This CD is about using the neurological examination to localize lesions in dogs and cats. The 6 major sections are mental status, gait and posture, cranial nerves, postural reactions, spinal reflexes, and pain perception.
The information is presented as notes, photos and graphs, videos, and verbally. The layout is very well designed, clear, and uncluttered. There is extensive use of bullets to access additional information about topics. Navigation is aided by next, previous page, section arrows, and a menu along the bottom of the screen. There are many ways to access specific information — this CD is user friendly!
Clinical tips are included as separate boxes and are helpful. However, the initial information replayed whenever I closed a tip box. The review questions provide an excellent, active revision, placing the information into clinical context.
The computer system requirements are listed on the back of the CD case; the installation was straight-forward. The program installed “Quick Time” for video viewing, and it added shortcuts for that and the neurological exam onto my computer's screen without asking. Despite some minor program quirks (it hung up completely in the Clinical Tips of Spinal Reflexes), the content is educational and enjoyable — Yes, I enjoyed this neurological exam lesson!
The photographs and videos clearly demonstrate the neurological problems and the examination procedures. This is an example where using multimedia enhances our understanding of the subject; and here, it is well used.
Dr. Parent debunks some long held illusions and stresses the useful examination tests. She discusses the problems of separating neurological problems from musculoskeletal diseases. In this CD, Dr. Parent is teaching the clinical diagnostic skills, so that veterinary students and practitioners can use the disease information contained in our neurology textbooks intelligently. She does not discuss diseases.
I found The Canine and Feline Neurological Examination to be an excellent learning tool that has significantly reviewed and updated my knowledge of the neurological exam and lesion location. This is Dr. Parent's mandate and she has fulfilled it very well.