SCAM13027U Companion Animal Neurology - Advanced Diagnostic 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

The purpose of this course is to further develop the participant’s diagnostic platform within clinical neurology to include the more sophisticated diagnostic thinking, competences and skills required to successfully approach the complex neurological patient. The participant should be able to combine knowledge collected from basic and advanced para-clinical tests with clinical patient data at an advanced level. The course will provide knowledge on neuroimaging including conventional diagnostic imaging as well as the digital image modalities, computer tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and their indication, interpretation and therapeutic consequences in the discipline of clinical neurology. Furthermore, both theoretical lectures and a wet-lab practice addressing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collection and interpretation is an integrated part of the course.

Neurological patient cases and results of clinical workup is used in an interactive dialogue with the participants in order to expand their competences in a problem-based patient approach.

Read more about the Master of Companion Animal Science.

Learning Outcome

Knowledge

Having completed the course, the participant should be able to:

  • Define, identify and discuss veterinary methodology and para-clinical tools in systematised reflective clinical decision making in the companion animal clinical practice area of clinical neurology.
  • Explain, reflect about and demonstrate overview of complex clinical decision making, patient therapy and management at an advanced level.
  • Explain, reflect about and demonstrate overview of systematic clinical and diagnostic approach to the neurological patient at an advanced level.
  • List, classify, and demonstrate critical reflection on existing and new approaches to patient diagnosis, therapy, management and client education in a specialty practice situation.

 

Skills

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

  • Apply the quantitative and qualitative methodologies such as performing and applying clinical diagnostic thinking as well as master relevant practical diagnostic skills.
  • Identify appropriate image modality and demonstrate knowledge of common diagnostic imaging hallmarks of the neurological patient.
  • Understand the interpretation of computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and be able to demonstrate critical reflection of pros and cons for CT and MRI and identification of neurological patients suitable for advanced neurological diagnostic procedures.
  • Collect and perform interpretation of CSF samples.
  • Interpret, assess and reflect on collected patient data in order to identify the nature of the neurological lesion and 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.
  • Continuously seek out, reflect on and apply new evidence based methods and solution models.
  • Communicate and discuss academic issues and solution models with both peers and non-specialists at an advanced level and across disciplines within companion animal practice.
  • Communicate effectively in writing and pass on results to relevant parties.

 

Competences

The graduate must be able to:

  • Evaluate and diagnose companion animals with neurological diseases.
  • Educate owners of patients with acute and chronic neurological disorders with respect to diagnostic approach, short and long-term treatment and prognosis.
  • Work independently, take responsibility for, predict, prognosticate and make decisions within clinical neurology at an advanced level.

 

Literature

Updated literature list will be posted 1 month prior to course start. The participant should have theoretical knowledge prepared 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 combination of theoretical lectures, demonstrations, hands-on practice and case-based practice. 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, b) preparation and oral presentation of a problem oriented clinical case and c) a written assignment: Evidence-based procedure.
2) A graded evaluation, which focuses on the intended learning outcomes (evaluation portfolio). The graded evaluation includes an exam with multiple-choice, short answer, and/or essay questions.
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
External censorship
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

  • Define, identify and discuss veterinary methodology and para-clinical tools in systematised reflective clinical decision making in the companion animal clinical practice area of clinical neurology.
  • Explain, reflect about and demonstrate overview of complex clinical decision making, patient therapy and management at an advanced level.
  • Explain, reflect about and demonstrate overview of systematic clinical and diagnostic approach to the neurological patient at an advanced level.
  • List, classify, and demonstrate critical reflection on existing and new approaches to patient diagnosis, therapy, management and client education in a specialty practice situation.

 

Skills

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

  • Apply the quantitative and qualitative methodologies such as performing and applying clinical diagnostic thinking as well as master relevant practical diagnostic skills.
  • Identify appropriate image modality and demonstrate knowledge of common diagnostic imaging hallmarks of the neurological patient.
  • Understand the interpretation of computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and be able to demonstrate critical reflection of pros and cons for CT and MRI and identification of neurological patients suitable for advanced neurological diagnostic procedures.
  • Collect and perform interpretation of CSF samples.
  • Interpret, assess and reflect on collected patient data in order to identify the nature of the neurological lesion and 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.
  • Continuously seek out, reflect on and apply new evidence based methods and solution models.
  • Communicate and discuss academic issues and solution models with both peers and non-specialists at an advanced level and across disciplines within companion animal practice.
  • Communicate effectively in writing and pass on results to relevant parties.

 

Competences

  • Evaluate and diagnose companion animals with neurological diseases.
  • Educate owners of patients with acute and chronic neurological disorders with respect to diagnostic approach, short and long-term treatment and prognosis.
  • Work independently, take responsibility for, predict, prognosticate and make decisions within clinical neurology at an advanced level.