The OVC Neurology Service consists of three Board Certified Neurologists. They offer a wide variety of treatment services including: hearing tests, spinal decompressive surgery for intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), diagnosis and medical management of epilepsy, management of spinal pain, diagnosis of muscle and nerve disorders, and diagnosis and management of congenital and degenerative nervous system diseases. To learn more about the OVC Neurology Service, please click here.
NEW STUDY – Understanding spinal muscle function in dogs with intervertebral disc disorders
Complete Title: Canine paraspinal muscle biomechanical and physiological properties related to intervertebral disc disorders
Study Investigator: Drs Francesca Samarani and Stephen Brown
Spinal degeneration is a common source of pain, disability, and ultimately surgery, in dogs and humans. Degeneration and dysfunction of the spinal muscles is associated with spinal degeneration, again in both human and many animal species. It is thought that this muscle degeneration may play an important role in the pain and disability process. Therefore, these muscles are a prime target for patient rehabilitation strategies. In human and dogs, we do not know the exact degenerative characteristics or how these muscle changes directly impact function. The team is working closely with human clinicians and recruiting both humans and dogs into this comparative study!
Inclusion criteria:
- Dogs with a confirmed diagnosis of acute disk herniation and/or intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) undergoing MRI and standard of care surgery
More Information on This Study Coming Soon!
NEW STUDY – Evaluating the Use of Magnesium to Control Pain and Inflammation Following Spinal Surgery in Dogs
Complete Title: Investigation of the role of systemic intravenous intraoperative magnesium sulphate as anti-inflammatory and analgesic drug in dogs undergoing spinal decompression surgery for acute thoracolumbar disc herniation
Not only is magnesium an important ion in the body but it also has anti-inflammatory properties, is inexpensive, very easy to administer, it is not a controlled drug or addictive, and side effects are extremely rare. By evaluating the use of magnesium in combination with standard of care opioids, we can evaluate its analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect.
Inclusion criteria:
- Dogs with a confirmed diagnosis of acute intervertebral disc herniation and interested in pursuing surgery
ON HOLD – Investigating Canine Behaviour using Wearable Biomonitors
Complete Title: Pilot study of wearable biomonitors to explore the behavioural and environmental context of canine seizures
Idiopathic epilepsy (IE) is the most common neurological disorder diagnosed in dogs. IE has a significant negative impact on affected dogs and their owners’ quality of life. Through the use of wearable technologies for both pets and owners, we can increase our understanding of epileptic canine behaviour and gain insight to better predict future seizure occurrence.
Inclusion criteria:
- Dogs (Golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers, Huskies, German Shepherds, Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, Standard Poodles, and mixes of these breeds) between the ages of 2-7 years old
- Two groups:
- Dogs with Tier I idiopathic epilepsy diagnosis with no other health concerns/underlying conditions
- Neurotypical with no other health concerns/underlying conditions
Are These Seizures in Dogs?
Complete Title: Are These Seizures in Canines?
Seizures are one of the most common neurological problems in veterinary medicine, and epilepsy is the most common brain disease in dogs. It’s important to understand if a dog’s ‘episodes’ are a seizure (vs behaviour disorder or other), as treatment may
be required. Using video recording and electroencephalography (EEG), we can confirm if seizure activity is happening and classify the type of seizure.
Inclusion criteria:
- Dogs that are between 6 months and 6 years of age that experience episodes similar to seizures
Do Anti-Seizure Drugs Work in Dogs?
Complete Title: Do Anti-Seizure Drugs Work in Canines?
Even with anti-seizure drug (ASD) treatment, a proportion of dogs may continue to have seizures or experience intolerable side effects from their medication. Accurate seizure control impacts the quality of life and survival in epileptic dogs and also their caretaker’s quality of life.
Inclusion criteria:
- Dogs between 6 months and 6 years of age with normal neurologic exam and at least one year since index seizure (known as Tier I idiopathic epilepsy)
- Any dog with Tier II idiopathic epilepsy regardless of age, neurologic exam status, or time since first onset of seizures (must have normal MRI and CSF & bloodwork)
- Dog’s veterinarian is planning to add a new ASD regardless of previous ASD status
NEW STUDY – Evaluating the Structural Brain Differences of Dogs Diagnosed with Idiopathic Epilepsy
Complete Title: Craniocerebral Topographical Mapping in Dogs with Idiopathic Epilepsy
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is sensitive to the molecular movement of water and can provide information on the integrity and pathology of the brain on a cellular level. In dogs with idiopathic
epilepsy (IE), the microstructures within the brain may be compromised. In order to better understand the abnormal brain structures associated with IE and
potentially improve diagnostic and treatment options, we first need to compare DTI between IE and neurotypical dogs.
Inclusion criteria:
- All dogs must be mesocephalic (have an average muzzle length) and undergo a MRI at the Ontario Veterinary College
- Neurotypical dogs with no obvious structural brain abnormalities and/or neurological disorders
- Dogs with no physical head abnormalities with a planned EEG recording
- Dogs diagnosed with generalized IE that have no other medical conditions
Investigating the Placement of EEG Electrodes in Dogs with Epilepsy Using 3D Reconstruction
Complete Title: Craniocerebral Topographical Mapping for Improved Canine Electroencephalographic (EEG) Lesion Localization
To improve the diagnosis and characterization of canine epilepsy, we need to better understand how our scalp electrodes for electroencephalography (EEG) map to the underlying brain surface and establish a best practice for electrode placement and subsequent seizure detection.
Inclusion criteria:
- All dogs must be mesocephalic (have an average muzzle length) and undergo a MRI and CT at the Ontario Veterinary College
- Neurotypical dogs with no obvious structural brain abnormalities and/or neurological disorders
- Dogs with no physical head abnormalities with a planned EEG recording
- Dogs diagnosed with generalized IE that have no other medical conditions