SCAM13026U Companion Animal Neurology - Applied Clinical Neurology

Volume 2024/2025
Education

This course is a specialisation course at the Master of Companion Animal Clinical Science. The Master is a post graduate education targeted small animal veterinarians seeking Continual Professional Development (CPD).

Content

This course module has a strong emphasis on the principles and practical application of the neurological examination, applied neuro-anatomy, lesion localization and the characteristics, therapeutic options and prognosis of specific neurological diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system, as well as planning of diagnostic procedures.

The level of prior knowledge and skills within clinical neurology from both veterinary candidate level and the compulsory part of  the master-education will be further developed in order to form a solid platform within clinical neurology. In theory and by practical exercises, the participant can expect that professional skills and competences within the subject of clinical companion animal neurology will be extended at an advanced level.

The participants’ will be encouraged to define, identify and discuss veterinary methodology and paraclinical tools in systematised reflective clinical decision making in companion animal clinical neurology.

Read more about the Master of Companion Animal Science.

Learning Outcome

Having completed the course, the student must be able to:

Knowledge

Having completed the course, the student must be able to:

  • Define, identify and discuss veterinary diagnostic methodology and paraclinical options in systematised reflective clinical decision-making in companion animal clinical  neurology.
  • Explain, reflect and demonstrate a systematic clinical approach to the neurological patient at an advanced level.
  • Reflect on the significance of applied neuro-anatomy in the clinical approach to the neurological patient. 
  • Demonstrate critical reflection with respect to diagnostic planning in a specialty practice situation
  • Discuss the fundamental prerequisites for appropriate preparation of diagnostic protocols.
  • List appropriate differential diagnoses according to the neurological signs and the development of disease.

 

Skills

Within the area of clinical neurology, the graduate must be able to:

  • Apply methodologies such as performing and applying clinical neurological examination and use basic diagnostic tools for relevant neurological cases in companion animals with the purpose to assess CNS function and detect CNS and PNS lesions. 
  • Analyse and reflect on collected data in order to discriminate between neurological and non-neurological conditions and relevant neurological differential diagnosis.
  • Demonstrate the systematic approach to interpret, assess and reflect on collected patient data in order to localize a lesion neuro-anatomically and identify the cause of neurological disease.
  • Make clinical decisions, arrive at a diagnosis and consider evidence based scientific approaches in order to plan and administer further appropriate diagnostics, patient therapy and management.
  • Communicate effectively in writing and pass on results to relevant parties.

 

Competences

The graduate must be able to

  • Evaluate companion animal diseases within clinical neurology.
  • Work independently, take responsibility for, predict, prognosticate and make decisions within clinical neurology at an advanced level.
  • Make ethical considerations regarding diagnostic methods and therapeutic initiatives and place these into perspective.
  • Educate owners of acute and chronic neurological patients concerning acute and long-term medical treatment, respectively, as well as recovery and rehabilitation.
  • Independently evaluate and structure own learning processes and continuously obtain new knowledge at a specialty level within companion animal clinical neurology.
  • Use relevant scientific literature in the field of companion animal clinical neurology.
  • Evaluate different patient types combining the above achieved skills.

Updated literature list will be posted 1 month prior to course start. The participant should have theoretical knowledge updated prior to participation.

Inclusion criteria for Master's Programme in Companion Animal Clinical Science: Degree in veterinary medicine and at least two years of relevant work experience.

SCAM13001U, SCAM13002U, SCAM13003U, SCAM13004U or one of the following certifications in Companion Animal Diseases:
• DVA in Small Animal Diseases, in Danish known as “certificeret fagdyrlæge i sygdomme hos hunde og katte”
• Swedish specialist in diseases of dogs and cats, in Swedish known as Steg 1
• Norwegian specialist in diseases of dogs and cats, in Norwegian known as Specialisering i veterinærmedisin, spesialitet smådyr
• Finnish specialist in diseases of dogs and cats, in Finnish known as Pieneläinsairauksien erikoiseläinlääkäri
A mixture of lectures, video demonstrations, e-learning, theoretical, practical exercises, workshops. Case-study work.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 20
  • Preparation
  • 82
  • Exercises
  • 20
  • Exam
  • 40
  • Total
  • 162
Oral
Individual
Collective
Credit
6 ECTS
Type of assessment
Portfolio
Type of assessment details
The portfolio exam consists of two parts.
1) The course certificate, which supports, underpins, and focuses on the learning process (learning portfolio). All required components of the course certificate must be approved and include a) a minimum of 80% active participation and b) preparation and oral presentation of a problem oriented clinical case.
2) A graded evaluation, which focuses on the intended learning outcomes (evaluation portfolio). The graded evaluation includes a) a written assignment: a critical mini-review, weighted 40% of the final grade, and b) an on-site steeplechase test, weighted 60% of the final grade.
Exam registration requirements

Both, approved course certificate and a passed examination are required to pass the course. Students may attend examination without approval of course certificate.

Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
More than one internal examiner
Exam period

Exam dates will be published on the programme homepage.

Criteria for exam assesment

To achieve the maximum grade of 12, the student shall be able to:
 

Knowledge

Having completed the course, the student must be able to:

  • Define, identify and discuss veterinary diagnostic methodology and paraclinical options in systematised reflective clinical decision-making in companion animal clinical  neurology.
  • Explain, reflect and demonstrate a systematic clinical approach to the neurological patient at an advanced level.
  • Reflect on the significance of applied neuro-anatomy in the clinical approach to the neurological patient. 
  • Demonstrate critical reflection with respect to diagnostic planning in a specialty practice situation
  • Discuss the fundamental prerequisites for appropriate preparation of diagnostic protocols.
  • List appropriate differential diagnoses according to the neurological signs and the development of disease.

 

Skills

Within the area of clinical neurology, the graduate must be able to:

 

  • Apply methodologies such as performing and applying clinical neurological examination and use basic diagnostic tools for relevant neurological cases in companion animals with the purpose to assess CNS function and detect CNS and PNS lesions. 
  • Analyse and reflect on collected data in order to discriminate between neurological and non-neurological conditions and relevant neurological differential diagnosis.
  • Demonstrate the systematic approach to interpret, assess and reflect on collected patient data in order to localize a lesion neuro-anatomically and identify the cause of neurological disease.
  • Make clinical decisions, arrive at a diagnosis and consider evidence based scientific approaches in order to plan and administer further appropriate diagnostics, patient therapy and management.
  • Communicate effectively in writing and pass on results to relevant parties.

 

Competences

The graduate must be able to

  • Evaluate companion animal diseases within clinical neurology.
  • Work independently, take responsibility for, predict, prognosticate and make decisions within clinical neurology at an advanced level.
  • Make ethical considerations regarding diagnostic methods and therapeutic initiatives and place these into perspective.
  • Educate owners of acute and chronic neurological patients concerning acute and long-term medical treatment, respectively, as well as recovery and rehabilitation.
  • Independently evaluate and structure own learning processes and continuously obtain new knowledge at a specialty level within companion animal clinical neurology.
  • Use relevant scientific literature in the field of companion animal clinical neurology.
  • Evaluate different patient types combining the above achieved skills.