Truncal ataxia
59 Truncal ataxia INTRODUCTION Inflammatory CNS disease is a very common cause of neurological signs in small animals, more so in the young to middle-aged. Peripheral leukocytes invade the brain,…
Balance – an introduction
57 Balance – an introduction Balance is maintained by equal input from the vestibular receptors found bilaterally in the inner ears (see Fig. 57.1). The receptors detect a change in…
Otogenic intracranial infection
32 Otogenic intracranial infection INITIAL PRESENTATION The initial presentation may include vestibular disease, facial paralysis or Horner’s syndrome. INTRODUCTION Chronic ear infection can result in pyogranulomatous otitis media-interna with osteomyelitis…
No attempt to urinate
74 No attempt to urinate INTRODUCTION No attempt to urinate results in urine retention. Overflow of urine may occur but the bladder does not fully empty. In time, a sacral…
Loss of house-training
11 Loss of house-training INITIAL PRESENTATION Behaviour change: loss of house-training. INTRODUCTION Occasional urinating or defecating in the house by the pet is often excused by the owner as ‘having…
Dropped jaw
30 Dropped jaw INITIAL PRESENTATION Inability to prehend food or toys, slow, messy eating: drops food and dribbles water around the bowl, drooling, salivating (pseudoptyalism), jaw hanging open, unable to…
Ataxia: Vestibular ataxia
49 Ataxia Vestibular ataxia INITIAL PRESENTATION (VESTIBULAR DYSFUNCTION) • Ataxia • Falling, leaning, rolling or circling • Head tilt, nystagmus or positional strabismus. INTRODUCTION Balance in a general sense is…
Ataxia: Cerebellar ataxia
48 Ataxia Cerebellar ataxia INITIAL PRESENTATION When the coordination fails, smoothness of movement is lost and is replaced by: • Dysmetria, an exaggerated movement of limbs which appears as a…
LMN paresis and paralysis: Brachial plexus avulsion
45 LMN paresis and paralysis Brachial plexus avulsion INTRODUCTION Failure of nerve transmission due to a functional disturbance from compression, ischaemia, or blunt trauma is called neurapraxia. The larger motor…
Aggression
15 Aggression INTRODUCTION Pain and psychological disturbances are more common causes of aggression than cerebral disease. Aggression from pain is either due to touching the painful area or the animal…
