5 (83.3 %)

1.10

0.13–9.41

0.934

Cani-X

No

298 (15.4 %)

1640 (84.6 %)

1 (base)

Yes

2 (40.0 %)

3 (60.0 %)

0.16

0.61–22.05

0.155

Spend day

Dog play pen

1 (10.0 %)

9 (90.0 %)

1 (base)

0.724

House – no restriction

152 (16.1 %)

791 (83.9 %)

1.73

0.22–13.75

0.605

House – restrictions

144 (15.9 %)

764 (84.1 %)

1.70

0.21–13.49

0.617

Outbuilding with run

0 (0 %)

8 (100.0 %)

0.00

–

0.999

Outdoor/farm/garden

4 (9.1 %)

40 (90.9 %)

0.90

0.09–9.05

0.929

Kennel and run

0 (0 %)

24 (100.0 %)

0.00

–

0.998

Outbuilding no run

0 (0 %)

3 (100 %)

0.00

–

0.999

Dog cage/crate

9 (26.5 %)

25 (73.5 %)

3.24

0.36–29.30

0.295

Other dog company

Only dog

112 (16.4 %)

573 (83.6 %)

1 (base)

0.350

One other Dachshund

85 (17.9 %)

391 (82.1 %)

1.11

0.82–1.52

0.501

One non-Dachshund

25 (12.3 %)

178 (87.7 %)

0.72

0.45–1.14

0.164

2 or more Dachshunds

54 (14.6 %)

315 (85.4 %)

0.88

0.62–1.25

0.466

2 or more non Dachshunds

34 (14.0 %)

208 (86.0 %)

0.84

0.55–1.23

0.399

Stairs

Up and down flight of stairs each day

90 (12.3 %)

641 (87.7 %)

1 (base)

0.005

No stairs each day

116 (17.0 %)

567 (83.0 %)

1.46

1.10–1.96

0.013

One step in/out of house each day

104 (18.5 %)

457 (81.5 %)

1.62

1.19–2.20

0.002

Furniture jump

Yes

138 (10.4 %)

1194 (89.6 %)

1 (base)

No

172 (26.7 %)

471 (73.3 %)

3.16

2.47–4.05

<0.001

Activity level

Not at all active

20 (37.7 %)

33 (62.3 %)

1 (base)

<0.001

Highly active

44 (7.8 %)

517 (92.2 %)

0.140

0.07–0.27

<0.001

Moderately active

133 (13.8 %)

832 (86.2 %)

0.264

1.45–0.47

<0.001

Mildly active

113 (28.6 %)

282 (71.4 %)

0.661

0.36–1.20

0.174