The nervous system is an essential component of your pet's overall health and functioning. The nervous system in dogs and cats (like humans) has brains, spinal cords, and peripheral nerves (which send information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles)—all of which help coordinate your pet's bodily function and movement.
Any damage, disease, or injury to a pet's nervous system can lead to serious consequences. Intervention to help treat neurologic disease and injury in pets by a veterinary neurologist is essential for best care and outcomes.
Due to the complex nature of the brain and spine, primary and emergency care hospitals often maintain close contact with veterinary neurology specialists. These specialized veterinarians provide the advanced care and attention necessary to treat or manage a pet’s neurologic condition appropriately.
Common Neurologic Disorders in Pets
Autoimmune diseases that affect the brain or spinal cord
Bacterial, fungal, protozoalor viral infections of the brain or spinal cord
Degenerative disc disease (aka “slipped disc")
Head trauma
Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) which causes back pain. See below image for a variety of disc conditions:
Spinal trauma, fractures, and dislocations
Balance issues
Seizure disorders
Stroke
Tumors
Vestibular disease caused by ear infections (sudden loss of balance, disorientation, or head tilt). See image below for the anatomy of the canine ear:
If your pet is exhibiting any signs of neurologic damage, please visit an emergency veterinarian as soon as possible. If their clinical signs are very mild and occur sporadically, keep track of any signs, and take videos of an episode with notes alongside. Providing a detailed summary can help your veterinarian diagnose and begin necessary treatment more quickly.
Treatment for Neurologic Disorders in Pets
Many neurologic disorders can be healed, cured, or managed. After identifying the type of disorder and its cause, our veterinary neurologists will create an individualized treatment plan specifically tailored to your pet’s needs.
Several different types of treatment are available for neurologic disorders in pets, including:
Oncological therapies for cancer (Chemotherapy, Radiation, etc.) can be provided in some cases via medical and radiation oncologists.
