Fibrocartilaginous embolism causes sudden spinal cord stroke in dogs, requiring accurate diagnosis and appropriate supportive care to optimize welfare outcomes during recovery.
FCE creates an acute welfare emergency followed by a prolonged rehabilitation phase. The sudden onset without obvious cause causes significant distress for both the dog and the owners. The lack of specific treatment means recovery depends heavily on the quality of supportive care - nursing, bladder management, wound prevention, and physical rehabilitation. Dogs with good recovery potential need intensive physiotherapy support during the 6-12 week recovery window when neural regeneration is most active. The welfare investment in rehabilitation during this window pays disproportionate returns in long-term function.