Mimics and misses: Avoiding the spine trap
“Spine on the line: When to act fast” focuses on the recognition and management of emergency spinal presentations in dogs, emphasising when rapid intervention is critical and when a more measured approach is appropriate. Spinal emergencies range from painful but ambulatory patients to those with acute paralysis, and early clinical decisions have a profound impact on outcome. This talk will outline a structured approach to assessing the emergency spinal patient, demonstrating how careful history-taking and a focused neurological examination can provide vital information on lesion localisation, disease severity and prognosis before advanced imaging is pursued.
The session will explore the most common causes of spinal emergencies, including intervertebral disc disease, acute non-compressive nucleus pulposus extrusion, ischaemic myelopathy, spinal trauma and neoplasia, highlighting key clinical features that help differentiate these conditions. Particular attention will be paid to grading neurological dysfunction, interpretation of deep pain perception, and recognising red flags that mandate urgent referral or surgical intervention.
Common diagnostic and management pitfalls will also be discussed, including misinterpretation of gait abnormalities, confusion between withdrawal reflexes and pain perception, and inappropriate use of corticosteroids. By combining practical examination techniques with case-based discussion, this talk aims to improve confidence, decision-making and outcomes when faced with dogs presenting with acute spinal disease.
- Recognise the key clinical features of emergency spinal disease in dogs and identify cases requiring urgent action.
- Perform a structured neurological assessment to localise spinal lesions and grade disease severity.
- Understand the prognostic significance of ambulation and deep pain perception in spinal emergencies.
- Differentiate the major causes of acute spinal presentations and appreciate their typical clinical patterns.
- Avoid common diagnostic and management pitfalls when assessing and treating dogs with suspected spinal emergencies.
