Neurology/Neurosurgery Service

Contact

Neurology/Neurosurgery Service

Telephone
(530) 752-1393 - schedule appointments

Location
UC Davis Health Science District
VMTH
1 Garrod Drive
Davis, California

Neuromuscular Disease Laboratory
NDL@ucdavis.edu
(530) 752-1170

Discover the latest neurology clinical trials at UC Davis

Neurology/Neurosurgery Service

Welcome to the Neurology/Neurosurgery Service at the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, where specialized veterinary care is provided for animals with neurological diseases. This includes disorders of the brain, inner ear, spinal cord, and vertebrae, as well as diseases affecting muscles, nerves and the neuromuscular junction (neuromuscular disease). The service is run by a team of board-certified neurologists and resident veterinarians specializing in the neurological diseases of animals. They provide diagnostic testing, medical care, and surgery for dogs and cats, as well as a consultation service for horses, livestock, exotic species and laboratory animals. The service also provides 24-hour emergency care for animals with immediate neurological and neurosurgical needs. Additionally, the service offers cutting-edge specialized neurosurgeries only performed at a handful of veterinary hospitals worldwide. The Neurology/Neurosurgery Service also works cooperatively with other specialty services within the VMTH. This team approach allows animals with neurological problems to receive state-of-the-art care throughout their hospital stay.

The mission of the Neurology/Neurosurgery Service is:

To provide the best available medical and surgical care to animals with neurological problems
To learn and disseminate information about neurological problems in animals
To educate veterinary students and residents in Neurology/Neurosurgery

Clinical Activities and Procedures

The Neurology/Neurosurgery Service at the UC Davis VMTH offers specialized veterinary care for animals with neurological diseases. This includes disorders of the brain, inner ear, spinal cord and vertebrae, as well as diseases affecting muscles, nerves and the neuromuscular junction (neuromuscular disease). The service is led by a team of board-certified faculty neurologists complemented by resident veterinarians specializing in the neurological dysfunction of animals.

To provide the best compassionate care for our patients, the service has three dedicated areas of expertise in neurological conditions:

Clinical Neurology
Our clinical neurology services provide several specialized diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, including ultrasound, fluoroscopy, myelography, linear and computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Cerebrospinal fluid collection and intervertebral disc aspiration are ancillary diagnostics routinely performed by neurology clinicians.

The service’s Electrodiagnostic Laboratory and the Neuromuscular Diseases Laboratory conduct highly specialized testing for animals with dysfunction of peripheral nerves, muscle and the neuromuscular junction. Electromyography (EMG), motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity (MNCV and SNCV), repetitive nerve stimulation, somatosensory evoked potentials, single fiber electromyography, and F and H waves are some of the tests routinely carried out in the laboratory. Muscle and nerve biopsies collected from animals with neuromuscular problems are also processed in the Neuromuscular Disease Laboratory.

Electrophysiological evaluation of the ear and brain are also routinely done in the Electrodiagnostic Laboratory. Brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) tests are performed to diagnose deafness and other diseases affecting the ear and brainstem. Electroencephalography (EEG), which records the electrical activity in the brain, is also available.

Emergency Neurosurgery
A complete range of emergency neurosurgery offerings for acutely lame or paralyzed patients include dorsal and hemilaminectomy procedures (and variations thereof) on all levels of the spine (cervical, thoracic, lumbar and lumbosacral), ventral slot procedure of the cervical spine, intervertebral disc fenestration, and peripheral nerve and nerve root exploration. Emergency stabilization for spinal fractures is also commonly performed.

Neurosurgical Specialties
A wide range of specialized neurosurgical services targeted at complex, non-routine neurosurgical procedures are now available at UC Davis, with a goal to provide personalized, high quality, collaborative neurosurgical care, and ensure the best outcomes for our patients and clients.

Our commitment to providing cutting-edge surgical solutions for complicated neurological conditions includes these state-of-the-art neurosurgical interventions and clinical trials:
•    Craniotomies (tumors, abscesses/granuloma, etc.)
•    Spinal mass resection
•    Correction of cranio-cervical junction abnormalities and spinal malformations
•    Minimally invasive spine surgery
•    Wobbler and lumbosacral stabilization
•    Hydrocephalus treatment
•    Stereotactic brain biopsies
•    Additional procedures requiring intensive perioperative care (including ventilation) and multi-specialty treatment (radiation therapy, immunotherapy, etc.)

The service offers a committed surgical team, equipped with a dedicated neurosurgical suite, with access to intraoperative CT, fluoroscopy, minimally invasive endoscopy, intraoperative microscopy, and neuronavigation. Collaboration with the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit—staffed 24/7 by a team of critical care specialists and highly trained technicians—provides exceptional perioperative care. Further coordination with other post-surgical adjunctive therapies, such as radiation therapy, is available as needed.

Learn more about neurology services available at UC Davis