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VCA Veterinary Specialists of Northern Colorado
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VCA Veterinary Specialists of Northern Colorado
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Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is produced primarily within the ventricles of the brain and travels within the central nervous system (CNS) down towards the lower back and tail. CSF surrounds the brain and spinal cord and acts to support, protect and nourish these structures.
Spinal fluid can be obtained from the back of the neck just behind the head or from the lower back. Collection of CSF involves shaving hair over these areas, aseptically preparing the overlying skin and carefully placing a small needle into the space around the spinal cord. This procedure is performed in anesthetized patients placed in very specific positions. When performed by a well trained and experienced veterinarian, such as a veterinary neurologist, risks of complications associated with this procedure are generally low.
CSF can be analyzed for cell types and numbers, as well as for changes in normal components, such as protein level, or presence of abnormalities, e.g. infectious agents or cancerous cells. CSF analysis is generally used together with other tests (e.g. MRI, myelography) to help determine the underlying cause of a problem affecting the CNS. CSF analysis can be especially important in diagnosis of inflammatory CNS conditions, e.g. meningitis.
Veterinary Neurology is the branch of medicine that treats diseases of the nervous system: the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and muscles in pets. This encompasses such common problems as epilepsy, herniated disks, spinal and head injuries, meningitis, and cancers of the nervous system. A board certified veterinary neurologist is a licensed veterinarian who has obtained additional intensive training in veterinary neurology and has been certified by either the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) in the United States or the European College of Veterinary Neurology (ECVN) in Europe to specialize in veterinary neurology.
While your general practitioner veterinarian can diagnose and treat many health problems, certain diseases and conditions require the care of a doctor who has had specialized, intensive training in veterinary neurology in order to provide the very best outcome for your pet.
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.
Specifically, veterinary neurologists can provide the following:
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.
Did You Know?
In an emergency, the safest way to transport a seizuring 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.
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