Small Animal Neurological Examination Flashcards
What is ARAS and how does it link to mental status & level of consciousness?
Ascending Reticular Activating System- activates the forebrain and keeps it in a state of awakeness/ consciousness by activating the cerebral cortex
Wide Circles suggest ______
Tight circles suggest _________
wide- Forebrain lesion
tight- Vestibular system lesion
A wide based stance suggests _________
Cerebellum lesions
What is Schiff Sherrington and what is it caused by?
Hyperextension of the forelimbs with hindlimb paralysis- caused by thoracolumbar myelopathy (T3-L3)
What is the difference between Decerebellate rigidity and Decerebrate rigidity?
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
Why does Schiff Sherrington occur?
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
What is the difference between Paresis and Plegia?
Paresis is a reduction in muscle strength with a limited range of voluntary movement. Plegia is a complete inability to perform any movement
What are the signs of general proprioceptive ataxia?
Trunkal sway
Wobbly
How do the signs of Cerebellar vs Vestibular ataxia differ?
Cerebellar- ‘head first’ motion with clumsiness
Vestibular- tends to lean to one side
What is the difference between ambulatory and non ambulatory paraparesis?
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
Seizures can suggest _________
Whereas generalised tremors can suggest __________
Seizures- Forebrain lesions
Tremors- Cerebellum/ forebrain lesions
What spinal reflex can we test on the thoracic limb in first opinion practice?
Withdrawal reflex
What spinal reflex can we test on the pelvic limbs in first opinion practice?
Withdrawal reflex
Patella Reflex
What are two spinal reflexes we can test on the thoracic/ lumbar/ sacral vertebrae region?
Cutaneous trunci reflex
Perianal reflex
What nerve does the cutaneous trunci reflex specifically test?
The lateral thoracic nerve from C8-T1
