propedeutics small animals- neurologic exploration

light

mosquito

percussion hammer

what instruments are necessary for performing a neurological exploration?

only hindlimbs

if there is a spinal cord lesion between T2 and L4, what part of the animal do we expect to be affected?

between T2 and L4

if an animal has hind limb paralysis (paraplegia), we can add spinal cord injury to our differential diagnosis. where would we expect the injury to be?

front and hind limbs

an injury to the spinal cord that is cranial to C6 will affect what part of the animal?

8, 13, 7, 3, 5

the spinal cord is divided into segments: ___ cervical, ___ thoracic, ___ lumbar, _____ sacral, and ____ caudal

12

dogs and cats have _____ cranial nerves? (#)

1. mental status

2. posture and gait

3. postural reactions

4. cranial nerves

5. spinal reflexes

6. pain

what are the 6 important points we want to explore when examining an animal's neurologic condition?

1. alert

2. depression (decreased response)

3. disorientation (inappropriate response)

4. stupor (no response to normal stimuli, weak response to painful stimuli)

5. coma (no response)

what are the different levels of mental status that an animal might show?

it is a word used to describe the mental status of an animal. the animal has no response to normal stimuli, and a weak response to painful stimuli

what does stupor mean?

lack of response to any type of stimulus

what does coma mean in regards to the animal's mental status?

depression

what is the word used to describe an animal with decreased response to stimuli?

disorientation

if an animal has inappropriate responses to stimuli (ex- exaggerated), we call this_______

-rotation

-torsion (to the side)

-ventral flexion (head down)

what postural differences can we notice in an animal's head due to a neurological problem?

it is holding its head to the side

what does it mean if an animal is expressing "torsion" of its head?

the animal has a dorsal deviation of its spinal column

what does kyphosis mean?

kyphosis

what do we call this dorsal deviation of the spine?

a ventral deviation of the spinal column

what is "lordosis"?

lordosis- ventral deviation of the spinal column

this dog is presenting what?

lateral deviation of the spinal column

what is scoliosis?

scoliosis

what type of postural difference does this dog have?

scoliosis

what is 1?

2

which animal has kyphosis?

lordosis

what is the term we use to describe 3?

wide base station

knuckle support

lying/sitting

what postural differences might we notice in an animal in their extremities?

torsion

this abnormal head position is called...

the animal's forelimbs and hindlimbs are spread

what does "wide base station" mean?

wide base station

what do we call this posture?

uncoordinated gait

it can indicate lesions in the peripheral sensory nerves, spinal cord, brainstem, vestibular system, or cerebellum

what is ataxia?

proprioceptive

if an animal is dragging his limbs and walking on his knuckles, what type of ataxia is this?

dysmetry- different range and strength for each step.

an animal with a cerebellar lesion will show what type of ataxia?

when the animal is walking with an abnormal range/strength in each step. this is related with a cerebellar lesion.

hypermetry- exaggerated movements, excessive flexion, greater reach

hypometry- reduced flexion, reduced limb reach (small steps)

what is dysmetry? what are the different types?

when an animal walks with exaggerated movements, excessive flexion and a greater reach. very big steps.

this is related to a cerebellar lesion

what is hypermetry?

hypometry

cerebellar lesion

we notice an animal walking with abnormally small steps. what do we call this? what type of lesion is it associated with?

head tilt, falling, tilting and turning while walking, circling

if an animal has a vestibular lesion, what type of gait will it present?

vestibular system

if an animal is walking in circles, tilting and falling, where might he have a problem?

1 limb has reduced motor function

what is monoparesis?

the hind limbs have reduced motor function

what is paraparesis?

all 4 limbs have no movement

what does tetraplegia mean?

-plegia: total loss of voluntary movement

-paresis: reduced motor function

ex- hemiplegia, tetraparesis, etc

what is the difference between -plegia and -paresis?

the limbs of one side of the body have no movement

what is hemiplegia?

paraparesis- the hind limbs have reduced movement

paraplegia- the hind limbs have no movement

what is the difference between paraparesis and paraplegia?

tetraparesis

what is the word for reduced motor function of all 4 limbs?

hemiparesis

what is the word for reduced motor function of 2 limbs of the same side?

monoplegia

what is the word for NO motor function of 1 limb?

paraplegia

a dog comes to the vet, unable to move his 2 hind limbs. what do we call this?

monoparesis

a cat has reduced motor control over his front right limb. what is this called?

yes- if it is just a brain injury, this does not affect gait, only posture

can an animal with a brain injury have a normal gait?

left

brain injuries affect the opposite side of the body

if an animal has an injury on his RIGHT brain, what part of his body will have a postural defect?

right side

spinal cord injuries affect the same side posture and gait

if an animal has an injury on his RIGHT spinal cord, what part of his body will have a postural defect?

both

does a spinal cord injury affect the animal's posture or gait?

only posture

does a brain injury affect the animal's posture or gait?

spinal cord

-brain injuries only affect posture

if an animal has both postural and gait abnormalities, do we suspect a brain or spinal cord injury?

