There are 12 pairs of cranial nerves arising from the brain and each has different functions. Diseases affecting these nerves are common in small animals and can often be easily recognized simply on clinical examination. As they are easy to visualize, pet owners generally get very concerned and distressed when they initially note the problem. The effect of cranial nerve dysfunction can range from subtle cosmetic problems to extremely debilitating deficits that will, in most cases, result in death. It is important that veterinary practitioners and nurses feel comfortable assessing patients with these conditions and can advise pet owners on the severity of the problem and most likely causes for it as well as on the need for further investigations and possible treatments. In this session we will review the functions of these nerves and how to assess them, focusing on the most common presentations and how to deal with them.
The Australian Veterinary Nurse and Technician (AVNAT) Regulatory Council has allocated (1) AVNAT CPD point to this continuing education activity.
Recording from 06 December 2022
Speaker:
Rita Goncalves
DVM, MVM, DipECVN, FHEA, MRCVS
After working as a small animal practitioner in Yorkshire and undertaking an internship at the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket, Rita completed her residency in Neurology and Neurosurgery at the University of Glasgow. She became a European and RCVS Recognised Specialist in Neurology in 2008 and currently heads the Neurology and Neurosurgery service of the University of Liverpool where she works as a Senior Lecturer. Rita was the founding president of the British Veterinary Neurology Society (BVNS) and has been chairperson of the scientific and currently the credential committee of the European College of Veterinary Neurology (ECVN). She is currently undertaking a part-time PhD in identification of novel biomarkers in meningoencephalitis of unknown origin in dogs as she has a special interest in inflammatory conditions affecting the nervous system.
