Reasons to Book an In-Home Pet Neurology Exam

If you have an older pet or a pet who is exhibiting cognitive or behavioral changes, our mobile veterinarians will come to you. For pets who may already be stressed due to a health condition, an in-home neurological exam will be much less disruptive.

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Expert Diagnosis at Your Doorstep

All of our mobile veterinarians are trained to evaluate a pet’s neurological functioning in their home environment, removing the need for stressful car travel and unfamiliar clinics.

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Personalized Care for Your Pet

Our experienced veterinarians build time into their day to treat your whole pet. During your in-home visit, your veterinary team will provide personalized treatment plans and care for your pet's unique needs.

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Reduced Wait Times

BetterVet offers flexible appointment times and same-day and next-day scheduling in many locations. Rather than sitting in a clinic lobby before your appointment, you can watch for your veterinarian’s arrival from the comfort of home.

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Comprehensive Consultations

Our veterinary team can more accurately conduct a neurological assessment in your pet’s home environment, where they can observe your pet’s functioning in familiar surroundings.

Common Neurological Disorders We Treat

Our experienced veterinarians can identify and provide supportive care for many common neurological disorders in pets, but there are times when more advanced diagnostics and a referral to a board certified neurologist is necessary to make a formal diagnosis.

Epilepsy & Seizures

We are able to treat pet epilepsy and seizure disorders. A diagnosis of epilepsy and the underlying cause of your pet’s seizures will require additional diagnostic testing.

Vestibular Disease

Our veterinarians are equipped to diagnose, and offer supportive care for pets with vestibular disease. 

Horner's Syndrome

During a Pet Wellness Exam, we can identify and make a treatment plan for Horner’s Syndrome. Diagnosing the underlying cause would require diagnostics.

Wobblers Syndrome

During an in-home neurological evaluation, your veterinary team can identify Wobblers Syndrome and offer supportive care. Diagnosis would be made by advanced diagnostic testing at a veterinary specialty center.

Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)

Our compassionate veterinarians can identify and offer supportive care for pets with progressive Degenerative Myelopathy. Diagnosis and ruling out other causes of weakness typically requires  advanced diagnostics at a veterinary specialty center.

Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)

We are able to identify and treat mild cases of IVDD. More advanced cases would require a referral to a specialist.

Our Veterinary Neurology Process

As part of your pet’s Wellness or Sick Exam, your veterinary team will discuss your pet’s age, history, symptoms, as well as complete a thorough neurological assessment.

Dr. Kingsley checking a dog's health during in-home appointment.

Thorough Health Check

During a head-to-tail examination, your veterinarian will check all the major systems of your pet’s body, to rule out a medical cause of any  pet’s behavioral or cognitive changes.

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Providing Neurological Exam

During a neurological assessment, your veterinary team will typically evaluate your pet by testing their reflexes, muscle functioning, posture, and gait. Usually, a neurological assessment is performed due to a pet’s advanced age or when exhibiting symptoms such as:

  • Cognitive or behavioral changes

  • Disorientation and confusion

  • Head tilt and balance issues

  • An abnormal gait or body movements

  • Weakness and/or paralysis

  • Unusual or jerky eye movements

  • Pain along the spine, and neck, or back

  • Seizures

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Post-Examination Support

Before the end of your in-home visit, your veterinarian will create a treatment plan for your pet that may include medication, follow-up appointments, testing, or referrals to veterinary neurology specialists.

The in-home visit process is a collaborative one, where you can ask questions and have your concerns addressed. If after examining your pet, your team feels that follow-up care from a veterinary neurologist is necessary, they will provide any necessary referrals. 

Why BetterVet?

Our mobile veterinarians examine pets in their favorite spot - a comfy couch, a cozy pet bed, or even your lap! See how we work to keep pets relaxed and happy at home.

What Our Clients Say

Review
Jeanne Stone
BetterVet Eugene

We came to Eugene to give our 11 year old Newfie a peaceful time. Worried he may have a UTI we called Eugene Mobile Vet and they came to us within 24 hours of our call! They took blood and urine and then recommended we seek a neurological exam. Otis was calm which doesn’t happen when we go into an office to be examined. They were not the least bit concerned about Otis’ size - he is 146 lbs. Then they went the extra mile and helped us secure a contact and an appt with the referring vet in Portland. We are so grateful to have found these kind, caring and skillful people to help us with our beloved Otis.

Shawna Pierce
BetterVet Austin
First time home vet visit and it was a great experience! It was so much easier on our elderly English Mastiff instead of trying to get him to the vet. Definitely doing this again.

Veterinary Neurology Exam Breakdown

During your pet’s Wellness or Sick Exam, a general neurologic assessment will be performed which includes specific tests that can be carried out at home. These include the testing of your pet’s reflexes, muscle functioning, posture, and gait and any significant or recent behavior changes.

Mentation Assessment

One of the first things your veterinarian will look at during a neurological assessment is your pet’s mentation (mental awareness) by observing them in the familiar surroundings of home.

Gait & Posture

Your veterinary team will also observe your pet’s gait and posture to assess their motor functioning.

Nerve Examination

Nerve evaluations involve the testing of your pet’s reflexes and reactions.

Postural Reactions

Postural reactions refer to a set of reflexes and responses that assess a pet’s coordination, balance, and awareness of their body position.

Spinal Reflexes

Your veterinarian will also likely test your pet’s spinal reflexes gently with a percussion hammer, much like during a human doctor appointment.

Pain Perception

In some cases, your veterinary doctor may perform a pain perception test to assess their reaction. This test is meant to cause mild discomfort, and not pain.

Lab Testing

Additional laboratory tests may be required to confirm a diagnosis. Lab tests may include blood work, urinalysis, fecal tests, and diagnostic imaging (for an additional cost).

Neurological Care for Older Pets

Older animals often experience compromises in their cognitive and neurological health, so your veterinary team will create a treatment plan that covers the full spectrum of your aging pet’s needs.

Additional laboratory tests may be required to confirm a diagnosis. Lab tests may include blood work, urinalysis, fecal tests, and diagnostic imaging (for an additional cost).

Does Your Pet Need a Neurological Evaluation?

Answer the questions below for guidance on whether your pet should be seen for a neurological evaluation by a veterinarian.
Does Your Pet Need a Neurological Evaluation?

Frequently Asked Questions

What are neurological issues in pets?

Any condition that affects a pet’s nervous system, which includes the brain, nerves, and spinal cord, is called a neurological disorder, which can cause the issues listed above.

How long is the veterinary neurological examination?

A veterinary neurological exam is conducted during an in-home Wellness or Sick Visit and typically lasts between 30-45 minutes.

Do I need to prepare anything for the pet neurological exam?

Please have a list of your questions or concerns ready to discuss during your appointment, as well as videos of any concerning behaviors.

How soon can I schedule the pet's neurological appointment?

We offer same-day and next-day appointments in many locations. To book a neurological exam, go to bettervet.com or onto our convenient app, and choose Wellness or Sick Exam.

What happens if the examination reveals a neurological issue?

If your pet is diagnosed with a neurological disorder, your veterinarian will work with you to develop a treatment plan to help maintain your pet’s quality of life and make their symptoms more manageable.

Are there any post-visit care instructions to follow after the examination?

Your veterinarian will make sure to communicate any post-visits instructions to you, including any prescription medications, follow-up appointments, testing, or outside referrals.

What qualifications do your veterinarians have to perform a neurological evaluation?

All of our veterinarians are board-certified in small animal medicine and are highly experienced and qualified to perform a general neurological assessment. 

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