Neurology & Blood Disorders

NEUROLOGY
& BLOOD DISORDERS

SEIZURES

What is it – sudden, uncontrolled body movements and changes in behaviour
that occur due to abnormal electrical activity in the brain

Common causes – epilepsy, metabolic disturbances, genetic disorders, brain
tumour, toxins

Stages – preictal (before), ictal (seizure) and postictal (after)

Diagnosis – exclusion

 Clinical exam
 Bloods
 MRI/CT
 Cerebrospinal fluid tap

Treatment

 Emergency – diazepam (slow IV or per rectum).
 Long term management – phenobarbital +/- potassium bromide

supplement

 Diazepam and phenobarbital not working – propofol

 Ketone diet – multiple chain triglycerides → multiple chain fatty acids →

ketones (broken down faster than glucose)

Owner advice – quiet, dark room and protect from injury. Record if can.

Multiple Choice

What is a potentially life-threatening complication for a dog during a prolonged seizure?

• Hypocapnia

• Hyperthermia

• Hypoglycaemia

• Hypoxia

VESTIBULAR SYNDROME (A.K.A BALANCE SYNDROME)

What is it – disease of the vestibular apparatus

Causes:
• central – tumour, vascular accident, metabolic condition
• peripheral – middle or inner ear condition, polyps

Clinical signs – ataxia, head tilt, circling, wide-based
stance, nystagmus, strabismus, vomiting (motion
sickness/dizziness)

Treatment –
• Tx underlying cause
• Tx clinical signs
• Padded kennel
• Supportive nursing

Multiple Choice

A dog suffering from vestibular syndrome has nystagmus and strabismus. What cranial nerve allows the eyes to move left and right?

• optic nerve

• trochlear nerve

• trigeminal nerve

• abducens nerve

SYRINGOMYELIA

What is it – fluid filled cavities that develop in the spinal cord
due to an abnormally small occipital bone that alters the flow of
CSF

Clinical signs – spinal pain, abnormal scratching of sternum,
shoulders, ears and neck, limb weakness and ataxia

Treatment

• Anti-inflammatories - NSAID (meloxicam, carprofen etc) or

corticosteroids (prednisolone, dexamethasone etc)

• Analgesia – gabapentin (best for neurologic pain)
• Opioids – butorphanol, buprenorphine, morphine, fentanyl etc
• If severe surgery – shunts and decompression with the aim to

restore CSF flow

Open Ended

State TWO specific clinical signs associated with syringomyelia?

Multiple Choice

What apparatus affects an animals balance?

• outer ear

• cerebrum

• vestibular

• cerebellum

ANAEMIA

What is it – reduced RBCs/PCV

Common causes – haemorrhage, IMA, parasites, infectious disease (FeLV),
renal disease
Types –
• regenerative - reticulocytes regenerating and present

• IMHA, trauma

• non-regenerative - no reticulocytes regenerating or present

• Cancer, renal failure

Clinical signs – pale MM, tachycardiac, tachypnoea, exercise intolerance,
jaundice (IMHA)
Treatment
• IVFT +/- blood transfusion if PCV less than12-15%
• IMA/IMHA – immunosuppressive drugs e.g., prednisolone or

chemotherapy

• Supportive nursing care

COAGULOPATHIES

What is it – impaired clotting function

Causes – IMTP, toxins, inherited disorders (Von Willebrand & Haemophilia),
liver disease, lung worm

Specific clinical signs – ecchymosis, petechiae, purpura, haematochezia,
melaena, haematuria, epistaxis

Diagnosis – bloods, buccal bleeding time

Treatment –
• plasma transfusion
• tranexamic acid (TXA)
• vit K – rodenticide poisoning
• Prednisolone – immune mediation
• Fenbendazole/advocate - lungworm

Open Ended

Name ONE inherited coagulopathy disease?

LEUCOPAENIA VS LEUKAEMIA

1.

Leucopaenia – low WBCs

Causes – stress/fear, immunosuppressant drugs,

viral, haemorrhage, abscess

Treatment – reverse barrier nursing, prophylactic abs,

supportive care

2.

Leukocytosis or Leukaemia - high WBCs

Causes – infection, inflammation, cancers
Treatment – treat the cause

Open Ended

State ONE specific clinical sign and ONE specific treatment for a patient with immune medicated haemolytic anaemia (IMHA)?

INFECTIOUS

BLOOD

DISORDERS

1.

Feline infectious anaemia

•What is it - Mycoplasma haemofelis bacteria targets RBCs
causing anaemia

•Who's at risk – roaming male cats, immunosuppressed cats,
splenectomised cats

•Transmission – biting insects and cat bites

•CS – anaemic

•Diagnosis – blood smear, PCR, Coombs test

•Tx – doxycyline, prednisolone, blood transfusion, oxygen

2. Lyme Disease (ZOONOTIC)

What is it - bacterial infection that targets WBCs causing
leukopaenia

Transmission - spread by infected ticks.

CS – renal, neurologic, cardiac abnormalities,
lymphadenopathy, fever

Diagnosis – ELISA, PCR

Tx – doxycycline or penicillin

INFECTIOUS

BLOOD

DISORDERS

3. Babesia canis

• What is it – protocoal infection of RBCs
• Transmission – ticks
• CS – anorexia, pyrexia, anaemia, haemoglobinuria,

thrombocytopaenia,

• Diagnosis – blood smear, ELISA, PCR
• Treatment – imidocarb diproprionate, clindamycin

4. Leishmaniasis (ZOONOTIC)

• What is it – protozoal infection that infects the macrophages
• Transmission – sand fly
• CS – cutaneous lesions, lymphadenopathy, anorexia, alopecia,

hyperkeratosis, coagulopathy signs

• Diagnosis – serology, PCR
• Treatment – euthansia to protect humans

5. Heartworm

• Transmission – mosquiot
• CS – cardiopulmonary
• Treatment – surgery

Multiple Choice

How is feline infectious anaemia transmitted?

• Flea bites

  and

  saliva

• Cat fights

  and flea bites

• Cat bite and nasal discharge

• aerosols and infected bites

Multiple Choice

Which analgesia is best for neuropathic pain?

• Meloxicam

• Morphine

• Gabapentin

• Fentanyl

Open Ended

State TWO reasons why a patient with Lyme disease would need to be barrier nursed?

Open Ended

State a long-term treatment plan for an epileptic dog?

Open Ended

What breed is predisposed to syringomyelia?