Acquisition of Involuntary Spinal Locomotion (Spinal Walking) in Dogs with Irreversible Thoracolumbar Spinal Cord Lesion: 81 Dogs

Spinal walking (SW) is when paraplegic dogs and cats with thoracolumbar lesions regain involuntary motor function without pain. This study looked at whether paraplegic dogs with complete spinal cord lesions could develop autonomous spinal walking with intensive physical rehabilitation. The study found that younger, lighter dogs were more likely to develop spinal walking after physical therapy.

• 1
  59% of dogs with irreversible thoracolumbar lesions acquired autonomous spinal walking after intensive physical therapy.
• 2
  Younger age (≤60 months) was positively associated with the development of spinal walking.
• 3
  Lightweight (≤7.8 kg) was positively associated with the development of spinal walking.