Spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury (SIRI) is a crucial factor of subsequent spinal cord injury. SIRI often occurs after alleviating acute or chronic spinal cord compression or thoracoabdominal vascular surgery. SIRI-induced paraplegia is a serious complication of thoracoabdominal aortic surgery. However, the pathogenesis and treatment of SIRI are not fully elucidated. The SIRI animal model plays a vital role in elucidating the etiology and pathological mechanism of SIRI-related diseases, as well as guiding clinical drug use and future development. This article summarizes studies on SIRI animal models and analyzes possible methods to establish an ideal SIRI animal model to provide references for future research