Neurological Exam Flashcards
What does a head tilt suggest?
Either a vestibular or cerebellar lesion
What does a head / body turn suggest?
Forebrain lesion
What does decerebrate rigidity suggest?
Extension of all four limbs and opisthonotonus
Stuporous / comatose
Severe lesion in the rostral brainstem
What does decerebellate rigidity suggest?
Hyperextension of TLs, opisthonotonus, PLs normal
Normal mentation
Rostral cerebellar lesion eg: prolapse
What does schiff-Sherrington suggest?
Hyper extension of the TLs but voluntary movement
Paralysis of PLs
Lesions in the thoracic or cranial lumbar spine
How does spinal ataxia present?
Unaware of the position of the legs
How does vestibular ataxia present?
A loss of balance and falling
How does cerebellar ataxia present?
Hypermetria and dysmetria
Define ambulatory paresis
Reduced voluntary movement and weakness but can still support the weight enough to move
Define non-ambulatory paresis
Such severe weakness that the animal is unable to support its pelvic limbs
How can you grade spinal lesions?
- No deficits, just pain
- Ambulatory paresis
- Non-ambulatory paresis
- Paralysis
- Paralysis and no pain sensation
What are the postural reactions and what do they tell us?
- Paw position
- Hopping laterally
- Hip sway, wheelbarrow tests, extensor postural thrust
- Placing responses
Lesions in the peripheral n., spinal cord, cerebellum and contra lateral forebrain
What is the most reliable spinal reflex?
Withdrawal reflex
What is the most reliable myotactic reflex?
Patellar reflex
What lesions are indicated when the cutaneous trunci reflex is absent?
T3-L3
Brachial plexus
What is a frequent cause of absent physiological nystagmus?
Raised intra-cranial pressure
What does the direction of nystagmus tell you?
The location of the lesion in the vestibular system
Vertical - always central
Horizontal - central or peripheral
Rotatory - central or peripheral
What signs do forebrain lesions result in?
Disorientation Depression Contralateral blindness Reduced postural responses in the contralateral limbs Facial hypoaesthesia Normal gait Circling (to the same side as the lesion) Head turn to the same side Pacing Seizures Behavioural changes Hemineglect syndrome
What do lesions in the brainstem result in?
Depression, stupor and coma Cranial nerve deficits III - XII Vestibular signs Paresis of all or ipsilateral limbs Decerebrate rigidity Reduceds postural responses in all 4 or ipsilateral limbs Respiratory or cardiac abnormalities
What do lesions in the vestibular system cause?
Normal mentation, vision and PLR Ipsilateral abnormal menace response Paradoxical head tilt Ataxia Hypermetria Broad based stance Intention tremors Decerebellate rigidity Delayed initiation of movement Vestibular signs
What are signs of a vestibular lesion?
Ipsilateral head tilt Horizontal or rotators nystagmus - slow phase on the side of the lesion Ataxia with leaning and falling Less commonly with tight circling Positional strabismus
What is the best indicator of a central vestibular lesion?
Proprioceptive deficits
Also vertical nystagmus
