Review by Kathy Lyon (Click on stars for an explanation)

This book is Out of Print.

I always look forward to the BSAVA manuals, and this one did not disappoint. Twenty-four authors contributed to this edition, which has been expanded and revised to accommodate the advances made since the last edition in 1995.

The book is arranged in three main sections: diagnosis, neurological presentations, and therapeutics. The first section discusses the essentials of neurological diagnosis, including examination, lesion localization, clinical pathology, electrophysiology, neuroradiology, and tissue biopsy. It is within the neuroradiology chapter that the greatest differences from the previous edition are evident. Increased access to advanced imaging has greatly expanded neurological knowledge; these techniques are explored in depth alongside thorough descriptions of radiographic techniques typically used in small animal practice.

The second section has been expanded with several new chapters on presenting problems. These new chapters provide information to identify the area of the nervous system responsible for the patient's clinical signs.

There are completely new chapters in the third edition devoted to special treatment considerations for the neuro patient, including emergency presentations, neuroanasthesia, clinical pharmacology, and rehabilitation.

Detailed Table of Contents

• The neurological examination
• Lesion localization and differential diagnosis
• Clinical pathology
• Electrophysiology
• Neuroradiology
• Tissue biopsy
• Seizures
• Coma, stupor and behavioral change
• Disorders of eyes and vision
• Head tilt and nystagmus
• Neurological abnormalities of the head and face
• Tremor and involuntary movements
• Neck and back pain
• Tetraparesis
• Paraparesis
• Monoparesis
• Exercise intolerance, collapse and paroxysmal disorders
• Tail, anal and bladder dysfunction
• Neurological emergencies
• Anaesthesia, analgesia and supportive care
• Principles of neurosurgery
• Drug therapy for diseases of the central nervous system
• Radiation therapy of the nervous system
• Nursing and rehabilitation of the neurological patient
• Appendices
• Index

The diagnostic workup chapters are excellent, with many photos to illustrate neurologic abnormalities, drawings to further illustrate the text, and numerous charts and tables. There is an abundance of MRI, CT images, and radiographs to assist in both diagnosis and treatment.

The table of contents does not show sub-headings, but one may find various topics easily in the index, thereby assisting the reader to a speedy diagnosis -- or at least a differential diagnosis.

The list of references after each chapter is impressive, and should give the reader a challenging choice of further reading.

The section on therapeutics takes most of the more recent drugs into consideration and will permit the clinician a wide choice of treatments.

Publisher: British Small Animal Veterinary Association (2004).

 Soft cover, 11.5 x 8.25" format, 432 pages, color and black/white photos and illustrations.

ISBN: 9780905214740.