Neurological Diagnostics

The basic neurologic exam is used to achieve an anatomic location of a nervous system abnormality. The examination consists of an evaluation from head to tail, assessing behavior and gait. Defects can occur anywhere in the nervous system, and clinical signs may vary depending on the location of the lesion. Some of the more noticeable clues that a horse may have a neurological deficit are:

• Imbalance
• Stumbling/ tripping/ falling
• Muscle atrophy
• Neck or back pain
• Weakness
• Performance difficulties

Neurologic disorders must be diagnostically differentiable from musculoskeletal disorders. Neurologic disorders may also occur singly or from multiple lesions. Therefore, consideration of age, sex, breed, and onset of symptoms may be significant in proper diagnosis.

However, neurological diseases may be congenital, traumatic, nutritional, or infectious (i.e., EHV-1 or EPM). Clinical testing, in addition to the basic neurologic exam, are used to achieve a diagnosis. Testing may consist of cervical/spinal radiographs, ultrasound, and/or blood work.