These notes are direct from the OHT’s that I received. The top of the OHT contained
one of the diagrams we have in our notes. The one with the Cerebrum at the left, with
the spine pointing right, and all the sections of the CNS labelled (eg. Under the
diagram, the labels are, left to right, Hypothalamus, Midbrain, Pons, Peripheral
Vestibular System, Central Vestibular System, Medulla).
Cerebral Syndrome
 Normal gait
 Altered mental status
o Apathy, depression, disorientation, lethargy, coma
 Change in behaviour
o Loss of trained habits, failure to recognize owner, aggression, or
hyperexcitability
 Abnormal movements/postures
o Pacing, wandering, circling, or head pressing
o Twisted head and trunk (pleurothotonos)
 Postural reaction deficits in contralateral limbs
 Visual impairment (eg. Bumping into objects, contralateral menace deficit) with
normal pupillary reflexes
 Seizures
+ Papilledema
+ Irregular respiration
Fig 2-12 Cerebral Syndrome. (From Braund, K.G.: Anisocoria: its relationship to various neurologic
syndromes. Vet Med 82: 997-1010, 1987).
Hypothalamic Syndrome
 Normal gait
 Altered mental status
o Disorientation, lethargy, or coma
 Change in behaviour
o Aggression or hyperexcitability
 Abnormal movements/postures
o Trembling, pacing, wandering, hiding, tight circling, or head pressing
 Bilateral deficits of Cr N II (Optic) at the level of the optic chiasm
o Visual impairment
o Dilated Pupils
o Depressed pupillary reflexes
 Abnormal temperature regulation
o Hyperthermia, hypothermia, or poikilothermia
 Abnormal appetite
o Hyperphagia/obesity, or anorexia/cachexia
 Endocrine disturbances
o Diabetes insipidus
o Diabetes mellitus
o Hyperadrenocorticism
o Acromegaly/excess growth hormone
 Seizures
Fig 2-11 Hypothalamic syndrome (From Braund, K.G.: Anisocoria: its relationship to various
neurologic syndromes. Vet Med 82: 997-1010, 1987).
Vestibular Syndrome
Central Vestibular Disease
Loss of balance
Head tilt
Falling/rolling
Nystagmus
Horizontal
Rotatory
Vertical
Positional
Strabismus (ventrolateral)
Cranial nerve deficits
Horner’s syndrome
Cerebellar signs
Mental depression
Hemiparesis with ipsilateral postural deficits
Peripheral Vestibular Disease
Yes
Yes
Yes (great tend. to roll)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Possible V, VI, VII
No
Possible
Possible
Possible
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Possible VII
Possible
No
No
No
Fig 2-9 Vestibular Syndrome. (From Braund, K.G.: Anisocoria: its relationship to various neurologic
syndromes. Vet Med 82: 997-1010, 1987).
Cerebellar Syndrome
 Spastic, goose-stepping gait in all limbs, especially thoracic, with presrvartion of
strength
 Truncal ataxia
 Intention tremors of head, eyes
 Broad-based stance
 Postural reactions delayed with exaggerated responses
 Menace deficit (ipsilateral), with normal vision
 Anisocoria (contralateral pupil dilated)
 + Opisthotonus
 + Vestibular signs (rare)
Fig 2-8 Cerebellar Syndrome. (From Braund, K.G.: Anisocoria: its relationship to various neurologic
syndromes. Vet Med 82: 997-1010, 1987).
Pontomedullary Syndrome
 Spastic weakness/paralysis in:
(a) all four limbs (ig. Tetraparesis/tetraplegia) or
(b) limbs on the same side of the body (ie. hemiparesis/hemiplegia)
 Normal/increased reflexes and muscle tone in all limbs
 Postural reaction deficits in limbs on same side, or in all limbs
 Multiple cranial nerve deficits
o Jaw paralysis, decreased facial sensation (Cr N V)
o Depressed palpebral reflex (Cr N V, VII)
o Facial Paralysis (Cr N VII)
o Head tilt, falling, rolling, nystagmus (Cr N VIII)
o Pharyngeal/laryngeal paralysis (Cr N IX, X)
o Tongue paralysis (Cr N XII)
 Irregular Respiration
 Mental Depression
Fig 2-7 Pontomedullary Syndrome (From Braund, K.G.: Anisocoria: its relationship to various
neurologic syndromes. Vet Med 82: 997-1010, 1987).
Cervical Syndrome
 Spastic weakness/paralysis in:
(a) all four limbs (ie. tetraparesis/tetraplegia) or
(b) limbs on same side of body (ir. Hemiparesis/hemiplegia)
 Normal/increased reflexes and muscle tone, in all limbs
(+ clasp-knife extensor rigidity in limbs on the same side, or in all limbs)
 Postural reaction deficits in limbs on the same side, or in all limbs
 Cervical muscle spasms, pain and/or rigidity (animals with neck
flexion/extension)
 Urinary incontinence
 Root signature
+ Respiratory difficulty
+ Horner’s syndrome
Fig 2-6 Cervical Syndrome. (From Braund, K.G.: Anisocoria: its relationship to various neurologic
syndromes. Vet Med 82: 997-1010, 1987).
Cervicothoracic Syndrome
 Weakness/paralysis in:
(a) all four limbs (ie. tetraparesis/tetraplegia),
(b) limbs on the same side of the body (ie. hemiparesis/hemiplegia), or
(c) only one thoracic limb (ie. monoparesis/monoplegia)
 Depressed reflexes and flaccid muscle tone, with muscle atrophy, in thoracic
limb(s)
 Normal/increased reflexes and flaccid muscle tone, without muscle atrophy, in
pelvic limb(s)
 Postural reaction deficits in thoracic limb(s), in limbs on the same side, or all
limbs
 Increased local sensitivity (hyperesthesia) at level of lesion
 Reduced sensitivity (hypesthesia) behind level of lesion
 Panniculus reflex depressed or absent (unilaterally or bilaterally)
 Urinary incontinence
 Horner’s Syndrome
o Miosis
o Enophtalmos
o Ptosis
o Protrusion of third eyelid
Fig 2-5 Cervicothoracic Syndrome. (From Braund, K.G.: Anisocoria: its relationship to various
neurologic syndromes. Vet Med 82: 997-1010, 1987).
Thoracolumbar Syndrome
 Spastic weakness/paralysis of pelvic limbs
 Pelvic limb reflexes normal or brisk (may seem clonus)
 No muscle atrophy in pelvic limbs
 Postural reaction deficits in pelvic limbs
 Increased local sensitivity (hyperesthesia) at level of lesion
 Reduced sensitivity (hypesthesia) behind level of lesion
 Urinary incontinence
+ Schiff-Sherrington posture
Fig 2-4 Thoracolumbar Syndrome. (From Braund, K.G.: Anisocoria: its relationship to various
neurologic syndromes. Vet Med 82: 997-1010, 1987).
Lumbosacral Syndrome
 Flaccid weakness/paralysis of pelvic limbs and tail
 Depressed pelvic limb reflexes and flaccid muscle tone
 Muscle atrophy in pelvic limbs, and/or hip muscles
 Postural reaction deficits in pelvic limbs
 Dilated anal sphincter
 Depressed bulbocavernosus reflex
 Reduced sensitivity (hypesthesia) in perineal area, pelvic limbs, or tail
 Urinary incontinence
 Fecal incontinence
+ Root signature
No reference given, but assumed to be from same article as above (ie. from Braund, K.G.: Anisocoria:
its relationship to various neurologic syndromes. Vet Med 82: 997-1010, 1987).