Seeing your pet lose the ability to walk or stand can be distressing. Whether the paralysis happens suddenly or progresses over time, identifying the cause is crucial for providing the right treatment and improving your pet’s quality of life. While traditional diagnostic tools like X-rays and CT scans have their place, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is often the best option for investigating neurological causes of paralysis in pets.
Understanding paralysis in pets
Paralysis in pets can be partial (paresis), where they still have some movement but significant weakness, or complete paralysis, where they lose all function in their legs. It may affect the front legs, back legs, or all four limbs, depending on the location and severity of the issue. Some common causes of paralysis include:
- Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) – A condition where the discs between the spine’s vertebrae degenerate or rupture, damaging and compressing the spinal cord.
- Spinal Cord Injuries – Trauma from accidents, falls, or bites can damage the spinal cord and lead to paralysis.
- Tumours – Abnormal growths in the spine can compress the spinal cord, affecting movement, or even destroy the spinal cord, causing a more permanent loss of function.
- Inflammatory Diseases – Conditions like meningitis or discospondylitis (infection of the discs and the adjacent vertebrae) can lead to neurological dysfunction.
- Vascular Conditions – A spinal stroke, also known as fibrocartilaginous embolism (FCE), can block blood flow to the spinal cord and cause sudden paralysis.
Since many of these conditions affect soft tissues surround the vertebral column, the spinal cord and the spinal nerves, which cannot be evaluated with X-rays and may not be visible on CT, MRI is one of the most effective tools for diagnosis.
How MRI helps in investigating paralysis
- Detecting Spinal Cord Compression
If a pet loses the use of its legs due to spinal cord compression (as seen with IVDD), MRI can precisely identify the affected area and the severity of the condition. This allows veterinarians to determine whether surgery or other treatments are needed and where precisely it should be performed. - Identifying Inflammation or Infection
MRI can reveal inflammation affecting the spinal cord, nerve roots, or surrounding tissues, including the vertebrae. Although it may not reveal whether this is an infection or immune-mediated disease, in combination with other tests such as a spinal tap, it can be more specific as to the cause. - Locating Tumours
Tumours affecting the vertebral column or spinal cord can lead to weakness and paralysis. MRI provides clear imaging of masses, their precise location, and their effect on nearby structures, which is critical for treatment planning. It can be highly suggestive of tumour type in many cases which is also important in predicting the potential outcome. - Diagnosing Spinal Strokes (FCE)
A fibrocartilaginous embolism (spinal stroke) can cause sudden paralysis in pets. Since this condition doesn’t show up on X-rays or CT, MRI is the best way to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other issues. - Assessing Traumatic Injuries
If your pet has suffered an injury, MRI can evaluate soft tissue damage, nerve compression, and spinal fractures, giving veterinarians a complete picture of the damage. This is essential for deciding whether surgery, rehabilitation, or supportive care is the best course of action.
Conclusion
When a pet loses the use of its legs, time is critical. Early and accurate diagnosis increases the chances of recovery or effective management of the condition. MRI stands out as one of the most advanced imaging techniques available, offering unparalleled detail for detecting spinal, neurological, and soft tissue disorders. Understanding what the cause is and whether there are a range of treatment options can be a vital function of spinal MRI in your pet.
