Companion Animal Neurology - Neurosurgery and Neuro-Ophthalmology

Lectures, e-learning, theoretical and practical exercises. Case-study work.

As part of the course, you will have to perform oral presentations and hand in a number of written exercises / cases and procedure protocols.

Having completed the course, the student must be able to:

 Knowledge

• Understand the etiology, pathophysiology and clinical appearance of neurological disorders in companion animal patients with a focus on the theory of neuro-ophthalmology and theoretical and practical surgical intervention of especially the spine.
• Define and identify relevant anatomical structures of importance for a successful outcome of neurosurgery with a main emphasis on spinal surgery.
• Understand and use common and typical surgical techniques for companion animal neurological patients in need of surgery of the spine and be able to plan perioperative requirements, including post-operative management, pain alleviation and rehabilitation.
• Explain, reflect upon, and discuss a problem oriented and evidence based work-up and treatment plan for companion animal patients with neurological surgical disease.
• Understand the neuroanatomy, lesion localization and common diseases of the neuro-ophthalmological system in companion animals.

Skills

• Assess companion animal neurosurgical patients preoperatively, and plan and perform perioperative treatment for such patients.
• Perform common and typical surgical techniques for companion animal neurological patients in need of surgery, with a special emphasis on spinal surgery.
• Assess companion animal neuro-surgical patient’s perioperatively with focus on treatment effect, complications and prognosis. Assess, prognosticate and suggest treatment strategies for companion animal patients with neuro-ophthalmological problems

Competences

• Evaluate, plan and manage a diagnostic workup for patients with neurological disease in need of surgical intervention.
• Plan advanced therapy/procedures for companion animal neurological patients in need of surgical intervention of the spine.
• Independently obtain, evaluate and elaborate on evidence based new knowledge within companion animal neurological patients that are candidates for surgery and demonstrate knowledge of typical surgical techniques for companion animal neurological patients in need of surgery, with a special emphasis on spinal surgery.
• Collaborate and communicate within and between specialist and non-specialist peers and lay- persons involved in companion animal surgical neurological patient management.
• Understand and perform a well-founded clinical and therapeutic approach to patients with neuro-ophthalmological problems.

Find detailed information about the formal requirements for this course.

The course responsibles at the specialisation track in Companion Animal Neurology are:

• Professor Mette Berendt, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
• Associate professor Hanne Birgit Gredal, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Lecturers at the specialisation track are:

• Joane Parent, DMV, MVetSc, DipACVIM Neurology, Professor Veterinary Neurology, University of Montreal, Canada
• Fraser McConnel, BVM&S, DVR, DipECVDI, CertSAM, MRCVS, RCVS Specialist in Small Animal Diagnostic Imaging & EBVS® European Specialist in Small Animal Diagnostic Imaging, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom
• Patrick Kenny, DVM, BVSc (Hons) DipACVIM Neurology, DipECVN, FHEA, MRCVS, SAHS-Vets Specialist Hospital, Sidney, Australia