Exam Summary Terms
Mentation
Mental status or consciousness. Neurologically we are focused on awake patients that perhaps exhibit confusion, disorientation or may not respond as expected to stimulation. For example, a dog that has started to stand at a window instead of a door to go outside; a pet that walks aimlessly around the house or gets stuck in corners are all possible mentation issues.
In general veterinary practice, this can be divided into several categories
- Normal: responds as expected to stimulation
- Obtunded: Inattentive or drowsy, but reacts to stimulation
- Stuporous: Asleep, needs strong stimulation to get response
- Comatose: Unconscious and non-responsive
Cranial Nerves
Posture
How an animal holds their head and body.
Gait
Observation of how the animal walks on its own using all limbs without support or assistance.
Proprioception
Awareness of the body’s position and actions. There are multiple tests the neurologist uses for proprioception. The most common test or related term is Conscious Proprioception (CP). This is when a paw is turned upside down with the expectation that the pet will be aware that this is not correct and return the paw to the normal position.
Withdrawal Reflexes
This is part of the spinal reflex evaluation. These tests check the automatic/involuntary response the body has to stimulation.
Myotatic Reflexes
These are involuntary “knee-jerk” reflexes in direct response to a stretch and help an animal maintain balance.
Cutaneous Trunci Reflex
This is an involuntary twitching response on to pinching in specific locations along the side of the body.
Nociception
The process of the nervous system sensing and responding to stimulation.
Lesion Localization
Area where neurological issue is presumed to be focused
Myelopathy
Disease of the spinal cord
Ataxia
lack of coordination when walking. There are a variety of types of ataxia all which can indicate different conditions. Ataxia can range from leaning to one side or falling to an irregular rate of limb movement, crossing legs when walking, scuffing, knuckling, or dragging legs.
Atrophy
a partial or complete weakening and/or thinning of a part of the body
Bloodwork Terms
CBC Bloodwork
Complete Blood Count assesses the red and white blood cells. This is important to evaluate for infection, blood clotting ability, hydration, anemia, and immune system response.
Chemistry Profile Bloodwork
assesses kidney, liver, and pancreas function
Neurology Terms
Blastomycosis
A multifocal fungal infection. The fungi are often found in soil or decomposing organic matter such as leaves. The spores are often inhaled causing an infection.
Anaplasmosis
A bacterial tick borne disease. The best preventative is annual flea/tick preventative. If infected animals can often be treated with antibiotics.
Borreliosis
Also known as Lyme disease is a bacterial tick borne disease.
Brucellosis
A bacterial infection that can infect canines.
Spondylosis
A non-inflammatory, degenerative disease of the spine, where the vertebrae fuse together in one or more locations. Bone spurs can then form at the end of two vertebral bodies causing lack of spinal mobility.
Acute Non
Compressive Nucleus Pulposus Extrusion (ANNPE) – Link to section of AEM Paper? OR This occurs when a small volume of disc material (nucleus pulposus) extrudes/herniates from the disc space and impacts the spinal cord at a high velocity. This impact causes a concussive injury (edema, hemorrhage, etc.) to the spinal cord. ANNPE injuries by definition don’t have much extradural spinal cord compression, and therefore are not surgically treatment.
Degenerative Myelopathy
Similar to Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS) in humans, Degenerative Myelopathy is a disease that affects the spinal column of dogs causing progressive muscle weakness and lack of coordination.
Diskospondelytis
This is an infection of the intervertebral disc and adjacent bones.
Encephalitis
Inflammation of the brain
Encephalomyelitis
Inflammation of both the brain and the spinal cord.
Feline nonsuppurative meningoencephalomyelitis
often called “staggering disease” this is a rare condition. Inflammation of the brain and spinal cord membranes of cats causes abnormal gait and ataxia which can progress to paralysis.
Head pressing
Compulsively placing the front portion of the head against a wall or object for no apparent reason.
Hemiparesis
The presence of neurological deficit in one limb.
Horner's Syndrome
Horner’s syndrome is a collection of 5 issues together: constricted pupils, elevated third eyelid, retraction of the eyeball into the head, slight drooping of the eyelid, increased pink color and warmth of the ear & nose
Herniation
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Hydrocephalus
A condition where fluid accumulates in the brain enlarging the head, sometimes causing brain damage.
Meningoencephalitis
Inflammation of the brain membrane and adjoining cerebral tissue.
Epilepsy Terms
Clonic seizure
Often commonly called a grand mal seizure. A generalized, convulsive seizure with violent jerking spasms, foaming at the mouth, leg paddling, fly biting, and possible loss of bladder or bowel control.
Complex partial seizure
Also called Psychomotor or focal seizures. These seizures are more like an episode of abnormal behavior than an actual convulsion.
Anticonvulsant
A medication that stops or prevents seizures.
Ictal phase
The active stage of a seizure.
Post-ictal phase
he phase after a seizure when the brain is recovering and returning to normal.
Epilepsy Terms
Hemilaminectomy
A hemilaminectomy is the most common surgical procedure for spinal injuries in the thoracic and lumbar portion of the spinal column. For this procedure the surgeon approaches the spine from the top of the dog or cat. A window is created to access the vertebra through which the damaged disc material is removed.
Ventral Slot
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