Dr Natalia Strokowska sends greetings from Sweden where she currently locums for 5 weeks at an emergency vet position in 24-hour highly specialist small animal hospital. Dr Dorota Morawska, our Medical English student visited her for a week to learn the best quality care delivered in Scandinavia and also practice her language skills. She is studying with Dr Natalia on an individual course on a weekly 1:1 E-learning sessions. What is more, thanks to our course she attended ESAVS cardiology I in Portugal lately and had a chance to use her new specialist skills in practice. We wholeheartedly congratulate, that she pursues her dream of becoming a veterinary cardiologist. Great job Dorota, we are so proud of you!!! :)
Ataxia
Time to continue our neurology series Guys!
Today's topic will be ATAXIA.
ATAXIA means loss of balance or unbalanced gait. An owner might say that their ataxic animal is not STEADY on its feet.
There are three types of ATAXIA. 🧠🧠🧠
The first is called SENSORY/ PROPRIOCEPTIVE ATAXIA and it occurs when the spinal cord is slowly compressed. Due to this compression, there is a disruption in the signal conduction between the limbs and the brain. SENSORY ATAXIA can be caused by a BULGING DISC a TUMOUR or TRAUMA.
Animals with proprioception deficits DRAG their limbs due to limb PARESIS.
If you can't remember what the difference between PARESIS and PARALYSIS was have a look at this post:
https://www.facebook.com/veterinaryenglish/photos/a.1121415764559565.1073741828.1119239021443906/1882033355164465/?type=3&theater
The second type of ataxia is a result of an abnormal function of the inner ear or the brainstem and is called a VESTIBULAR SYNDROME. There can be several reasons for this of which the most common are an inner ear infection and geriatric vestibular disease.
The vestibular syndrome causes ATAXIA but also a HEAD TILT and NYSTAGMUS. 👀👀
If you don't know what strabismus is here you can find a quick reminder:
https://www.facebook.com/veterinaryenglish/photos/a.1121415764559565.1073741828.1119239021443906/1809825915718543/?type=3&theater ).
The third type of ataxia is called CEREBELLAR ATAXIA which as you probably guessed originates in the part of the brain called the cerebellum. 😵😵 Cerebellar ataxia can be caused by degenerative changes, tumours or intoxications.
In kittens, cerebellar ataxia is often caused by underdevelopment of the cerebellum secondary to a PERINATAL infection with the panleukopenia virus.
Vet cover letter essentials by Marta Klimczak, DVM, Veterinary English
Hey! Join our webinar about writing a cover letter that will really stand out!
We are learning about small animal nutrition. We put stress on practical approach in Medical English :)