The Nervous System Flashcards

1
Q

How can a neurological problem start?

A

Trauma = sudden
Slow and progressive

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2
Q

How does the neurological exam work

A

Start at head and work back

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3
Q

What might you see when examining the head in a neurological exam

A

Behaviour (aggression, depression, head pressing, circling)
Blindness
Abnormal eye movement (nystagmus)
Drooping muzzle, ears, eyes
Difficulty eating/swallowing
Noisy breathing
Protruding tongue

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4
Q

How do we test for blindness

A

No menace reflex
Pupillary light reflex

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5
Q

What is abnormal eye movement called

A

Nystagmus

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6
Q

What might you see caudal to the head during a neurological exam

A

Loss of coordination
General weakness
Loss of proprioception (placing limbs)
No cutaneous trunci reflex (drag pen down side = twitching)
Single limb abnormalities

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7
Q

Loss of coordination is also known as…

A

Ataxia

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8
Q

Proprioception is..

A

ability to place limbs

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9
Q

What imaging techniques can we use during a neurological exam

A

Radiographs
MRI
CT scans
Nuclear scitingraphy

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10
Q

Test involving collection of fluid in a needle and examining it for abnormalities…

A

CSF tap

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11
Q

Measurement of electrical activity in muscles

A

Electromyography

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12
Q

Malformation of a cervical vertebra that puts pressure on the spinal cord and causes neurological signs is…

A

Cervical Vertebral Malformation (CVM) or wobblers

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13
Q

How will CVM occur

A

Abnormal development in young horse (6 months - 3 years)
Hereditary/nutritional

Occurs after arthritis in older horse

Trauma

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14
Q

How is wobblers diagnosed

A

Clinical signs (ataxia, weakness)
Ragiographs +/- myelogram

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15
Q

How is wobblers treated

A

Diet, NSAIDs, surgery

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16
Q

How serious is wobblers?

A

Performance-limiting
~70% of surgically treated horses improve

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17
Q

Complications of wobblers?

A

Trauma

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18
Q

Virus that attacks the nervous system, passed from horse to horse through saliva, respiratory secretions or feces is…

A

Equine herpes virus 1
or rhinopneumonitis

19
Q

Clinical signs of EHV-1?

A

Ataxia, recumbancy ~6-12 days after exposure

Loss of bladder function

20
Q

How is EHV-1 diagnosed

A

Outbreaks
Antibodies

21
Q

How is EHV-1 treated?

A

Supportive (NSAIDS, fluids, prevent decubital ulcers, bladder catherization)

22
Q

What are decubital ulcers

A

Pressure sores from constant laying

23
Q

Can EHV-1 be vaccinated against?

A

Respiratory and reproductive forms have vaccines

Neurological form DOES NOT, but maybe resp/repro ones could offer some protection

24
Q

How serious is neurological EHV-1?

A

Large outbreaks and incidence of disease is high
Mildly affected can recover
Mortality rate 40%

25
Q

Complications of EHV-1?

A

Permanent gait alterations, loss of bladder function

26
Q

Viral disease that affects the brain and spinal cord, is zoonotic

A

West Nile Virus

27
Q

Neurological signs of west nile?

A

Ataxia
Hindlimb paralysis
Coma
Tremors around nose/lips

28
Q

West nile is carried by _____ and spread by ______

A

Birds, mosquitoes

29
Q

What kind of hosts and humans and horses

A

Dead-end

30
Q

What is a dead end host

A

If a mosquito bites an infected person, it will not further spread the disease

31
Q

How is WNV diagnosed

A

Clinical signs
Antibody levels (vaccine or infected?)

32
Q

How do you treat west nile

A

Supportive, NSAIDS

33
Q

Complications/seriousness of WNV

A

Fatal in 35% of horses (decreased since vaccine)

34
Q

Fatal disease caused by a toxin released from bacteria present in soil that enters through a wound

A

Tetanus

35
Q

The bacteria that causes tetanus is

A

Clostridium tetani

36
Q

Two species most susceptible to tetanus are…

A

Humans, horses

37
Q

How does tetanus affect the nervous system

A

Interferes with neurotransmitter fxn, constant contractions

38
Q

Clinical signs of tetanus?

A

Stiff-> full body rigidity
Lips pulled back, nostrils flared, lockjaw
In horses, third eyelid contracted

39
Q

How is tetanus diagnosed

A

Clinical signs
History (puncture?)
Not vaccinated?

40
Q

If a horse has tetanus, what can you use within 24h of exposure

A

Tetanus antitoxin

41
Q

If a horse has a cut, what should you give it

A

Tetanus booster

42
Q

How is tetanus treated

A

antitoxin
Penicillin (antibiotic)
Sedation
Quiet
Support

43
Q

How serious is tetanus

A

Survival is possible
Rapidly fatal (5-10 days)
euthanasia may be recommended

44
Q

Complications of tetanus?

A

Wounds or injuries due to inability to stand