hemiwalking

paw replacement

hopping

wheelbarrowing

extensor postural thrust

visual and tactile placing

what are the different postural reactions for testing an animal's neurologic system?

paw replacement

we flex the fingers of one limb so that the dorsal part of the fingers are resting on the table- a healthy animal should put his paw back to normal within 3 seconds.

what is this postural reaction test called? what is the expected result of a healthy animal?

hemi walking

the animal should walk to the side with both limbs moving symmetrically

what is this postural reaction test called? what is the expected result of a healthy animal?

extensor postural thrust

we lift the animal and as we lower it to the ground, it should extend its hind limbs before contact the ground, and then hop backwards once it touches the ground

what is this postural reaction test called? what is the expected result of a healthy animal?

visual or tactile placing reaction

visual- allow the dog to see

tactile- covering the animals eyes

the animal should immediately place its feet on the table

what is this postural reaction test called? what is the expected result of a healthy animal?

wheelbarrowing

the animal should walk symmetrically with its front limbs while we push it forwards

what is this postural reaction test called? what is the expected result of a healthy animal?

hopping

the animal should walk with the one limb that is not being held.

we should test all limbs.

what is this postural reaction test called? what is the expected result of a healthy animal?

olfactory- I

what cranial nerve does this test?

blindfold the animal and place food in front, see if he reacts

how can we test the olfactory nerve (I)?

menace response

tests the facial (VII) and optic (II) nerves

what is this test called? what is it testing?

when we bring one hand gently towards the eye, we should observe the animal blink. this is not a reflex, but is a learnt behavior.

this tests the optic and facial nerves

what is the menace response?

direct/indirect pupillary reflex

tests optic and oculomotor nerves

what is this test for?

direct- the pupil of the eye that we shine the light into should contract

indirect- when we shine a light into one eye, the other eye should also have pupil contraction

what is the difference between the direct and indirect pupillary reflex?

oculomotor, trochlear, abducens

when we are observing the size and symmetry of the pupil, the opening of the eyelids, and the position and movement of the eyeballs, what nerves are we evaluating?

when we move the head to the left, right, up, and down and observe the rhythmical movement of the eyeballs in the direction that we are moving the head.

this tests the oculomotor, trochlear, abducens, and vestibulocochlear nerves

what is the positional nistagmus test? what does it test?

when we touch the eyelid of the animal, it must close its eye. this tests the trigeminal and facial nerves

what is the palpebral reflex?

the palpebral reflex

trigeminal and facial nerves

what are we testing here?

trigeminal

when we are palpating the masseter and temporal muscles, what nerve are we testing?

trigeminal

when we are checking the mandibular tone, what nerve are we testing?

we tickle the inside of the pinna to see if the ear moves. this tests the facial nerve

what is the auricular reflex?

the auricular reflex

facial nerve

what reflex/nerve are we testing here?

pinching the lip to assess the movement or withdrawal of the animal. this tests the facial and trigeminal nerves

what is the buccal reflex?

facial and trigeminal

this is the buccal reflex test

what nerves are we evaluating?

glossopharyngeal, hypoglossal, and vagus nerves

this is the swallowing reflex

what nerves are we evaluating?

glossopharyngeal, hypoglossal, and vagus nerves

what nerves does the swallowing reflex test?

evaluate the movement and strength of the tongue

swallowing reflex

how do we evaluate the hypoglossal nerve?

hypoglossal

when we evaluate the tongue, what nerve are we checking?

accessory nerve

when we palpate the trapezius muscle, what nerve are we testing?

hyporeflexia

if the animal has decreased spinal reflexes, we call this _____

the absence of spinal reflexes

what is arreflexia?

hyperreflexia

what is it called when an animal has increased spinal reflexes?

using a percussion hammer

the animal must be relaxed, in lateral decubitus

how do we check the spinal reflexes?

C6-C8

what nerves does the biceps reflex assess?

C7-T1

if we are assessing the animal's triceps reflex, what nerves are we evaluating?

extensor carpi radialis

withdrawal reflex

what reflex would we assess if we want to check for an injury between C7 and T2?

C6-T2 (front limb)

L4-S3 (back limb)

what nerves does the withdrawal reflex relate to?

T2-L5

what nerves do we assess when evaluating the cutaneous tunici muscle reflex?

L4-L5

what spinal nerves does the patellar reflex associate with?

L7-S1

what nerves are we evaluating if we test for an animal's gastrocnemius reflex?

L6-S2

what nerves is the cranial tibial reflex associated with?

S1-S3

what nerves do we evaluate with the perineal reflex?

an exaggerated reaction to painful stimuli

what is hyperesthesia?

anesthesia

if we perform a painful stimulus on an animal and he shows NO reaction, what is this called?

slow or weak response to a strong painful stimulus

what is hypoesthesia?

hyperesthesia

if we perform a painful stimulus on an animal and he shows a very exaggerated reaction, what is this called?

CSF analysis

Xrays

Myelography

Ct scan

MRI

Electroencephalogram

what complementary tests can we use to evaluate the nervous system?