Veterinary Neurology
Dr. David Chen · DACVIM (Neurology)
Veterinary neurology covers brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerve, and neuromuscular diseases in companion animals. Dr. Chen specializes in seizure management, IVDD localization, vestibular syndrome workups, and MRI-guided neurologic assessment.
Ask Dr. David Chen →Common Conditions
Sample Questions
“Dachshund with acute T3-L3 myelopathy, deep pain intact, non-ambulatory paraparesis. Medical vs surgical IVDD management criteria?”
“Dog on phenobarbital and potassium bromide still having monthly cluster seizures. Third-line anticonvulsant options?”
“Older Golden Retriever with progressive head tilt and circling — central vs peripheral vestibular localization approach?”
Neurology Cases(23)
View All Cases →A 9-year-old neutered male Siamese cat presents with a tw...
Alright, let's systematically break down this fascinating case, as every clue in neurology is precious. First, your neurological examination correctly localizing the lesion to the
An 8-month-old intact male French Bulldog is presented to...
Thank you for the detailed case presentation. An 8-month-old French Bulldog with acute non-ambulatory tetraparesis, cervical hyperesthesia, and a confirmed C3-C4 intervertebral dis
I have a 5-year-old intact male Dachshund presenting with...
Thank you for presenting this concerning case. A 5-year-old intact male Dachshund with acute, rapidly progressive hindlimb paresis and thoracolumbar pain is a classic presentation
My 2-year-old spayed female DSH presented with acute onse...
Thank you for providing a clear and comprehensive initial workup on this 2-year-old DSH. Your diligent neurological examination and ruling out of common systemic and infectious cau
Phenobarbital for Dogs Seizures Long Term
Excellent question. Phenobarbital remains one of our most effective and reliable first-line AEDs, but meticulous management is key to maximizing efficacy while minimizing risk. Let
Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome Treatment
Colleague, This is an excellent and comprehensive plan for a suspected case of Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD). Your approach is thorough and hits all the key multimodal manage
Dog Seizure Cluster Emergency Treatment
Alright, let's get this dog stabilized. Status epilepticus is a time-critical emergency; our primary goals are to stop the seizure, protect the brain, and manage the systemic conse
Dog Limping Back Leg No Injury
Excellent starting list. The "worse after rest" or "positive sit test" history is highly suggestive of osteoarthritis, and your job is to find the underlying cause. Here's my syste
German Shepherd Degenerative Myelopathy
Colleague, Excellent workup. Your suspicion of degenerative myelopathy (DM) is very high on my differential list given the classic signalment and presentation. A progressive, non-
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Syringomyelia
Excellent workup on this Cavalier. This is a classic presentation, and getting the MRI to confirm CM/SM is the critical first step. You've correctly identified the core therapeutic
Canine Laryngeal Paralysis Polyneuropathy
Excellent case, and your suspicion is spot on. This is a classic presentation for Geriatric Onset Laryngeal Paralysis Polyneuropathy (GOLPP). It's critical to remember that this is
Canine Meningoencephalitis of Unknown Origin
Colleague, This is a classic and heartbreaking presentation for Necrotizing Meningoencephalitis (NME), especially given the signalment. A young Pug with multifocal CNS signs (fore
Old Dog Vestibular Disease Treatment
Colleague, This is a classic and often dramatic presentation. The key to this case, as with all vestibular presentations, is differentiating central from peripheral disease. Your
Canine Idiopathic Epilepsy Management
Excellent workup. With a normal interictal exam, bloodwork, and MRI in a 2-year-old Border Collie, you've correctly arrived at a diagnosis of idiopathic epilepsy. Given the patient
MRI vs CT for a 6yo French Bulldog with acute T3-L3 myelo...
Colleague, this is a classic and critical decision point. For a 6-year-old French Bulldog with an acute T3-L3 localization, our top differential is a Hansen Type I intervertebral d
MRI vs CT for a 6yo French Bulldog with acute T3-L3 myelo...
Colleague, this is a classic and important question. For this 6-year-old French Bulldog with an acute T3-L3 myelopathy, my strong recommendation is MRI. Here is my systematic brea
MRI vs CT for a 6yo French Bulldog with acute T3-L3 myelo...
Excellent localization. A 6-year-old French Bulldog with acute T3-L3 signs screams Hansen Type I IVDD, and you're right to be thinking about surgical planning immediately. This is
MRI vs CT for a 6yo French Bulldog with acute T3-L3 myelo...
Excellent localization. This is the classic presentation for a Hansen Type I disc extrusion in a French Bulldog, and your question about imaging is the critical next step for surgi
I have a 10 year old female. Dawson is having back pain. ...
Excellent work on the neurological exam. Walking me through the findings like that is exactly what I need. The combination of proprioceptive deficits and hyperreflexia in the pelvi
7yo Golden with hindlimb weakness and elevated CK
Thanks for the consult on this Golden. The combination of hindlimb weakness and an elevated CK is a very helpful pointer, but before we jump to a diagnosis, we must neurolocalize.
7yo Golden with hindlimb weakness and elevated CK
Colleague, This is a great case. The combination of hindlimb weakness in a Golden Retriever with an elevated CK immediately pushes my thinking in a specific direction. While we al
7yo Golden with progressive hindlimb weakness, elevated C...
Thanks for reaching out. This is a classic presentation where we need to be systematic to avoid getting led astray. The elevated CK is a critical clue, but it doesn't give us the a
7yo Golden with hindlimb weakness and elevated CK
Based on the presentation of hindlimb weakness and elevated creatine kinase (CK) in a 7-year-old Golden Retriever, the symptoms suggest a neuromuscular disorder, likely affecting t
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