Non-surgical Spinal Cord Disease Diagnosis and Management

Some patients that are treated at a veterinary referral center for difficulty or the inability to walk may be seen by a staff surgeon, neurologist or internist, depending on the situation. Although some of these patients may require surgery for conditions such as intervertebral disc disease or a spinal fracture, other conditions such as fibrocartilagenous embolism (FCE), low volume-high velocity disc herniation, or meningitis, may be treated medically. Patients with these conditions often need advanced imaging such as CT or MRI, and a CSF tap for diagnosis.