Neurological examination

Question 1

How can the optic nerve be tested

Answer 1

Menace response (blink, learned so absent for first 14 days of life)
Pupillary light reflex (afferent supply is optic n, efferent supply is oculomotor)

Question 2

How do you know if facial nerve is damaged

Answer 2

Lack of facial symmetry

Question 3

How do you know if vestibulocochlear nerve is damaged

Answer 3

Head tilt
Nystagmus
Circling

Question 4

How do you test if glossopharyngeal nerve is working in horse

Answer 4

Extrinsic muscle of tongue
Involved in taste & take up of food
Put hand in horses mouth and pull on tongue, should be resistance

Question 5

Importance of hypoglossal nerve in horse

Answer 5

Intrinsic muscle of tongue
Important in horses ability to eat
Dysphasia is primary sign - horse dropping food

Question 6

How do you test spinal reflexes in horse

Answer 6

Move across body and look for cutaneous reflexes
Lift tail to check for resistance & check anal resistance

Question 7

How is proprioception assessed in horses

Answer 7

Through gait abnormalities

Question 8

Define ataxia

Answer 8

General inability to move in coordinated way

Question 9

What type of lesion does a head tilt suggest

Answer 9

Vestibular lesion

Question 10

What type of lesion does a head turn suggest

Answer 10

Forebrain lesion

Question 11

What is the palpebral response

Answer 11

Elicited by gently touching region of medial canthus of eye & demonstrating active blink
Afferent supply is trigeminal nerve
Efferent supply is facial nerve

Question 12

What is strabismus

Answer 12

Abnormal static position of eye
Generated by lesions affecting cranial nerve 3, 4 & 6

Question 13

What is Horner’s syndrome in cats

Answer 13

Dysfunction of sympathetic nervous supply to eye
Cat shows ptosis, meiosis, enophthalmus

Question 14

What is Horner’s syndrome in horses

Answer 14

Ocular signs such as pstosis, meiosis, enophthalmus
Excessive sweating
Angle of eyelids

Question 15

What is menace response

Answer 15

Blink in response to threatening stimulus to eye
Important not to create draft or airflow as this will stimulate corneal response
Afferent supply is optic nerve, efferent supply is facial
Regions of brain involved: conscious visual pathways, contralateral visual cortex, contralateral motor cortex, ipsilateral cerebellar hemisphere

Question 16

How can conscious vision be assessed

Answer 16

Watch dog walk into consulting room or negotiate obstacle
Use small moving object to test animals ability to follow its path

Question 17

How can limbs be evaluated

Answer 17

Assess proprioception, sensation, segmental reflexes, muscle mass

Question 18

How is proprioception assessed

Answer 18

Knuckling - place paw with dorsum on ground, should be rapid return to normal position
Hopping - should be rapid repositioning of limb if moved outside line of body
Hemiwalking - dog hopped sideways on both fore & hindlimbs
Tactile placing - dog brought to edge of table blindfolded, limbs should be placed on table accurately
Paper slide - dog limb on paper which is pulled laterally, should return to normal position
Extensor postural thrust - Dog is lifted off ground & placed on table & should be reflex extension of hindlimbs

Question 19

What is perineal reflex

Answer 19

Stimulation of perineal region should elicit winking or constriction of anal sphincter

Question 20

What are the myotatic reflexes in dogs

Answer 20

Patellar - tap patellar tendon, contraction of quadriceps
Triceps reflex - tap triceps tendon to induce contraction of triceps brachii leading to elbow extension
Biceps reflex - tap biceps tendon so biceps brachii contracts, resulting in elbow flexion