Equine Neurology Flashcards
How do equine forebrain diseases commonly present?
Behaviour Seizure Blindness Altered Consciousness Head turn/pressing
What may be an iatrogenic cause of forebrain disease?
Intracarotid injection
What are the 3 main causes of neonatal seizure?
PAS, sepsis and trauma
Which neurological condition are arab foals predisposed to?
Juvenile idiopathic arab epilepsy
Starts before 1yo
What are the signs of vestibular Dz?
Head Tilt
Nystagmus
Ventral Strabismus
Ataxia
What is the most common cause of facial nerve paralysis in the horse?
Halters left on in field anaesthesia
Also: trauma/THO
What are the signs of facial nerve paralysis in the horse?
Dropped ear
Ptosis
Nostril Deviation
What problems can facial nerve paralysis lead to?
Exposure keratitis
Dysphagia
Poor Performance
What is the most common cause of horners in the horse?
extravascular injection of irritant substance (PBZ/buscopan)
What is Horners?
Interruption of SYMP supply to head (and neck)
What are the signs of horners?
Miosis, enophthalmos, ptosis, protruding
nictitating membrane.
Hyperaemic MMs
Sweating
What are the signs of cauda equine syndrome?
hypotonia/reflexia of tail/anus/perineal region
LMN weakness/paresis of pelvic limbs
What causes cauda equine syndrome?
Tauma: SacroCoccy #/luxation
Infection/inflammation: EHV1, Polyneuritis equi
Which herpesvirus may cause myoencephalopathy?
EHV-1
What are the signs of Herpes myoencephalopathy?
SUDDEN
Ataxia, paresis, incontinence
What causes the signs associated with equine herpes myoencephalopathy?
Vasculitis and thrombosis of arterioles in spinal cord
How is equine herpes myoencephalopathy diagnosed?
Location
Rule out other cause
CSF: xanthochromia & EHV-1 Ab
NPS: virus
Serum: High Ab titre
How is equine herpes myoencephalopathy managed?
Isolate
NURSE
NSAID, CS, Aspirin
Acyclovir
How can we diagnose spinal cord trauma in the horse?
Clinical exam & Hx plus Radiography!
CSF rules out other causes
How should spinal cord trauma be managed?
Aggressive Anti-inflm: CS, NSAID, DMSO
?Surgery
Box rest if standing, nursing if not
Which types of spinal injury carry a poor Px?
Luxation
Unstable #
Poor response in 1-2d
What is the most common cause of equine ataxia in the UK?
Cervical Vertebral Malformaiton (CVM)