Neurological Exam

Question 1

What does a head tilt suggest?

Answer 1

Either a vestibular or cerebellar lesion

Question 2

What does a head / body turn suggest?

Answer 2

Forebrain lesion

Question 3

What does decerebrate rigidity suggest?
Extension of all four limbs and opisthonotonus
Stuporous / comatose

Answer 3

Severe lesion in the rostral brainstem

Question 4

What does decerebellate rigidity suggest?
Hyperextension of TLs, opisthonotonus, PLs normal
Normal mentation

Answer 4

Rostral cerebellar lesion eg: prolapse

Question 5

What does schiff-Sherrington suggest?
Hyper extension of the TLs but voluntary movement
Paralysis of PLs

Answer 5

Lesions in the thoracic or cranial lumbar spine

Question 6

How does spinal ataxia present?

Answer 6

Unaware of the position of the legs

Question 7

How does vestibular ataxia present?

Answer 7

A loss of balance and falling

Question 8

How does cerebellar ataxia present?

Answer 8

Hypermetria and dysmetria

Question 9

Define ambulatory paresis

Answer 9

Reduced voluntary movement and weakness but can still support the weight enough to move

Question 10

Define non-ambulatory paresis

Answer 10

Such severe weakness that the animal is unable to support its pelvic limbs

Question 11

How can you grade spinal lesions?

Answer 11

1. No deficits, just pain
2. Ambulatory paresis
3. Non-ambulatory paresis
4. Paralysis
5. Paralysis and no pain sensation

Question 12

What are the postural reactions and what do they tell us?

Answer 12

1. Paw position
2. Hopping laterally
3. Hip sway, wheelbarrow tests, extensor postural thrust
4. Placing responses

Lesions in the peripheral n., spinal cord, cerebellum and contra lateral forebrain

Question 13

What is the most reliable spinal reflex?

Answer 13

Withdrawal reflex

Question 14

What is the most reliable myotactic reflex?

Answer 14

Patellar reflex

Question 15

What lesions are indicated when the cutaneous trunci reflex is absent?

Answer 15

T3-L3

Brachial plexus

Question 16

What is a frequent cause of absent physiological nystagmus?

Answer 16

Raised intra-cranial pressure

Question 17

What does the direction of nystagmus tell you?

Answer 17

The location of the lesion in the vestibular system

Vertical - always central
Horizontal - central or peripheral
Rotatory - central or peripheral

Question 18

What signs do forebrain lesions result in?

Answer 18

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

Question 19

What do lesions in the brainstem result in?

Answer 19

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

Question 20

What do lesions in the vestibular system cause?

Answer 20

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

Question 21

What are signs of a vestibular lesion?

Answer 21

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

Question 22

What is the best indicator of a central vestibular lesion?

Answer 22

Proprioceptive deficits

Also vertical nystagmus