Postgraduate in Small Animal Neurology

Obtain your credential - PgCert. Neuro. ifevet

Postgraduate in Small Animal Neurology

Obtain your credential -
PgCert. Neuro. ifevet

Start date

1st February 2025

Timetable

Saturday from 9:00 to 18:30 Sunday from 9:00 to 14:30

ECTS Credits

30 ECTS credits

Number of modules

12 modules

Modality

Streaming

Number of students

36 students

Start date

1st February 2025

Timetable

Saturday, 9 to 18:30 Sunday, 9 to 14:30

ECTS Credits

30 ECTS credits

Modules

12 modules

Modality

Streaming

Number of students

36 students

Certification obtained

After passing the postgraduate university training, you will be able to obtain the following credentials to use in your CV:

International Credential: PgCert. Neuro. ifevet 

• Certification obtained: Postgraduate Certificate in Small Animal Neurology (ifevet)

Course Objective

The aim of this course is to develop strong clinical thinking skills for day-to-day practice. It will provide robust knowledge of neurology, focusing on clear anatomical localisation and differential diagnosis, which will be applied to the most common diseases in dogs and cats.

Structure and benefits of the postgraduate program

The postgraduate programme comprises modules with theoretical and practical lectures, enabling students to systematically approach neurology cases. Each module will be taught by one or several ECVN diplomats (or residency-trained specialists), pioneers in their fields, to ensure the highest quality training.

At the end of each module, students will gain comprehensive insight into the clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment possibilities, and prognosis of neurological patients. They will be capable of conducting a complete neurological examination, localising lesions within the nervous system, making a differential diagnosis, and planning appropriate diagnostic and treatment procedures. Moreover, they will have time to relate these lectures to their cases, asking questions and interacting with experienced clinicians.

Target Audience

Designed for professionals working in first opinion, emergencies, or those seeking to specialise in neurology via an internship or residency. This programme is for veterinarians who wish to deepen their knowledge in this speciality, update their skills, and learn innovative aspects applicable to daily practice.

This postgraduate programme will be highly beneficial for clinicians with some experience in neurology, as well as for beginners needing a clear grasp of fundamental concepts from the outset.

ANE URIARTE

DVM, MRCSV, DipECVN, EBVS® European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology and RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Neurology | Director of the Neurology Postgraduate course

Read more

ANNA SUÑOL

Lda Vet, Dipl ECVN, SFHEA, MRCVS, EBVS® European Specialist In Veterinary Neurology And RCVS Specialist In Veterinary Neurology

Read more

Sebastien Behr

DVM (Hons) DipECVN MRCVS, EBVS® European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology, RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Neurology, Head of Neurology- neurosurgery Willows Referral, Neurology Consultant Vet3D

Read more

Holger Volk

DVM, PGCAP, PhD, DipECVN, FHEA, FRCVS, EBVS® European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology and RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Neurology

Read more

Steven De Decker

DVM, PhD, DipECVN, MvetMed, FHEA, PGCert Vet Ed, MRCVS EBVS® European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology and RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Neurology Professor and Head of service Neurology and Neurosurgery Royal Veterinary College, University of London, United Kingdom

Read more

Sophie Wyatt

BVetMed(Hons) MVetMed DipECVN MRCVS, EBVS® European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology and RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Neurology

Read more

Elsa Beltrán

LV, Dipl ECVN, PGCertVetEd FHEA, MRCVS, EBVS® European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology and RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Neurology

Read more

Tim Bentley

BVSc (Dist), DACVIM (Neurology), MRCVS, EBVS® European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology and RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Neurology

Read more

Clare Rusbridge

BVMS PhD DipECVN FRCVS EBVS® European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology and RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Neurology

Read more

Alex Forward

BVSc MSc MVetMed DipECVN MCRVS EBVS® European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology and RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Neurology

Read more

Paul Freeman

Dip ECVN EBVS® European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology

Read more

Bruno Lopes

DVM, GPCert(Neuro), DipECVN, MRCVS, EBVS® European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology and RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Neurology

Read more

MODULE 1: The neurological examination and localization

Date: 1st Feb 2025

Modality: Streaming

Competencies and objectives:

  • Establish the fundamentals of neuroanatomy in dogs and cats.
  • Describe and interpret a comprehensive neurological examination, emphasizing differences between dogs and cats.
  • Localise a lesion within the CNS and provide a differential diagnosis based on the VITAMIND framework.

Module Summary:

  • The Neurological Examination.
  • Localization of Spinal Lesions.
  • Localization of Intracranial Lesions.
  • Differential Diagnosis Based on VITAMIND.

Speaker: Elsa Beltrán

MODULE 2: Diagnostic methods

Date: 2nd Feb 2025

Modality: Streaming

Competencies and objectives:

  • Understand cerebrospinal fluid function and its diagnostic utility.
  • Understand the differences between advanced imaging procedures when studying the spine and the brain, including when to choose CT versus MRI and how to interpret them.

