Canine and Feline Neurology: What's Your Diagnosis?

Simon R. Platt (Editor), Susan A. Arnold (Editor) 

ISBN: 9781119803126

Wiley-Blackwell

December 2026

416 pages

Description

Build clinical neurology skills through real-world diagnostic case challenges

Canine and Feline Neurology: What’s Your Diagnosis? presents an image-driven, case-based approach that develops diagnostic reasoning through authentic clinical scenarios. Written by experienced veterinary neurologists, this practical reference organizes cases by clinical sign, allowing rapid navigation to relevant differential diagnoses during busy practice days.

Each case follows a consistent structure: history, examination findings, and approximately three diagnostic questions with detailed answers explaining the reasoning process. Clinical photographs and case-based videos throughout depict the neurological conditions described, reinforcing visual recognition skills. Video clips available on a companion website also demonstrate movement disorders, seizures, and other conditions discussed, bringing static case descriptions to life for enhanced learning.

Readers will also find:

• A problem-oriented organization by clinical sign that mirrors how neurological cases actually present in general practice settings

• Detailed question-and-answer formats following each case history that reinforce systematic diagnostic reasoning and clinical decision-making skills

• Clinical photographs depicting neurological conditions in each case to strengthen visual pattern recognition during patient examinations

• Companion website video clips showing neurological conditions in motion, demonstrating gait abnormalities, seizures, and vestibular dysfunction

• Ready-reference format designed for quick consultation during clinical practice when facing challenging neurological presentations in dogs and cats

Ideal for general practitioners seeking to strengthen neurological assessment skills and veterinary students building foundational competence, this case-based resource bridges the gap between textbook knowledge and clinical application. The accessible format supports both systematic study and quick reference during patient evaluations.

Table of Contents

List Of Contributors xiii 

Preface xv 

Acknowledgments xvii 

About The Companion Website xviii 

1 How To Perform The Neurological Examination 1 

2 Lesion Localization, Clinical Reasoning, And The Differential Diagnosis 29 

3.1 Circling And Altered Mentation: Case 1 – Dog With Progressive Circling And Personality Change 39 

3.2 Case 2 – A Cat With Acute Circling 54 

3.3 Case 3 – Dog With Marked Reduction Of Consciousness 69 

3.4 Case 4 – Cat With Chronic Reduced Consciousness 76 

4.1 Seizures: Case 1 Cluster Seizures In A Dog 83 

4.2 Case 2: Refractory Seizures In A Dog 91 

4.3 Seizures 103 

4.4 Case 4 – A Cat With Seizures 108 

5.1 Head Tilt And Imbalance: Case 1: Acute Onset Head Tilt In An Old Dog 113 

5.2 Case 2: Head Tilt In A Cat 120 

5.3 Case 3: Head Tilt And Weakness In A Dog 128 

6.1 Abnormalities Of Vision, Pupil Size, And Eye Position: Case 1: Dog With Dilated Unresponsive Pupil 137 

6.2 Case 2: Acute Bilateral Blindness In A Dog 143 

6.3 Case 3 153 

6.4 Case 4 164 

7.1 Disorders Of The Head And Face: Case 1 – Acute Facial Paresis In A Dog 174 

7.2 Case 2 – Trismus In A Dog 182 

7.3 Case 3 – Dropped Jaw In A Dog 189 

7.4 Case 4 – Unilateral Masticatory Muscle Atrophy In A Dog 196 

7.5 Case 5 202 

8.1 Tremors, Shakes, And Involuntary Movement: Case 1 – Generalized Tremors And Ataxia In A Cat 208 

8.2 Case 2 – Dyskinesia In A Dog 214 

8.3 Case 3 – Tremor And Ataxia In A Dog 219 

8.4 Case 4 – Phantom Scratching In A Dog 227 

9.1 Exercise-Related Weakness And Collapse: Case 1 – Acute Collapse In A Dog With Loss Of Reflexes 231 

9.2 Case 2 – Acute Weakness And Ventroflexion In A Cat 239 

9.3 Case 3 – Activity Intolerance/Generalized Weakness In A Dog 244 

9.4 Case 4 – Chronic Weakness/Plantigrade Posture In A Cat 251 

10.1 Spinal Pain: Case 1 – Thoracolumbar Pain In A Dog 255 

10.2 Case 2 – Neck Pain In A Dog 263 

10.3 Case 3 – Lumbosacral Pain In A Dog 268 

10.4 Case 4 – Lumbar Pain In A Cat 275 

11.1 Monoparesis: Case 1 – Chronic Lameness In One Thoracic Limb In A Dog 280 

11.2 Case 2 – Acute Onset Of Unilateral Pelvic Limb Weakness In A Dog 288 

12.1 Pelvic Limb Ataxia, Paraparesis, And Paralysis: Case 1 – Acute Paraparesis In A Chondrodystrophic Dog 292 

12.2 Case 2 – Chronic Progressive Paraparesis In A Large-Breed Dog 300 

12.3 Case 3 – Acute Paresis In A Cat 304 

12.4 Case 4 – Acute Paraparesis In A Non-Chondrodystrophic Dog 316 

13.1 Tetraparesis And Hemiparesis: Case 1 – Acute Tetraparesis With Thoracic Limbs Worse Than Pelvic Limbs 328 

13.2 Case 2 – Chronic Tetraparesis In A Large-Breed Dog 333 

13.3 Case 3 – Acute Tetraparesis In A Small Dog 339 

14.1 Urinary And Fecal Dysfunction: Case 1 – Urinary And Fecal Incontinence In A Cat 344 

14.2 Case 2 – Fecal Incontinence In A Pug 351 

14.3 Case 3 – Urinary And Fecal Incontinence In A Large-Breed Dog 357 

15.1 Neurological Trauma: Case 1 – Head Trauma 362 

15.2 Case 2 – Traumatic Vertebral Fractures And Luxations 371 

Index 000

About the Author

Simon R. Platt, BVMS, FRCVS, Dipl. ACVIM (Neurology), Dipl. ECVN, is a board-certified neurologist who is a consultant for VetOracle Teleradiology, while being the Medical Director for Hallmarq Veterinary Imaging, Editor-in-Chief for Today’s Veterinary Practice and an adjunct Professor at the University of Oklahoma, College of Veterinary Medicine in Stillwater, OK, USA.

Susan A. Arnold, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Neurology), is a board-certified neurologist and associate professor at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA.