Proprioception and other postural reactions
Why
Assesses the integrity of the white matter tracts conveying sensory information to the cortex and also upper and lower motor neurons (strength). #Proprioceptive and #postural_deficits indicate #neurological disease but are non-specific. Proprioceptive and postural deficits will be contralateral to the lesion above the level of the brain stem and ipsilateral below.
How
#Proprioception/ #paw position
Assessed by observing the ability of the #animal to replace a knuckled over paw or move an abducted or adducted paw back into position. In cats, ruminants and horses (unlike dogs) there has to be a severe damage to the #proprioceptive pathways before there is failure to correct a knuckled over paw/hoof so this should not be the only evaluation of proprioception in these animals. The ability to correct #paw_position is also dependant on the ability of the other limbs to support weight whilst the limb is lifted. The weak animal should be supported e.g. by an arm under abdomen otherwise the test can be over-interpreted. Pulling paper from under foot is a less unreliable method to assess proprioception.
#Hopping
Whilst supporting the contralateral limb (large animals) or body and three limbs (small animals) the animal is pushed gently sideways so that it hops on the remaining limb. As soon as the shoulder or hip moves from the perpendicular the animal should compensate for the imbalance by hopping the foot. Failure to hop successfully can be due to loss of muscular strength in which case the supporting limb will collapse, or a sensory lesion in which case there is a delay to hop. Normal proprioception but reduced strength, i.e. failure to hop but corrects knuckled paw when fully supported, is suggestive of neuromuscular disease.
#Placing
The animal is lifted, supported and advanced towards a table with and without covering the eyes. When the normal animal see or feels the table they should advance both feet placing them on the table. This test can be useful to detect subtle lesions
#Hemistanding, #hemiwalking and #wheelbarrowing
The appropriate half of the animal is supported and function of the other limbs is assessed. This is also useful to detect subtle lesions and assess symmetry. #dog #veterinary #neurology #neurologicalproblem #neurological_exam
3 окт 2024
