Lecture 5 - Neurological Emergencies
UPDATED ACTUAL Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Neurological Emergencies - CORRECT ANSWER - Emergencies of the nervous system
affect the brain and/or the spinal cord (CNS)
Important to rule out metabolic causes such as hypoglycemia (seizures)
Peripheral nervous system (PNS) emergencies
Peripheral nerves, neuromuscular junction
Very important that head and spinal cord are stabilized during transport to prevent further
damage
Head injuries : include superficial lacerations, concussions, fractures, intra and extracranial
hemorrhage and pressure
Examine animal for clinical signs (neuro exam)
Neurological Exam - CORRECT ANSWER - Mentation, gait, posture
Postural reactions: Proprioceptive positioning (knowing where their limbs are), hopping, placing
Cranial nerve exam
Palpation: Skin, muscle (some associated with muscle wasting), skeleton
Spinal reflexes: Pelvic and thoracic limbs, Hind limbs incl. flexor, patellar
Other:
Cutaneous trunci (paniculus)
Perineal
Sensation: Superficial and deep pain**
Veterinary Neurological Exam - CORRECT ANSWER - observe stance, walking, hind end
or front end weakness?
, knuckling: place knuckles on the ground and see if they fix it back to normal. abnormal if theres
a delayed response
hopping: rotating other leg closer to adjacent leg and they should hop
Reflex hammer for patellar (exaggerated kick - abnormal is reduced kick or none). Gastric reflex.
tibialus reflex.
Cranial Nerve Exam - CORRECT ANSWER - olfactory: sense of smell
optic: direct PLR. if normal, don't test. if abnormal, assess indirect PLR.
oculomotor: do they react to movement (dropping a cotton ball in front of them - do they follow
it). Menance response (do they close their eye when you make a motion towards them). Watch
movement of eyes when moving their head side to side, etc. look for nystagmus as well.
5&7 - corneal reflex, checking eyes
Cutaneous Trunci Evaluation - CORRECT ANSWER - using forceps to pinch the spine
area and the response of the skin around it contracts
assess pain response and superficial nerves
State of consciousness levels: - CORRECT ANSWER - Alertness - watchful, active, aware
Depression - loss of interest and response
Confusion - not aware or oriented
Delirium - mental confusion and excitement
Semicoma - unconscious response to painful stimuli
Coma - unconscious with no response to pain
Cranial nerve - CORRECT ANSWER - major ones being assessed during veterinary
cranial exam. not responsible for knowing this diagram
Develop a differential (DAMNIT) - CORRECT ANSWER - D: degenerative type diseases
A: anomalies
M: metabolic diseases
UPDATED ACTUAL Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Neurological Emergencies - CORRECT ANSWER - Emergencies of the nervous system
affect the brain and/or the spinal cord (CNS)
Important to rule out metabolic causes such as hypoglycemia (seizures)
Peripheral nervous system (PNS) emergencies
Peripheral nerves, neuromuscular junction
Very important that head and spinal cord are stabilized during transport to prevent further
damage
Head injuries : include superficial lacerations, concussions, fractures, intra and extracranial
hemorrhage and pressure
Examine animal for clinical signs (neuro exam)
Neurological Exam - CORRECT ANSWER - Mentation, gait, posture
Postural reactions: Proprioceptive positioning (knowing where their limbs are), hopping, placing
Cranial nerve exam
Palpation: Skin, muscle (some associated with muscle wasting), skeleton
Spinal reflexes: Pelvic and thoracic limbs, Hind limbs incl. flexor, patellar
Other:
Cutaneous trunci (paniculus)
Perineal
Sensation: Superficial and deep pain**
Veterinary Neurological Exam - CORRECT ANSWER - observe stance, walking, hind end
or front end weakness?
, knuckling: place knuckles on the ground and see if they fix it back to normal. abnormal if theres
a delayed response
hopping: rotating other leg closer to adjacent leg and they should hop
Reflex hammer for patellar (exaggerated kick - abnormal is reduced kick or none). Gastric reflex.
tibialus reflex.
Cranial Nerve Exam - CORRECT ANSWER - olfactory: sense of smell
optic: direct PLR. if normal, don't test. if abnormal, assess indirect PLR.
oculomotor: do they react to movement (dropping a cotton ball in front of them - do they follow
it). Menance response (do they close their eye when you make a motion towards them). Watch
movement of eyes when moving their head side to side, etc. look for nystagmus as well.
5&7 - corneal reflex, checking eyes
Cutaneous Trunci Evaluation - CORRECT ANSWER - using forceps to pinch the spine
area and the response of the skin around it contracts
assess pain response and superficial nerves
State of consciousness levels: - CORRECT ANSWER - Alertness - watchful, active, aware
Depression - loss of interest and response
Confusion - not aware or oriented
Delirium - mental confusion and excitement
Semicoma - unconscious response to painful stimuli
Coma - unconscious with no response to pain
Cranial nerve - CORRECT ANSWER - major ones being assessed during veterinary
cranial exam. not responsible for knowing this diagram
Develop a differential (DAMNIT) - CORRECT ANSWER - D: degenerative type diseases
A: anomalies
M: metabolic diseases
