Neurologic System III: Spinal Cord & PNS

Question 1

Intervertebral Disc Disease is herniation of ___ or ___ intervertebral discs impinges of the spinal cord.

Answer 1

One or more

Question 2

Intervertebral disc disease clinical signs (3)

Answer 2

1. Back pain (often severe)
2. Paresis or paralysis of limbs caudal to lesion
3. Altered pain sensation caudal to the lesion

Question 3

Intervertebral disc disease etiology.
Type I: (4)

Answer 3

1. Acute rupture of disc
2. Usually young, chrondrodysplastic dogs due to a defect in disco and abnormal wear
3. Trauma
4. Disc material enters neural canal & causes pressure on spinal cord (edema & hemorrhage)

Question 4

Intervertebral disc disease etiology.
Type II: (2)

Answer 4

1. Chronic, slow herniation of disc
2. Common in older, large breed dogs

Question 5

Intervertebral disc disease
Dx: (5)

Answer 5

1. Clinical signs
2. Neuro exam
3. Plain rads
   - Possible calcified disc
   - Narrowed disc space consistent w/signs
4. Myelogram
5. CT or MRI

Question 6

Intervertebral disc disease client info:
Breeds at risk should maintain ___ ____.
Avoid having dogs stand on their __ legs or ___ onto furniture.
Once an animal has had IVDD, there is an increased risk for ___ episode at a ___ site.

Answer 6

1. Ideal BCS:
   - Dachshund
   - Basset
   - Lhasa apso
2. Back legs
3. Jumping
4. Another episode
5. Different site

Question 7

Cervical Instability:
Name location in Toy breeds & young Great Danes/Dobermans.
Clinical signs (2)

Answer 7

Location
1. C1-2 malformation
2. C5-7 malformation
Clinical Signs
1. Possible neck pain
2. Abnormal gait due to spinal cord compression

Question 8

Cervical instability
Dx (4)

Answer 8

1. Neuro exam
2. Rads
   - NOTE: techs need to be extremely careful when manipulating neck, esp under anesthesia.
3. Myelogram
4. CT or MRI

Question 9

Discospondylitis is a ___ or ___ infection of the vertebral bones. It is most obvious of the ____.

Answer 9

1. Bacterial or fungal
2. Endplates

Question 10

Discospondylitis
Etiology (2)
Clinical signs (3)

Answer 10

Etiology
1. Wounds or migrating foreign bodies
2. Hematogenous most common
- UTIs
- Dental disease
Clinical Signs
1. Back pain
2. Fever
3. Neuro signs

Question 11

Metabolic Neuropathy is a ___ neurologic problem.
It is presented by multiple muscles showing ___, ___, and decreased ___.
Tx:
Aggressive ___ and control of ___ disease usually leads to reversal of ___ signs.

Answer 11

1. Secondary
2. Weakness/wasting, atrophy
3. Reflexes
4. Treatment
5. Primary
6. Neuro

Question 12

Metabolic Neuropathy
Diseases it is secondary to (3)

Answer 12

1. Hypothyroid
2. Diabetes mellitus
3. Hyperadrenocorticism (Cushings)

Question 13

Laryngeal paralysis is a ___ disorder causing paralysis of ___ or ___ arytenoids.

Answer 13

1. Nerve
2. One or both

Question 14

Laryngeal paralysis
Etiology (5)

Answer 14

Etiology
1. Hereditary
2. Rabies
3. Tumor/infamm of region
4. Lead poisoning
5. Idiopathic (Senior large breed dogs)

Question 15

Laryngeal paralysis
Tx of distress (5)

Answer 15

1. Aggressive cool air in animals face
2. Mild sedation to treat anxiety
3. Oxygen
4. Emergency tracheostomy
5. Steroids to decrease swelling

Question 16

Megaesophagus is a neurologic disorder causing ineffective ____ of esophagus, ___ of esophagus, and ____.

Answer 16

1. Peristalsis
2. Dilation
3. Regurgitation

Question 17

Megaesophagus
Etiology (5)

Answer 17

Etiology
1. Congenital
2. Metabolic (Addisons)
3. Lead poisoning
4. Myasthenia gravis, other polymyopathies
5. Idiopathic

Question 18

Myasthenia Gravis is an immune-mediated disease attacking the ___ receptors in the ___ junction.
Affected animals develop ___ paralysis, ___, & even ___ paralysis.

Answer 18

1. Acetylcholine
2. Neuromuscular
3. Muscle paralysis
4. Megaesophagus
5. Respiratory paralysis

Question 19

Myasthenia Gravis
Dx
Tx (2)

Answer 19

Dx
ACh receptor antibody test
Tx
1. Neostigmine
2. Immune-suppression (if pneumonia not present)

Question 20

Horner’s Syndrome is a disorder affecting the ___ nervous input to ___ or ___ sides of the face.

Answer 20

1. Sympathetic
2. One or both

Question 21

Horner’s syndrome
Etiology (3)

Answer 21

Etiology
1. Idiopathic
- Will slowly recover over 2 months without specific Tx
2. Trauma to head or neck
3. Tumors of the nerve

Question 22

Discospondylitis
Dx (3)

Answer 22

1. Rads
   - Lysis of endplates, osteophytes
   - Disc space collapse
2. Cult
   - Blood, urine, or CSF fluid
3. Brucellosis titer (zoonotic disease)

Question 23

Laryngeal paralysis
Clinical signs (5)

Answer 23

1. Inspiratory stridor, esp w/exercise
2. Change of voice
3. Exercise intolerance
4. Respiratory distress/collapse
5. Hyperthermia

Question 24

Intervertebral disc disease
Tx (4)

Answer 24

1. Pain relief
2. Corticosteriods
   - Decrease swelling
   - Decrease on-going cord trauma
3. DMSO
4. Emergency Sx
   - Remove abnorm disc
   - Decrease pressure on spinal cord

Question 25

Megaesophagus
Tx (4)

Answer 25

1. Feed upright
2. Meatballs of food are best
3. Treat any secondary pneumonias
4. Treat any specific causes

Question 26

Horner’s Syndrome
Clinical signs (4)

Answer 26

1. Small pupil on affected side(s)
2. Prominent nictitans
3. Eyelid droop
4. Increased pinkness to eye & nose on affected side