title: Initial assessment of patients with neurologic dysfunction.
abstract: This article describes a practical approach to the initial assessment of patients with neurologic dysfunction. First, the patient's clinical signs are determined by obtaining a medical history and performing an examination. Based on these results, the disease is localized to a particular region of the nervous system. Analysis of the neuroanatomic diagnosis in conjunction with the history is used to establish a list of differential diagnoses. The clinician then recommends appropriate laboratory tests to confirm or exclude the diagnostic possibilities. By following a logical process of clinical reasoning, the practitioner is often able to deduce a clinical diagnosis and prognosis and offer recommendations for treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA. wthomas@utk.edu
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002415:Cats; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004285:Dogs; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*