Module Summary:

  • Cerebrospinal Fluid: Technique and Interpretation.
  • CT Scan vs MRI in the Spine.
  • CT Scan vs MRI in the Brain.
  • Interactive Clinical Cases.

Speaker: Anna Suñol

MODULE 3: Epilepsy and Movement disorders

Date: 1st March 2025

Modality: Streaming

Competencies and objectives:

  • Understand epilepsy classification and clinical presentation.
  • Identify long-term versus emergency treatment for epileptic seizures.
  • Differentiate between epileptic seizures and paroxysmal dyskinesias, including their treatment and prognosis.

Module Summary:

  • Epilepsy: Clinical Presentation and Classification.
  • Epilepsy Treatment.
  • Movement Disorders.

Speaker: Holger Volk

MODULE 4: Brain disorders: vascular, inflammatory, Metabolic and Toxic

Date: 2nd March 2025

Modality: Streaming

Competencies and objectives:

  • Recognize the clinical presentation of a stroke and discuss treatment and prognosis.
  • Understand the most common inflammatory brain diseases in dogs and cats, including their treatment.
  • Recognize and treat metabolic encephalopathies.

Module Summary:

  • Vascular encephalopathies: ischemic and haemorrhagic.
  • Immune-mediated encephalitis.
  • Infectious brain disorders (including ear infections).
  • Metabolic and toxic encephalopathies.

Speaker: Fabio Stabile

MODULE 5: Brain disorders: Congenital and developmental brain diseases, inherited and degenerative

Date: 5th April 2025

Modality: Streaming

Competencies and objectives:

  • Present the most relevant congenital brain diseases for daily clinical practice.
  • Physiopathology and clinical presentation of Hydrocephalus and Chiari-Like malformation.
  • Diagnostic approach of storage diseases with a focus on Lafora disease, neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, and metabolic diseases like L-2-HGA.
  • Understand age-associated cognitive decline.

Module Summary:

  • CSF disorders – hydrocephalus and supracollicular fluid collection.
  • CSF disorders – Canine Chiari and syringomyelia.
  • Neuropathic pain: Management of Canine Chiari and syringomyelia.
  • Inherited brain diseases.
  • Canine/Feline dementia.
  • Congenital brain disorders.

Speaker: Clare Rusbridge

MODULE 6: Myelopathies: Vascular, inflammatory and Degenerative myelopathy

Date: 6th April 2025

Modality: Streaming

Competencies and objectives:

  • Clinical presentation, diagnosis and prognosis of vascular versus inflammatory myelopathies.
  • How to treat the challenging discospondylitis.
  • The most common spinal cord diseases in cats.
  • Clinical case discussion.

Module Summary:

  • Vascular myelopathy.
  • Inflammatory and infectious diseases of the spine.
  • Degenerative myelopathy: clinical presentation and differential diagnosis.
  • Interactive clinical cases.

Speaker: Alex Forward

MODULE 7: Neuro-oncology

Date: 3rd May 2025

Modality: Streaming

Competencies and objectives:

  • Identify the differences in presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer in the brain or spine.
  • Clinical case presentation with decision making.

Module Summary:

  • Brain tumour classification and clinical presentation.
  • Brain tumour diagnosis and symptomatic therapy.
  • Brain tumour treatment.
  • Spinal/nerve tumour classification and clinical presentation.
  • Spinal tumor treatment.
  • Clinical cases.

Speaker: Tim Bentley

MODULE 8: Peripheral Nervous System

Date: 4th May 2025

Modality: Streaming

Competencies and objectives:

  • Describe and interpret the neurological examination in patients with peripheral nervous system disorders.
  • Understand diagnostic methods for patients affected by the peripheral nervous system.
  • Differentiate the most common diseases of nerves, muscles, and neuromuscular junctions, including their diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.

Module Summary:

  • Neurological examination of the peripheral nervous system.
  • Complementary test for peripheral nervous system diseases.
  • Most common nerve diseases.
  • Most common neuromuscular junction diseases.
  • Most common myopathies.
  • Clinical cases study.

Speaker: Ane Uriarte

MODULE 9: Disc disease and caudal cervical spondylomyelopathy

Date: 31st May 2025

Modality: Streaming

Competencies and objectives:

  • Define the different types of disc herniations and their treatment.
  • Understand the different types of caudal cervical myelopathies and their treatment and prognosis.

Module Summary:

  • Intervertebral disc disease: classification and clinical presentation PF.
  • IVDD: Diagnostic techniques, treatment, and prognosis PF.
  • Caudal cervical spondylomyelopathy.

Speaker: Steven De Decker, Paul Freeman

MODULE 10: Emergency

Date: 1st June 2025

Modality: Streaming

Competencies and objectives:

  • Stabilisation of the neuro-emergency patient.
  • Recognising and treating status epilepticus in dogs and cats.
  • Treatment approach to the traumatised spine and brain.

