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VCA Sacramento Veterinary Referral Center
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VCA Sacramento Veterinary Referral Center
916-362-3111
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.
Our neurology specialty team has the advanced training, experience, skill and technologically-advanced diagnostic equipment to help your pet should a neurological condition occur affecting the brain, spinal cord, nerves or muscles. Our approach includes thoroughly assessing your pet, helping you to understand how your pet's nervous system is affected by its condition and provide you with all available treatment options. Our Neurology Department is available 7 days a week to help you and your pet!
When you visit our Neurology/Neurosurgery Department for a neurology consultation, our neurologists generally start by collecting your pet's medical history. Our doctors then perform a thorough neurological examination of your pet, which provides us with information that will help us to pinpoint where the problem is occurring in the brain, spinal cord, nerves or muscles and identify the disorder. Based on this initial information, our doctors may recommend blood work, x-rays or more advanced testing, such as MRI or CT scan, in order for us to arrive at a more definitive diagnosis. Having arrived at a diagnosis, we will then discuss with you the potential causes of the problem as well as all treatment options for your pet.
What Is Veterinary Neurology?
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.
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.
Specifically, veterinary neurologists can provide the following:
Will My Regular 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.
Did You Know?
