Avaliação Semiológica e Diagnóstico em Pequenos Animais - Aula 8.2

Summary

In this detailed veterinary lesson, students learn how to conduct a thorough neurological examination on animals. The process covers assessing consciousness, posture, and locomotion, as well as evaluating the 12 cranial nerves, postural reflexes, and sensory functions. The lecture explains various neurological disorders like ataxia, paresis, and facial paralysis, and outlines the necessary tools and techniques for accurate diagnosis. Emphasizing the importance of reflex testing and awareness of abnormal responses, the session provides students with essential skills for identifying neurological abnormalities in animals, guiding them through each critical examination step.

Takeaways

• 😀 Neurological examination of animals is essential to detect abnormalities and determine the location of lesions in the nervous system.
• 😀 The evaluation begins by assessing the level of consciousness, posture, and locomotion, including reflexes and sensory responses.
• 😀 Physical exam tools like a fleximeter, hemostatic clamp, cotton swab, and flashlight are crucial for the examination process.
• 😀 Animals' reactions to environmental stimuli help determine their level of alertness, ranging from alertness to coma, with stages like stupor and depression in between.
• 😀 Posture abnormalities, such as 'head tilt' and 'ataxia', are key indicators of neurological dysfunction, often linked to cerebellar lesions.
• 😀 Evaluation of the 12 cranial nerves is necessary to check the proper functioning of sensory and motor functions in the head and face.
• 😀 Cranial nerve tests include assessing the olfactory (smell), optic (vision), oculomotor (eye movement), and trigeminal (facial sensation and mastication) nerves.
• 😀 Pupillary reflexes, such as miosis (constricted pupil) and mydriasis (dilated pupil), are important for assessing optic nerve and brainstem function.
• 😀 Vestibular nerve evaluation focuses on balance, eye movement, and response to auditory stimuli to detect vestibular dysfunction.
• 😀 Reflexes, such as the patellar, gastrocnemius, and flexor reflexes, provide critical insights into the integrity of the spinal cord and motor neurons.
• 😀 Reactions to positional changes and postural reflexes are used to assess the animal's ability to regain proper posture and balance, revealing issues in the nervous system.

Q & A

What is the main objective of the physical examination of animals as described in the script?

The main objective is to examine animals to detect whether their neurological system is functioning normally or if there are any abnormalities that need attention.

How can a lesion in the nervous system affect the animal's manifestations?

The manifestations of a nervous system lesion depend on the location of the injury. Different locations will result in different symptoms and abnormalities.

What tools are essential for conducting a neurological exam on animals?

Essential tools for conducting a neurological exam include a fleximeter, hemostatic clamp, cotton swab, and flashlight.

What are the different levels of consciousness observed in animals, and what do they indicate?

The levels of consciousness observed include alertness, depression, stupor, and coma. Alert animals are responsive to their environment, depressed animals show apathy, stupor animals respond only to intense stimuli, and coma animals show no external response.

What is the 'Red Tilt' and what does it indicate in an animal's posture?

The 'Red Tilt' refers to an abnormal lateral positioning of the animal's head. This condition is indicative of a neurological issue, possibly involving cerebellar lesions.

What are the steps involved in assessing the 12 pairs of cranial nerves in animals?

To assess the cranial nerves, the veterinarian must evaluate sensory and motor functions related to each nerve. This includes testing for vision, smell, facial movement, and reflexes, among other aspects.

How can you assess the function of the olfactory nerve in an animal?

The olfactory nerve can be tested by placing aromatic substances near the animal's nostrils to check for a response, indicating the presence or absence of smell.

What is the significance of evaluating the pupillary reflex in animals?

Evaluating the pupillary reflex is important to assess whether the animal's vision and neurological function are intact. Abnormal responses can indicate damage to the optic nerve or other related neurological issues.

How is the function of the vestibulocochlear nerve tested in animals?

The vestibulocochlear nerve can be assessed by testing the animal's balance, head position, and response to auditory stimuli. Observing for signs of vertigo, ataxia, and nystagmus helps in determining the nerve's function.

What reflexes are tested during a neurological exam to assess motor function in animals?

Reflexes like the patellar reflex, gastrocnemius reflex, and flexor reflex are tested to evaluate motor function. These tests help determine whether there is a lesion in the upper or lower motor neurons.