Author: Zoe Chapman, RVN, Cert CFVHnut

ABSTRACT Patients presenting with spinal neurological disease may require emergency intervention and can be a source of considerable concern for both owners and veterinary teams. Neurological dysfunction can range from ataxia and paresis to tetraplegia and loss of deep pain perception. Appropriate and attentive nursing care is fundamental to supporting optimal outcomes for these patients. Common spinal conditions include intervertebral disc herniation, acute non-compressive nucleus pulposus extrusion, and traumatic, vascular and infectious disorders. Each may produce different clinical signs depending on the region of the spinal cord affected. Following neurological examination, imaging and clinical assessment are used to guide treatment, which may be conservative or surgical; the nursing considerations for each are broadly similar. Veterinary nurses play a central role in admission, monitoring, anaesthetic support and day-to-day management, with care focused on pressure relief, cleanliness, nutrition, hydration, mobility support and bladder management. Vigilant observation for deterioration, including changes in respiratory effort, temperature or demeanour, is essential, particularly in patients at risk of myelomalacia. Whether in first opinion or referral practice, spinal patients rely heavily on consistent, knowledgeable nursing support to achieve the best possible outcomes.
Keywords Paresis, deep pain perception, paralysis, ataxia, bladder

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56496/NFRC5328

To cite this article: Chapman, Z. (2026) Nursing of common spinal emergencies. VNJ 41(3)pp54-58.

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