Dr. Christian Woelfel is a board-certified staff neurologist/neurosurgeon originally from Massachusetts.
He is Fear Free certified through extensive courses to help make your pets’ visits comfortable and calming.
Dr. Woelfel is a graduate of Tufts University College of Veterinary Medicine. After getting his veterinary degree, Dr. Woelfel completed a rotating internship at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital in Tinton Falls, NJ and a neurology/neurosurgery specialty internship at Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital in Woburn, MA. He then moved to Raleigh, NC to complete his neurology/neurosurgery residency at the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine.
He is especially interested in spine surgery and inflammatory brain disease. Outside of work, Dr. Woelfel enjoys soccer and hiking.
PUBLICATIONS
Pituitary apoplexy in the dog: Presenting complaints, examination findings, endocrinopathies, magnetic resonance imaging, treatments, and outcomes
This study explores how dogs with pituitary apoplexy—a sudden bleed or injury in the pituitary gland—present clinically, how it’s diagnosed (often via MRI), and which treatments lead to the best outcomes.
Published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 2023.
Novel subcutaneous cytarabine infusion with the Omnipod system in dogs with meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown etiology
A novel use of the Omnipod® device (originally designed for insulin delivery) to provide continuous medication for dogs with MUO (a form of inflammatory brain disease). The study supports its safe and effective use in veterinary neurology.
Published in the American Journal of Veterinary Research, 2022.
A novel mutation of the CLCN1 gene in a cat with myotonia congenita: Diagnosis and treatment
This case report describes the first identification of a specific genetic mutation causing muscle stiffness in a cat, as well as how treatment helped the cat regain normal function.
Published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 2022.
Subaxial cervical articular process subluxation and dislocation: Cervical locked facet injuries in dogs
Focused on rare but serious spinal injuries in dogs where vertebrae become “locked” in the neck, this study highlights diagnosis and treatment approaches to improve surgical outcomes.
Published in Veterinary Surgery, 2021.
Outcomes and prognostic indicators in 59 paraplegic medium to large breed dogs with extensive epidural hemorrhage secondary to thoracolumbar disc extrusion
A large study evaluating recovery in dogs who were paralyzed due to spinal disc rupture with internal bleeding—helping neurologists and owners understand prognosis and treatment options.
Published in Veterinary Surgery, 2021.
Association between filum terminale internum length and pain in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels with and without syringomyelia
MRI-based research exploring how a specific structure in the spinal cord may be linked to pain in Cavaliers, including those with Chiari-like malformation and syringomyelia.
Published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 2021.
