Small Animal Neurological Examination Flashcards

1
Q

What is ARAS and how does it link to mental status & level of consciousness?

A

Ascending Reticular Activating System- activates the forebrain and keeps it in a state of awakeness/ consciousness by activating the cerebral cortex

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2
Q

Wide Circles suggest ______
Tight circles suggest _________

A

wide- Forebrain lesion
tight- Vestibular system lesion

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3
Q

A wide based stance suggests _________

A

Cerebellum lesions

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4
Q

What is Schiff Sherrington and what is it caused by?

A

Hyperextension of the forelimbs with hindlimb paralysis- caused by thoracolumbar myelopathy (T3-L3)

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5
Q

What is the difference between Decerebellate rigidity and Decerebrate rigidity?

Include lesion location.

A

Decerebellate- rostral cerebellar lobe lesion causing Purkinje cells and the rest of the brain to be disconnected- only shows signs when recumbent
Decerbrate- mesencephalic lesion so forebrain is functionally disconnected & animal is comatosed

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6
Q

Why does Schiff Sherrington occur?

A

the thoracolumbar lesion causes injury to the border cells and a lack of inhibition of the cervical spinal cord motor neurons, hence the hyperextension of the forelimbs

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7
Q

What is the difference between Paresis and Plegia?

A

Paresis is a reduction in muscle strength with a limited range of voluntary movement. Plegia is a complete inability to perform any movement

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8
Q

What are the signs of general proprioceptive ataxia?

A

Trunkal sway
Wobbly

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9
Q

How do the signs of Cerebellar vs Vestibular ataxia differ?

A

Cerebellar- ‘head first’ motion with clumsiness
Vestibular- tends to lean to one side

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10
Q

What is the difference between ambulatory and non ambulatory paraparesis?

A

ambulatory- can still generate a gait and get around even if it ataxic
non ambulatory- strength isn’t sufficient to generate a gait but can still flex muscles

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11
Q

Seizures can suggest _________
Whereas generalised tremors can suggest __________

A

Seizures- Forebrain lesions
Tremors- Cerebellum/ forebrain lesions

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12
Q

What spinal reflex can we test on the thoracic limb in first opinion practice?

A

Withdrawal reflex

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13
Q

What spinal reflex can we test on the pelvic limbs in first opinion practice?

A

Withdrawal reflex
Patella Reflex

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14
Q

What are two spinal reflexes we can test on the thoracic/ lumbar/ sacral vertebrae region?

A

Cutaneous trunci reflex
Perianal reflex

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15
Q

What nerve does the cutaneous trunci reflex specifically test?

A

The lateral thoracic nerve from C8-T1

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16
Q
A