Veterian Key

35 Coughing INTRODUCTION Coughing is a voluntary or reflex action in which deep inspiration is followed by forced expiration against a closed glottis. This requires strong contraction of the respiratory…

73 Urinary incontinence – an introduction Urination becomes a voluntary action in the young animal. It is governed by interactions of the CNS and PNS, many of them reflex. Cerebral…

71 Retroperitoneal disease INITIAL PRESENTATION Lumbar pain, pyrexia, lethargy, anorexia and abdominal pain. INTRODUCTION The retroperitoneum is the potential space between the ventral fascia of the sublumbar muscles and the…

66 Bilateral atrophy of the masticatory muscles INTRODUCTION Atrophy of the masticatory muscles (MM) allows the skull shape to be more obvious and owners often report a ‘lump’ which is…

64 Hypocalcaemia INTRODUCTION Clinical signs of hypocalcaemia reflect calcium’s importance to the electrical stability of excitable tissue. Spasms, cramp and tetany are commonly observed. Handling and excitement typically induce or…

43 LMN paresis and paralysis – an introduction The motor functions of the CNS are expressed through the lower motor neuron (LMN) (Fig. 43.1), which consists of: • Cell bodies…

62 Tremor INTRODUCTION Tremor is an involuntary rhythmic oscillation of a body part. Oscillations are of large (coarse) or small (fine) amplitude. They may occur when the animal is recumbent,…

40 UMN Vertebral malformation INITIAL PRESENTATION An acute onset of signs with chronic underlying pathology. INTRODUCTION Congenital vertebral malformations are commonly found in neurologically normal dogs. Do not presume a…

60 Ventroflexion of the neck INITIAL PRESENTATION Head droop, head drop, ‘dropped head’, chin on or close to sternum INTRODUCTION The major antigravity support for the head is supplied by…

38 UMN Spinal empyema INITIAL PRESENTATION Inflammation of the spinal cord and its meningeal covering presents as ataxia, paresis and spinal pain along with less specific signs of lethargy, fever…