Patient Evaluation

Performing a comprehensive patient evaluation involves a series of steps. First, gathering a detailed medical history and communicating with the pet owner about their goals is essential. Next, observational skills are needed to assess gait and function. Finally, a hands-on approach is necessary to identify any problematic structures. After completing the body scan, the next step is to assess the spine for pain, active range of motion, paraspinal flexibility, and any signs of neurological dysfunction. Due to time constraints and patient compliance, it is often impractical to conduct every special test on every patient. Neurological assessment helps to both localize the dysfunction and formulate a therapeutic plan designed to treat the patient. Muscle tone can be affected by various neurological conditions within the central or peripheral nervous systems. Testing spinal reflexes gives the clinician a look into how well sensory and motor reflex arcs function in the assessed region.