To request a remote neurology diagnosis, it is crucial to send the right documentation and carry out the appropriate tests.
Find out the keys to making a good diagnosis before referring a case.
A Vetoclock neurology report includes a study of all the preliminary tests that offer the data needed to make a diagnosis. Here, we will look at how to carry out a neurology consultation properly..
In the words of our expert, Sergio Ródenas, ‘Veterinary neurologists assist general practice veterinarians in the diagnosis and treatment of neurological diseases, as well as helping them to shed light on neurology cases.
Most of the time, the crucial step is working out whether the case is neurological or not, as internal medicine (e.g. weakness) and trauma (e.g. torn ACL) cases can mimic neurological issues.
Secondly, it is important to localise the lesion within the nervous system in order to identify where the diagnostic tests should focus. For example, there is no use localising a problem in the spinal cord in the neck if the problem is actually in the brain, as the tests will focus on the neck area and will not provide an accurate diagnosis.
Once the problem is localised in the nervous system, choosing the right diagnostic tests is fundamental. If they have already been carried out, it is important to check that they are the most suitable tests for the case, and adapt the treatment accordingly.
To do this, the patient’s clinical record is required. The recommended questions to ask are as follows:
Ambulatory or non-ambulatory paraparesis or tetraparesis.
Spinal pain.
Paraplegia or tetraplegia (absence of voluntary movement).
Paraplegia with or without deep pain sensation.
Presence or absence of postural reaction deficits.
Presence or absence of spinal reflexes.
On top of the neurological examination, these are the most important symptoms to identify so that we can help you with spinal cord or peripheral nervous system cases.
Secondly, sending photos or videos is useful, so that we can help you to define the problem, determine whether it is neurological or not, and locate the possible lesion within the nervous system from the video.
When you send us a case, we examine the videos and medical history to clear up any doubts regarding whether or not the problem is neurological, where the lesion is located and how to proceed with diagnostic testing.
Should the patient not respond well to treatment following diagnosis (e.g. epilepsy, inflammatory diseases), we can help with an online consultation on how to proceed with treatment in complex cases.
