Neurology (Yr4)

Question 1

what is the typical pathology associated with head-pressing?

Answer 1

increased cranial pressure (encephalitis)

Question 2

what is the difference between tremors, spasms and spasticity?

Answer 2

tremors… rapid contraction of muscle groups
spasms… sudden intense contraction of muscle groups (cramp)
spasticity… increased muscle tone (brainstem/spinal cord)

Question 3

how is mentation affected with brainstem lesions?

Answer 3

animal will appear sedated but aware of its surroundings (ARAS centre)

Question 4

how is mentation affected with forebrain lesions?

Answer 4

fails to react to stimuli (forebrain responsible for cognitive function) may also be aggressive or have behavioural changes

Question 5

what are the three types of ataxia?

Answer 5

vestibular, cerebellar, proprioceptive

Question 6

what is seen with vestibular ataxia?

Answer 6

always has head tilt, hypermetria and hypertonia

Question 7

what common clinical signs help us localise a forebrain (cerebrum) lesion?

Answer 7

opisthotonos (stargazing)
apparent blindness
abnormal mentation
behavioural changes
compulsive behaviours
seizures

Question 8

what clinical signs would be consistent with a lesion in the cerebellum?

Answer 8

ataxia without weakness
hypermetria
absent menace
wide base stance
intention tremors

Question 9

what clinical signs are seen with vestibular system lesions?

Answer 9

head tilt to side of lesion
falling/circling towards lesion
nystagmus
proprioceptive deficit

Question 10

what animals is meningitis seen in?

Answer 10

young calves with poor colostrum intake
adults with another lesion - septic arthritis, liver abscess, endocarditis…

Question 11

what clinical signs are consistent with meningitis?

Answer 11

depression, falling, blindness, nystagmus, circling, neck pain, head pressing
diarrhoea, pyrexia, anorexia

Question 12

how is meningitis treated?

Answer 12

often euthanasia
antibiotics (aminoglycosides, penicillins), NSAID or dexamethasone

Question 13

what is the typical causative agent of brain abscesses?

Answer 13

Trueperella pyogenes

Question 14

what are the clinical signs of brain abscess?

Answer 14

forebrain…
blindness, compulsive walking, head pressing, circling, depression
later signs include hypertonia, hypermetria and opisthotonus

Question 15

what animals is CCN mainly seen in?

Answer 15

6-18 month old calves

Question 16

what causes CCN?

Answer 16

thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency

Question 17

what are the clinical signs of CCN?

Answer 17

found dead
early signs include head in the air (stargazing), blindness, disorientated/unaware, diarrhoea
late signs include opisthotonos, head pressing, strabismus, recumbent, excitement, convulsions (paddling)

Question 18

how is CCN treated?

Answer 18

thiamine injection every 4 hours for 24 hours
corticosteroids
thiamine supplementation

Question 19

what animals is lead poisoning most commonly seen in?

Answer 19

typically young curious cattle