NEUROLOGY CONSULTS

The most common reasons our vet partners refer neurology consults to us include seizures, behavior changes, trouble walking, and neck/back pain.

Fill out the patient referral form or contact us to schedule an appointment for your client/ pet.

WHAT TO EXPECT

  • Scheduling

    We will contact the client directly to schedule an appointment, typically within 2-3 working days. Urgent cases can be seen on the same day by an urgent care appointment or through the Pet ER.

  • Records Collection

    We will request all relevant patient records, including imaging and lab work (even if older). Please include any reports from other specialists or emergency hospital.  

  • Patient Confirmation

    Appointment details will be confirmed with the client via text and email.

  • Consultation Appointment

    The appointment will include a full neurological exam of the pet followed by a discussion between the neurologist and client on plans for the next steps needed to lead to a diagnosis.

  • Veterinarian Follow-Up

    After the appointment, we will send the referring veterinarian the exam findings and assessment. Pending results will be forwarded as they become available.

Common reasons veterinary partners refer patients for neurology consults

  • Seizures — also called fits, convulsions, and epilepsy–can be manifested by loss of consciousness, violent muscle contractions, often including a stiffening phase (tonic) followed by rhythmic jerking (clonic). Other types of seizures are partial seizures, which can affect movement, sensations, emotions, or consciousness, but they don't necessarily cause a loss of awareness.

  • Altered mental status — when a pet exhibits mental behavior that deviates from his or her normal awake behavior. This can present as confusion, disorientation, or lack of control over emotions. 

  • Stumbling, falling, difficulty in walking or rising may indicate pain and other health issues. 

  • Neck/back pain can stem from soft tissue injury (e.g.a strained muscle), trauma, IVDD, inflammatory disease, and some forms of cancer.

  • Balance problems in pets can manifest as stumbling, head tilt, and nystagmus (involuntary eye movements).

  • Vision or hearing loss can be a natural part of a pet’s aging, but also be caused by various conditions. Signs of vision loss include bumping into things, clumsiness, and changes in eye appearance, while hearing loss may manifest as reduced responsiveness to sounds or difficulty following commands. 

  • Urinary or fecal incontinence in pets occurs when they lose control of their bladder or bowels, resulting in involuntary urine or stool leakage. This can be a sign of various underlying health conditions

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • You can schedule a neurology consult in three ways:

    1. Fill out the patient referral form online.

    2. Call us directly.

    3. Provide your clients with our contact information with instructions to contact us.

  • Typically, we contact the client within 2-3 days to schedule an appointment. Urgent cases can be seen on the same day, if requested.

  • Along with patient records, the following additional records are requested:

    • Imaging and reports

    • Lab work (even if older)

    • Reports from other specialists or emergency hospitals

TRUSTED EXPERTS FOR YOUR FAMILY

Our veterinarians have more than eight decades of combined experience and are supported by a fantastic team of technicians and administrative staff.

Neurology & Neurosurgery

DR. JAY MCDONNELL

DR. JULIANNA MANNIX

Neurology & Neurosurgery

DR. LARRY GAINSBURG

Neurology & Neurosurgery