Welcome to VCA Arboretum View's Neurology service

Dr. Birkel's primary focus is to improve your pet's quality of life by providing effective neurological treatment and supportive services. From diagnostic screening to recovery, our Neurology service offers advanced, comprehensive care to treat your pet.

• A thorough neurologic examination
• Brain and spinal cord imaging, including MRI, ultrasound, and radiography.
• Spinal fluid tap and analysis.
• Seizure management.
• Vestibular disease treatment.
• Neuromuscular disease treatment.
• Encephalitis and myelitis treatment.
• Degenerative myelopathy management
• Neurosurgery of the spinal cord, brain, and peripheral nerve system.
• Electrophysiologic examination of nerves and muscles. EMG, Nerve conduction studies.
• Physical Rehabilitation
• Knowledge of clinical trials available to pets with specific neurologic disorders

Why Does My Pet Need A Veterinary Neurologist?
Just as your own primary care physician may feel the need to refer you to the care of a specialist from time to time, your general practitioner veterinarian may feel your pet needs a veterinary neurologist to help diagnose or treat a problem. While your general practitioner veterinarian can handle many aspects of your pet's care, just as in human medicine, there is sometimes a need for the attention of a specialist. You can be assured that a veterinarian who knows when to refer you and your pet for more specialized diagnostic work or treatment is one that is caring and committed to ensuring that your pet receives the highest standard of medical care for his or her condition.

Will My Primary Care Veterinarian Still Be Involved?
In many cases, your regular veterinarian will still supervise your pet's veterinary care, especially if your pet is coping with multiple disease states or conditions. In other cases, your referral doctor will take over the majority of your pet's medical care for the duration of its referred treatment. It depends on your pet's particular problem.

Your Pet's First Neurology Consultation:
All new patients are expected to arrive 10 minutes prior to their appointment start time to allow sufficient time to complete the check-in process.

After completing the check-in paperwork, a specialized trained Neurology Technician will meet with you and your pet in an examination room. During this time, the Neurology Technician will perform a full physical examination and ask questions about your pet's current symptoms, health, and medications.

Shortly after discussing your pet's health with a Neurology Technician, you will meet with your pet's Neurologist, Dr. Birkel. While discussing your pet's symptoms, the Neurologist will perform a full physical and neurologic examination. It may seem like you are answering several questions, but this information helps the Neurologist develop a unique treatment plan for your pet.

Your Neurologist will discuss the treatment recommendations and answer any of your questions. If your Neurologist recommends diagnostic testing, a Neurology Technician will go over a detailed treatment plan and let you know if the tests could be done that same day.

At the visit's conclusion, a Neurology Technician will discuss discharge instructions and walk you upfront to the checkout desk. The Neurology department does recommend scheduling your follow-up appointment at this time. If you have any questions regarding your pet's recovery, never hesitate to call and ask to speak to the Neurology service.

Did You Know?

• In an emergency, the safest way to transport a seizing or unconscious pet to its veterinarian, for both you and the pet, is in an airline crate.
• There are less than 100 veterinary neurologists in the United States today.
• Seizures are the most common neurological problem in companion animals.
• Intervertebral disk disease is the most common spinal cord problem in dogs.