With equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), equine herpesvirus type-1 myeloencephalitis (EHV-1, more specifically EHM), and West Nile virus (WNV) on the radar of so many U.S. veterinarians, it only made sense to devote a four-hour segment of the 2003 American Association of Equine Practitioners' convention to neurologic disease and disorders. Assessing neurologic conditions might seem difficult, but with practice and attention to the subtle differences between different conditions' deficits, the process can become easier. Additionally, practitioners discussed vaccination and treatment options for the different diseases.

The Neurologic Exam

Steve Reed, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, head of equine medicine and surgery at The Ohio State University (OSU), kicked off the neurology session by reviewing the basic neurologic exam. "The gait is probably the most critical thing in a neurologic exam, but in addition, you should evaluate behavior and the cranial nerves," he said. Neuroanatomic localization, or finding the exact area of the neurologic system that is experiencing problems, is the end goal.

"Start at nose and go caudally to the tail," he said. "Look at the posture, mentation, alertness, symmetry, eyelids, and ears–the things you can pick up right away. As you hone in more closely, check the cranial nerves