Speciality Services

Neurology

Animals that have injury to the spinal cord or brain are referred to the neurologist for care. The neurologist has specialized training in treating disorders affecting the brain that are caused by injury or by biologic reasons. Congenital neurological disorders affecting the brain include juvenile seizures, distemper virus, and encephalitis. Disorders affecting the spinal cord can include disk herniations (“slipped disks”), L-S pain, Wobblers disease and spinal fracture. Unfortunately, some dogs are pre-disposed to certain neurological conditions such as daschunds (“slipped disks”) and Dobermans (Wobblers). These conditions may or may not respond to medical management with steroids and careful activity. In the cases where surgery is warranted, the neurologist and surgeons are able to help. They can perform surgery to alleviate the impingement on the spinal cord that is causing the paralysis. It is important to note that each patient is very unique and no two surgeries heal the same way. You will be shown how to care for your dog after surgery and how to help in the healing process by performing physical therapy to strengthen your dog.

The plan to proceed with or without surgery is made by using advanced diagnostic studies such as MRI, CT, EMG or myelography (dye study of the spinal cord). Using these studies helps identify the part of the spinal cord that is affected and determine if surgery can help the condition. MRI is especially important in identifying brain lesions (potential tumors) that may be able to be surgically removed.

Seizure is the most familiar neurological disease to most owners and can happen for a variety of reasons. Infection, breed and other factors such as toxin ingestion can cause your pet to seizure. It is important to get to the root of the problem so that appropriate therapy can be started. While many patients may be started on medications to control the seizures, it is important to remember that follow-up care is vital in ensuring the appropriate medication dose is being given to your pet. 

PBVS hospital utilizes advanced cross-sectional imaging technology with a GE 1.5 Tesla MRI unit and a GE helical Discovery PET/CT scanner. Both modalities of Cross-sectional imaging provide a detailed method to evaluate the brain, spinal cord, lungs, abdomen, bones and joints. Both are non-invasive, not painful to the patient and allow for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.

Our VIASYS Electrodiagnostic machine is a top of the line unit found in many human neurology practices. Electrophysiologic evaluation is important in the diagnostic workup for animals with peripheral nerve, muscle and neuromuscular junction disease. The use of this machine can aid in the diagnosis of diseases such as brachial plexus injury, diabetic neuropathy, Cushing’s myopathy, myotonia congenita, myasthenia gravis and botulism. The electrodiagnostic machine is also utilized to perform auditory studies (BAER testing) to evaluate for congenital and aquired hearing loss.

PBVS offers BAER testing to aid in the diagnosis of deafness in dogs and cats.  The test can be performed on entire litters of puppies or kittens or on single patients as necessary.  BAER testing in puppies or kittens requires them to be a minimum age of 35 days.  The recommended age for testing in young animals is 5-7 weeks.  A copy of the BAER testing results will be provided and can be submitted to Orthopedic Foundation for Animals for certification purposes.