Spinal cord injury is a significant welfare challenge for dogs, but with appropriate treatment and adaptation many affected dogs achieve excellent quality of life with proper support.
Spinal cord injury in dogs requires honest quality of life assessment alongside active rehabilitation. Dogs paralysed by disc disease or trauma can adapt remarkably well to modified lives - paraplegic dogs using wheelchairs show playful behaviour, social engagement, and apparent contentment when well-cared for. The welfare assessment involves bladder and bowel management (many require manual expression), prevention of pressure sores, ongoing physiotherapy, and monitoring for pain. The welfare decision to pursue rehabilitation versus euthanasia is complex and individual - dogs demonstrating clear positive affect and absence of unmanageable pain can have excellent welfare even with significant physical limitation.