Neurological disorders Flashcards
Convulsions
uncoordinated contractions of the muscles due to abnormal
cerebral stimulation
Clonic
when contractions are interspersed with periods of relaxation
Tonic
when muscle contractions are sustained without periods of
relaxation
Epileptic Seizures causes within the brain
- Idiopathic epilepsy (Dogs <3yrs)
- Brain tumours
- Head trauma
- Infections
- Canine distemper
- Hydrocephalus
Epileptic Seizures causes outside the brain
- Hypoglycaemia
- Hypocalcaemia
- Hepatic encephalopathy
- Uraemia
- Toxins (Ethylene glycol)
Status epilepticus
Convulsions are continuous OR
* One fit follows directly upon another
- Generalised seizures
Grand mal
Partial seizures
Petite mal
* May or may not lose consciousness
Seizures – Secondary Causes
Portosystemic shunts
* Hypocalcaemia - Eclampsia
* Hypoglycaemia - Insulin overdose
* Chronic liver disease - Build up of toxins
* Hypokalaemia
* e.g. Cats - dietary deficiency show muscle weakness before
* Poisons - Metaldehyde (slug bait), lead, strychnine
* Renal disease - Build up of toxins
Pre-ictal phase signs
restless, anxious or seek attention
Ictal phase
Fitting
Post-ictal phase
dazed,
exhausted
anxious
Ataxic and blindness
Desire to eat and drink
Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome
Progressive age related brain disease
Cognitive Dysfuntion Syndrome ages and percentages
Dogs: At 14 years - 41% affected
Cats: Between 11 – 14 years - 28% affected
At 15+ years - 50% affected
Canine Degenerative Myelopathy (CDM)
Progressive loss of spinal cord myelin and axons
