Spinal cord injuries in dogs and cats, particularly from intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) in chondrodystrophic breeds, cause significant suffering and require prompt diagnosis and management.
Animals experiencing acute spinal cord compression suffer severe pain that may precede weakness or paralysis. Delayed diagnosis and treatment worsens outcomes and prolongs suffering. Paralysed animals that lack appropriate management suffer from pressure sores, urinary tract infections and muscle atrophy. However, paraplegic animals with engaged owners and appropriate wheelchairs and care can live with good quality of life.