Why electrolyte is test to perform 2 years old female poodle with complain collapse and decreased segmental reflex and decreases muscle tone.
Before conducting any test we can ask the client if he/she observed the animal`s behavoir. we can ask questios like did you observe the animal before and after the muscle weakness occurs, did the animal change it`s food and water intake or did the animal eat or drink before the muscle weakness occur, is the animal is playful, did the animal is the only pet in the house hold and did the animal experiece severe stress and depresion. based in the client`s answer we can construct our differential diagnosis. If the animal changes it`s diet or water intake or if the animal suddenly experience muscle weakness we can conduct test like the electrolyte test.
Electrolyte imbalance may not cause any symptoms. Such disorders can go undetected until they are discover during blood test and if the severe symptoms manifest. Common symptoms of an electrolyte imbalance include irregular heart beat, fast hear rate, fatigue, lethargy, convulsion or seizures, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle cramps and muscle weakness.
Hyponatremia include nausea and vomiting, head ache, short term memory loss, confusion, lethargy. Fatigue, loss of appetite and muscle weakness. Neurological symptoms occur with very low level of plasma sodium. When sodium level in the blood become very low, water enter the brain cells and causes them to swell. This result pressure in the skull and causes hyponatremic encephalopathy.
Hypokalemia may include attacks of severe muscle weakness, eventually leading to paralysis and possibly respiratory failure. Muscular dysfunction may result in paralysis of the bowel, low blood pressure, muscle twitches and mineral deficiency or tetany. Hypokalemia may also impair the ability of the kidneys to concentrate urine resulting to excessive urination and excessive thirst.
Late atrophy (Denervation Atrophy) is an outcome of Upper motor neuron lesion and early atrophy (Disuse Atrophy) is an outcome of Lower motor neuron lesion.
Late atrophy or denervation atrophy is an outcome of lesion in the UMN, example of symptoms that can manifest upper motor neuron lession is hyperflexion. Because there is no signal from the UMN it will result to denervation of the muscle that is supplied by the UMN. And if there in no lesion in the UMN but there is lesion in the LMN it will result to early atrophy or disuse atrophy because the signal from the UMN can`t pass through the LMN, resulting to disuse atrophy
Atrophy of a muscle or a muscle group will result to decrease in it`s size. the mucle will become weak and eventually loss it`s ability to move. This kind of symptoms must be observed so avoid further destruction of the nerves
Explain why hyperflexion and hypertonicity is a neurological manifestation.
Hyperflexion is a feature of a UMN lesion. A series of pathological reflex are often present in patiens with UMN, one of the best example is the Babinski sign. The presence of babinski reflex can indicate that the patient may have an underlying nervous or brain condition that causes the reflex to react abnormally
Hypertonicty or spasticity and rigidity is caused by the lesion in the upper motor neuron that may lead to many injuries and diseases that involve damage in the CNS. The symptoms of hypertonicty are uncontrolled muscle spasm, stiffening of the muscle, shock like contraction of a muscle group and abnormal muscle tone. Hypertonicty is seen in disorders such as cerebral palsy, stroke and spinal cord injury.
This kind of symptoms and manifestations must be observed carefully and provide medical assistance to avoid further damage and further disorders.
I hope you like my litle research about electrolyte imbalances and neurological disorder manifestation. I hope it will help you to be more aware in the behavior of your pets or animal. Thank you for reading. have a nice day.
