Gregg Kortz

DVM, DACVIM/Neurology
Gregg Kortz
Veterinary Specialist
Neurology
Gregg Kortz

At a Glance

Practicing Since:

1985

Board Certified:

Neurology/Neurosurgery

Specialties Include:

Spinal surgery
Brain tumor therapy 
Seizure control
Diagnostics MR

My Pets:

Soudet - Golden Retriever 

Dr. Kortz is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine specializing in neurology and neurosurgery. Dr. Kortz has extensive training and experience in intracranial and spinal surgery of all types. He has received the neurosurgery certificate from ACVIM in recognition of completing the required training and case log.

Dr. Kortz's special interests include advanced imaging techniques including myelography, computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging features of various neurological diseases and the application of current and new therapies. He also has a strong interest in neuromuscular diseases and electrodiagnostic medicine. Dr. Kortz received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Colorado State University in 1985. Following two years of practice, he completed the residency program in neurology and neurosurgery at the University of California, Davis.

Dr. Kortz has served as a lecturer in the Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences UC Davis and maintains an active association with the neurology and neurosurgery service as an adjunct clinical professor. After several years traveling to specialty practices throughout California, in July 2002, Dr. Kortz established a practice exclusively in Northern California. Dr. Kortz has published numerous scientific articles, book chapters, and lectures on both large and small animal neurology.

Neurology

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:

  • A thorough neurologic examination, which may be videotaped for future reference.
  • Brain and spinal cord imaging, including CT and bone scans, MRI, ultrasound, myelography, and radiography.
  • Spinal fluid tap and analysis.
  • Intensive care.
  • Neurosurgery of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerve system.
  • Electrophysiologic examination of nerves and muscles.
  • Knowledge of clinical trials available to pets with specific neurologic disorders.

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?

  • 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.
VCA Sacramento Veterinary Referral Center

9801 Old Winery Place

Sacramento, CA 95827

Main: 916-362-3111

Fax: 916-362-0190

Hospital Hours:

    Mon-Sun: Open 24 hours

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