Neuro - All Limbs Flashcards
Who is predisposed to type1 and type2 of cervical disc disease?
type 1: chondrodystrophic breeds and poodles
type 2: dobermans and rottweilers
What are the clinical signs of cervical disc disease?
- neck pain (scrunched neck)
- tetraparesis
- not eating/drinking
- UMN signs
What is the treatment for cervical disc disease?
- if no deficits: cage rest, NSAIDs/prednisone
- surgery if no improvement (fenestration, modified slanted slot)
What is cervical spondylomyelopathy?
What are possible causes?
- wobblers
- spinal cord compression
- stenosis: craniodorsal ridge thickens
- osteophytes from malformed articular processes
- hansen typ 2 disc
- hypertrophy of ligamentum flavum
What are the clinical signs of cervical spondylomyelopathy?
pelvic: paresis, wobbling, scuffling
thoracic: can be normal, dysmetria, mild CP deficit, atrophy, neck pain
What may be shown in radiographs of a dog with cervical spondylomyelopathy?
- tipping of cranio-dorsal vertebral body
- stenosis of vertebral canal
- rounding of cranio-ventral vertebral body
- decreased disc spaces
- degeneration in articular facets
What is atlanto-axial subluxation?
spinal cord compression due to dorsal displacement of the axis
What is the treatment for atlanto-axial subluxation?
hemilaminectomy + wiring/screwing
What happens in caudal occipital malformation syndrome?
- malformed caudal occipital bone
- cerebellum can slip out of foramen magnum
- increased CSF pressure
What are the clinical signs of caudal occipital malformation syndrome?
- neck/face scratching
- CP deficits
- vestibular signs
- spinal hyperesthesia
What is the treatment for caudal occipital malformation syndrome?
- gabapentin and prednisone
- foramen magnum decompression
What are the common signs in general myopathies?
- weakness
- stiff gait
- sometimes pain
- normal CP and reflexes
What are the common signs of canine idiopathic polymyositis?
- weakness, stiffness, fatigue, atrophy
- head down due to weak neck muscles
How is canine idiopathic polymyositis diagnosed?
- hyperglobinemia
- patchy lesions
- EMG
- multiple biopsies
How is canine idiopathic polymyositis treated?
prednisone +/- azathioprine
What are the clinical signs of masticatory muscle myositis?
- painful, swollen muscle
- pseudotrismus
- fever, enlarged lymph nodes
- atrophy if chronic
Describe congenital vs. acquired myasthenia gravis
con: do not make Ach receptors
acq: autoantibodies to Ach receptors
Describe the focal form of myasthenia gravis
- megaesophagus is major sign
- possible facial, pharyngeal, and laryngeal muscle weakness
Describe the generalized form of myasthenia gravis
- widespread muscle weakness
- fulminating: acute onset of regurg, muscle weakness, respiratory distress
- chronic: megaesophagus, exercise induced
How is myasthenia gravis diagnosed?
- tensilon test: increases Ach levels by blocking Ach esterases
- Ach receptor antibody test
How is myasthenia gravis treated?
- support: gastrotomy + cisapride
- pyridostigmine
What happens in botulism toxicosis?
- toxin blocks Ach presynaptically, so flaccid paralysis
- LMN signs to all limbs
- respiratory paralysis may cause death
What happens in tick paralysis?
- block nerve conduction or decrease Ach
- tetraparesis/plegia
- LMN signs
- cranial nerves, sensation, and continence is normal
What happens in coonhound paralysis? (acute canine polyradiculoneuritis)
- inflammation/demyelination of ventral roots
- ascending LMN paralysis
- spontaneous recovery in weeks/months
