![]() The clinical neurological exam is an essential component in the assessment and care of patients with a wide variety of illnesses and injuries. Manual pupillary assessment, using a flashlight or penlight, is prone to many sources of inaccuracy and is characterized by subjectivity and low interrater reliability. Pupillary changes correlate with neurological worsening and yet are often undetectable using traditional manual assessment methods. Accurate serial neurological assessment is imperative to 1) rapidly detect changes that may indicate neurologic deterioration, 2) guide patient management, 3) determine the effect of therapeutic interventions and 4) inform prognosis.Īssessment of pupil size and the pupillary light reflex is a critical component of the neurological exam for patients in various settings (26, 50, 55) such as the Emergency Department (ED), Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Operating Room (OR), Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), diagnostic areas such as Interventional Radiology (IR), and Progressive Care Units (PCU). Patients with primary or secondary neurological insult are at risk for development of hydrocephalus, cerebral edema, elevated intracranial pressure (ICP), and brain herniation. Your vet may even recommend a new diet for the dog, especially if it is frequently vomiting or severely depressed.As standard of care, all critically ill patients require routine neurologic examination, including pupillary assessment. Your veterinarian will schedule regular follow-up exams to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment and the dog's state of health. In such instances, a second round of treatment (or long-term treatment) may be required to save the dog's life. ![]() For example, in some dogs, symptoms may reappear once treatment is discontinued. With proper treatment and care, symptoms gradually improve within two to eight weeks however, the overall prognosis depends on the underlying cause of the condition. For instance, those suspected of having bacterial infections will be given broad spectrum antibiotics, which can reach the brain and spinal cord. Severe forms of encephalitis require immediate hospitalization and intensive care. Your veterinarian will focus on reducing the severity of the symptoms, such as brain edema and seizures, and halt the progression of the disease. If culture assays are unsuccessful, a brain tissue sample may be necessary to confirm the diagnosis, but this is an expensive procedure. This is necessary for definitive diagnosis and to determine the severity of the problem. Your veterinarian may also collect a sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which is then sent to a laboratory for cultures. To confirm lung involvement and related complications, your veterinarian may require chest X-rays, while MRIs and CT-scans are used to evaluate the brain involvement in detail. And abnormal reduction in platelets (small cells used in blood clotting) is a good indicator of thrombocytopenia. Viral infections, meanwhile, may decrease the number of lymphocytes, a type of white cells (also known as lymphopenia). If your dog has an infection, the complete blood count may show an increased number of white blood cells. ![]() Your veterinarian may then perform a complete physical examination as well as a biochemistry profile, urinalysis, and complete blood count (the results of which will depend on the underlying cause of the encephalitis). You will need to give your veterinarian a thorough history of your dog’s health, including the onset and nature of the symptoms, and possible incidents that might have precipitated the unusual behaviors or complications. Parasitic infections (e.g., Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis) Viral infections (e.g., canine distemper, rabies, parvovirus)īacterial infections (anaerobic and aerobic)įungal infections (e.g., aspergillosis, histoplasmosis, blastomycosis) Such symptoms include:ĭecreased consciousness, which may worsen as disease progresses German short-haired pointers, Maltese, and Yorkshire terriers are all found to be predisposed to encephalitis.Īlthough symptoms may vary depending on the portion of brain affected, they typically appear suddenly and are rapidly progressive. However, it also may be accompanied by the inflammation of spinal cord ( myelitis), and/or the inflammation of the meninges ( meningitis), membranes which cover the brain and spinal cord. The term encephalitis refers to an inflammation of the brain. ![]()
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