Introduction

At Garden State Veterinary Specialists, our Neurology/Neurosurgery Department consists of a team of five board certified specialists: two neurologists and 3 surgeons. A multi-disciplinary team approach is used in every patient's care providing advanced veterinary diagnostics and treatments.

Garden State Veterinary Specialists is the only veterinary hospital in the State of New Jersey to offer MRI and CT scanning on-site. Patients do not have to be transported to another facility for diagnostic imaging. The convenience of on-site MRI and CT scanning within a veterinary hospital permits patients in need of surgery and/or additional diagnostics (i.e. CSF tap) to have these procedures performed within the same anesthesia. It also allows the use of isoflurane anesthesia and close patient monitoring, thus providing the safest anesthetic conditions for our critically ill patients. All patients will also benefit from the availability of each department's expertise because our staff of specialists is on the premises full-time, six days a week, including Saturdays. MRI and CT scanning may also be performed on an outpatient basis.

Medical Neurology

C1-C6 myelopathy. Diagnosis: C3-C4 disc herniation

• Neurological consultations daily, including Saturdays
• Same day referral report
• Telephone consultations are welcomed
• Radiographs/CTscans
• MRI reviews are welcomed

Diagnostic Imaging Center

Axial T1WI post contrast: bilateral otitis-media with right-sided temporal bone osteomyelitis and brain abcessation

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

• In-house mobile unit
• Outpatient basis
• Safe anesthesia (isoflurane) and close monitoring by GSVS qualified staff
• Additional diagnostic and surgical procedures may be performed within the same anesthesia
• Same day detailed report and copy of the MRI on CD-ROM
• Operated by certified MRI technician
• Available six days a week, including Saturdays

Bilateral otitis media with right sided temporal bone osteomyelitis and brain abcessation

Computed Tomography (CT)

• In-house unit
• Outpatient basis
• Safe anesthesia and close monitoring by GSVS qualified staff
• Additional diagnostic and surgical procedures may be performed within the same anesthesia
• Same day report
• Operated by certified radiology technician
• Available daily, including Saturdays
• 3-D radiation planning

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Service (MRI)

MRI Services Daily; Including Saturdays

IN-HOUSE SERVICE: Saturday thru Monday

Garden State Veterinary Specialists is the ONLY Veterinary Hospital in the state of New Jersey to offer MRI on-site, allowing consultation with our board-certified specialists, surgery and additional diagnostic tests (CSF analysis, EMG, BAER, spinal radiographs, etc.) to be performed within the same visit.

• Mobile MRI Unit: General Electric 0.5 Tesla
  Strictly reserved for veterinary use
• Anesthesia and monitoring by GSVS qualified staff
• Additional diagnostic and surgical procedures may be performed within the same anesthesia
• Same day detailed report and copy of the MRI on CD-ROM or films sent to referring veterinarian
• Outpatient basis
• Operated by certified MRI technician with extensive veterinary experience

OUTSIDE IMAGING CENTER: Tuesday thru Friday.

• Performed at a local imaging facility: A Siemens Vision High Field MRI and an OPEN MRI
• GSVS provides medical transport
• Anesthesia and monitoring by GSVS qualified staff
• The patient is under constant supervision of a medical team consisting of a board-certified neurologist, a veterinarian, and a veterinary technician. An MRI compatible pulse oximeter is used during scanning for constant monitoring
• Same day detailed report and copy of the MRI on CD-ROM or films sent to referring veterinarian
• Operated by certified MRI technician with extensive veterinary experience

Neurosurgery

Emergency Neurosurgery

Meningioma removal in a cat

Spinal Surgery

• Disc herniation (Hansen type I and II)
• Cervical malformation-malarticulation (Wobbler’s syndrome)
• Atlantoaxial malformation
• Spinal fracture and luxation
• Spinal neoplasia

Brain Surgery

• Brain tumors
• Ventriculoperitoneal shunting for hydrocephalus
• Head trauma

Nerve & Muscle Biopsies

Left temporo-parietal depressed skull fracture in a head trauma cat

Neurological Emergency

• Ventilator
• Pulse oximetry
• Blood gas analysis
• Blood pressure monitoring
• In-house blood work capabilities
• Critical care
• 24 hour care 7 days a week
• Neurosurgical emergencies
• Medical neurological emergencies

Meningioma Treatment: Radiation therapy

Neuro-Oncology

• Chemotherapy
• Surgery
• Radiation therapy
  • Linear accelerator
  • 3-D planning

Masticatory Myositis - Positive sharp waves and fibrillation potentials

Electrodiagnostics

Electromyography (EMG)

Single Fiber EMG

Nerve Conduction

Velocity (NCV): sensory & motor

Repetitive stimulation

Brain Auditory Evoked Response Test (BAER)

• Available daily
• Outpatient basis
• Same day report

Acupuncture

Acupuncture helps the body correct its imbalances and heal itself by changing the flux of life’s forces. Healing is a process which takes a series of acupuncture treatments. Just like with conventional medicine, acupuncture has limitations and cannot heal all conditions. In most cases, pet owners are encouraged to pursue conventional diagnostic tests recommended by their veterinarian or veterinary specialist to attempt to arrive at a diagnosis before initiating acupuncture. Animals with painful conditions such as arthritis and intervertebral disc disease have the highest degree of efficacy. Seizure disorders and animals demonstrating incoordination from degenerative spinal disease are also favorable candidates.

Other conditions which may improve with acupuncture include skin allergies, asthma or bronchitis, inappetance (kidney disease, cancer) and immune-mediated diseases. Acupuncture is not a substitute for conventional therapy but should be applied in a complementary fashion. The majority of animals accept and even appear to look forward to their acupuncture treatments. Needle insertion has been demonstrated to release endorphins, amongst other chemicals, which could explain the positive feeling demonstrated by pets who receive acutherapy. Positive results are anticipated within six weekly treatments. Once favorable results last from week to week, the acupuncture treatments are tapered to an as-needed basis.