Episode 58: Neurology simplified

According to Antonio L. Bowens, DVM, owner of Bowen’s Locum Veterinary Neurology & Neurosurgery Services, when examining a patient for a neurologic condition, it's crucial that you perform a physical exam prior to a specialty exam.

“Just keep it simple. Neurology is already complicated enough. The first question you need to ask yourself is, 'Is this patient normal, orthopedic, or is it neurologic?'" Once you think the patient has a neurologic problem, the next step is ‘is it brain or spinal cord.’ Then, you take it from there," he tells Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, in this episode of The Vet Blast Podcast.

Bowens also distinguishes the clinical signs of various neurologic diseases and offers insight into diagnosing these conditions and how to localize the lesion.

“With central vestibular disease, the hallmark clinical signs can either be a vertical nystagmus or conscious proprioception deficits," says Bowens.

“Those with the peripheral vestibular problem may have a facial palsy, and usually that facial palsy is on the same side as the lesion," he adds.

Listen below for more of Bowens' expert knowledge on neurology and more.