What is considered a pet Emergency?

A pet emergency is any situation where your pet shows sudden or severe symptoms requiring immediate medical attention.

What is considered a pet emergency?

A pet emergency is any situation where your pet shows sudden or severe symptoms requiring immediate medical attention.

Veterinary Neurology Services at Animal Referral & Emergency Network

Across the Animal Referral & Emergency Network, we provide a comprehensive clinical neurology and neurosurgery service.

Our vets have extensive experience in performing brain and spinal surgery, including ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement, brain tumour removal, and decompressive spinal cord surgery.

We take pride in our specialty services

Neurology refers to the branch of medicine concerned with the nervous system. Neurological conditions can impact pets’ brains, spinal cords and peripheral nerves, and the severity of these issues makes the guidance of a veterinary neurologist with specialised credentials the best course of action in the event of a neurological diagnosis. The AREN Network’s veterinary specialists provide a comprehensive clinical neurology and neurosurgery service, so you can rest assured your pet is in the right place to receive exemplary care.

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Pets suffering from neurological conditions may showcase a variety of symptoms. Some neurological disorders can present gradually, while others may arrive quite suddenly. The broad array of conditions involving the nervous system means that some pets may require immediate treatment involving surgery, whereas others will make a full recovery with a treatment plan.

Reasons your pet may need to see a neurology vet in the AREN Network can include:

Cancers linked to the nervous system

If your pet has a tumour impacting their brain, spinal cord or nerves, you’ll require the guidance of a neurology vet for a prognosis, treatment plan or next steps.

Nerve and muscle disorders

If your pet has trouble standing, walking or difficulty swallowing, they may have a neuromuscular disease. These conditions can also present as muscle weakness, reduced tone or generally abnormal muscle function.

Seizures and epilepsy

If your pet is experiencing seizures, you’ll require the guidance of a veterinary neurologist. As seizures can be caused by brain tumours, trauma, metabolic issues, high blood pressure, some toxins and liver disease, extensive diagnostic testing to determine the root cause is required.

Balance disorders

Vestibular disorders can be caused by ear infections, thyroid disorders, nerve inflammation, head trauma, tumours, vitamin deficiencies or stroke. These disorders are characterised by incoordination, sporadic eye movements, circling, falling over and tilting their head and require a neurological specialist's expertise.

Inflammatory diseases

Meningitis and encephalitis are serious conditions that can impact your pet. Meningitis refers to inflammation affecting the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. Signs include fever, neck pain, and muscle spasms. Encephalitis refers to brain inflammation with signs including blindness, partial paralysis of the face or limbs, seizures, depression and other behavioural changes, circling, tilting head and in some cases, coma.

Intervertebral disc disease

Dog breeds, including dachshunds, basset hounds, German shepherds, and shih tzus, can be at higher risk of developing Intervertebral disc disease. This is when the discs between the vertebrae bulge and even burst, invading the spinal cord space. This, in turn, impacts the nerves in the spinal cord, causing pain and, in some cases, paralysis.

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AREN Network’s clinical neurology and neurosurgery service comprises the following capabilities for pets in need:

Advanced diagnostic imaging

High-quality diagnostic imaging is essential when diagnosing neurological disease. AREN Network’s imagery capabilities include many sites with access to 1.5 Tesla MRI units for state-of-the-art imaging of brain and spinal cord conditions, on-site slice CT scanners, and world-class fluoroscopy and ultrasound capabilities.

Neurosurgery specialisation

AREN Network comprises vets with extensive experience in all forms of spinal surgery, including decompressive techniques for intervertebral disc disease, ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery for hydrocephalus, and craniotomies (for anything from brain tumours and abscesses to brain biopsy).

Expertise in neuromuscular conditions

With on-site electrodiagnostic facilities for evaluating conditions affecting nerves, muscles, and neuromuscular junctions, AREN Network is primed to diagnose and treat peripheral nerve disorders. Our specialists routinely perform EMG, nerve conduction studies, and repetitive nerve stimulation, along with other tests important for diagnosing diseases that cause neuromuscular weakness in dogs and cats.

Deafness testing

Our state-of-the-art facilities allow us to perform BAER (brain stem auditory-evoked responses) – the only objective way of testing for deafness.

Three clinics within the AREN Network provide specialist neurology services, including VRH Dandenong, Greencross Vet Hospital and ARH Brisbane. Find your closest vet emergency hospital here.

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When you attend an appointment with a veterinary neurologist, you can expect to be asked questions about the symptoms you’ve noticed and the changes to your pet’s behaviour and health. They’ll get a sense of the timeframe of your pet’s condition, the speed at which the symptoms began exhibiting and any medications your pet is currently taking. From here, they’ll perform a physical examination followed by a specific neurological examination. This involves testing your pet’s brain, nerves and muscles to identify the issue. Your vet may have all the information they need at this point, but more tests will likely be required, potentially including an MRI or CT scan, to have all the information at hand before they make their diagnosis and suggest next steps.

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How AREN’s specialist neurology can help

Expert care for complex neurological conditions. Our specialist team uses advanced diagnostics and treatments to provide compassionate support, improving quality of life for pets with brain, spine, and nerve disorders.

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Meet our neurology team

Our Network

Our Animal Referral & Emergency Network is the largest specialty and referral network in Australia, consisting of more than 20 sites. With more than 1,200 dedicated team members, including approximately 600 nurses and almost 400 veterinarians (including specialists and registrars), we provide exceptional care for your pets. Count on us for expert medical attention and comprehensive veterinary services.