Wheelbarrow trial
The wheelbarrow test (syn. Wheelbarrow driving ) is a neurological test in veterinary medicine that can be used on small and medium-sized animals. It belongs to the so-called posture and position reactions .
execution
In the wheelbarrow test, the rear part of the animal to be examined is lifted so that the hind limbs are not in contact with the ground, and the animal is pushed forward (like a wheelbarrow ). This forces the animal to walk with its forelegs alone.
With normal reaction, the animal keeps its head parallel to the ground and reacts to the movement with short, symmetrical steps, with both front legs being used alternately.
Deviating findings are delayed step sequences and demonstration phases, buckling of the forelegs or knocking over . In the case of severe damage to the cervical cord (e.g. severe wobbler syndrome ), the head is bent down and possibly even supported on the nose.
Wheelbarrow trial with head extension
The extended test, the wheelbarrow test with head extension , is carried out in the same way, but the neck is bent upwards. As a result, the animal can no longer optically correct its sequence of steps, but is solely dependent on its own perception . The resulting increased tension in the extensor muscles reveals movement disorders more clearly and can reveal damage to the cerebrum that occurs without disrupting normal gait. In larger animals, where it is not practical for an examiner to lift the abdomen and simultaneously bend the neck up, the wheelbarrow test can also be carried out with the eyes blindfolded in order to prevent the visual correction.
literature
- André Jaggy (ed.): Atlas and textbook of small animal neurology . 2nd revised and expanded edition. Schlütersche, Hannover 2007, ISBN 978-3-89993-035-1 ( S vet ).
- Marc Vandevelde among others: Veterinary neurology. A guide for study and practice. 2nd revised and expanded edition. Paul Parey Verlag, Berlin 2001, ISBN 3-8263-3224-5 (1st edition under the title: Introduction to veterinary neurology ).