Module Summary:

  • Introduction to neurological emergencies including assessment and stabilisation.
  • Cluster seizures and SE.
  • Traumatic brain and spinal injuries.
  • Acute encephalopathies, including vestibular disease.
  • Clinical cases.

Speaker: Sophie Wyatt

MODULE 11: Myelopathies: Anomaly and LS disease

Date: 28th June 2025

Modality: Streaming

Competencies and objectives:

  • Presentation of the most common vertebral malformation with their clinical signs, epidemiology and treatment.
  • Understand the lumbosacral syndrome and it’s challenging presentation.

Module Summary:

  • AA luxation.
  • Articular process dysplasia and SAD.
  • Lumbosacral: clinical presentation, treatment, and prognosis.

Speaker: Sebastien Behr

MODULE 12: Final Review

Date: 29th June 2025

Modality: Streaming

Competencies and objectives:

  • Identify and integrate various. neurological diseases discussed during the postgraduate program based on clinical cases.

Module Summary:

  • Clinical cases neurological examination and localisation.
  • Clinical cases brain.
  • Clinical cases spine PF.

Farewell and conclusion of the postgraduate program.

Speaker: Steven De Decker, Paul Freeman

We offer you 2 payment methods:

· Interest-free payment in instalments

  1. Interest-free instalments
  2. Payment in full (BACS or Credit Card)

For details on interest-free instalment options, please refer to the information request section.

· Price (exam included): £ 7.500

*An additional fee of £70 will be required for the issuance of the university degree

Terms and conditions of payment

The remaining fees must be paid by direct debit during the first 10 days of each month.

All payments must be completed before the end of the last training course.

Request more information

Certification obtained

After passing the postgraduate university training, you will be able to obtain the following credentials to use in your CV:

International Credential: PgCert. Neuro. ifevet 

• Certification obtained: Postgraduate Certificate in Small Animal Neurology (ifevet)

Course Objective

The aim of this course is to develop strong clinical thinking skills for day-to-day practice. It will provide robust knowledge of neurology, focusing on clear anatomical localisation and differential diagnosis, which will be applied to the most common diseases in dogs and cats.

Structure and benefits of the postgraduate program

The postgraduate programme comprises modules with theoretical and practical lectures, enabling students to systematically approach neurology cases. Each module will be taught by one or several ECVN diplomats (or residency-trained specialists), pioneers in their fields, to ensure the highest quality training.

At the end of each module, students will gain comprehensive insight into the clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment possibilities, and prognosis of neurological patients. They will be capable of conducting a complete neurological examination, localising lesions within the nervous system, making a differential diagnosis, and planning appropriate diagnostic and treatment procedures. Moreover, they will have time to relate these lectures to their cases, asking questions and interacting with experienced clinicians.

Target Audience

Designed for professionals working in first opinion, emergencies, or those seeking to specialise in neurology via an internship or residency. This programme is for veterinarians who wish to deepen their knowledge in this speciality, update their skills, and learn innovative aspects applicable to daily practice.

This postgraduate programme will be highly beneficial for clinicians with some experience in neurology, as well as for beginners needing a clear grasp of fundamental concepts from the outset.

ANE URIARTE

DVM, MRCSV, DipECVN, EBVS® European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology and RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Neurology | Director of the Neurology Postgraduate course

Read more

ANNA SUÑOL

Lda Vet, Dipl ECVN, SFHEA, MRCVS, EBVS® European Specialist In Veterinary Neurology And RCVS Specialist In Veterinary Neurology

Read more

Sebastien Behr

DVM (Hons) DipECVN MRCVS, EBVS® European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology, RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Neurology, Head of Neurology- neurosurgery Willows Referral, Neurology Consultant Vet3D

Read more

Holger Volk

DVM, PGCAP, PhD, DipECVN, FHEA, FRCVS, EBVS® European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology and RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Neurology

Read more

Steven De Decker

DVM, PhD, DipECVN, MvetMed, FHEA, PGCert Vet Ed, MRCVS EBVS® European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology and RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Neurology Professor and Head of service Neurology and Neurosurgery Royal Veterinary College, University of London, United Kingdom

Read more

Sophie Wyatt

BVetMed(Hons) MVetMed DipECVN MRCVS, EBVS® European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology and RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Neurology

Read more

Elsa Beltrán

LV, Dipl ECVN, PGCertVetEd FHEA, MRCVS, EBVS® European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology and RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Neurology

Read more

Tim Bentley

BVSc (Dist), DACVIM (Neurology), MRCVS, EBVS® European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology and RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Neurology

Read more

Clare Rusbridge

BVMS PhD DipECVN FRCVS EBVS® European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology and RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Neurology

Read more

Alex Forward

BVSc MSc MVetMed DipECVN MCRVS EBVS® European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology and RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Neurology

Read more

Paul Freeman

Dip ECVN EBVS® European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology

Read more

Bruno Lopes

DVM, GPCert(Neuro), DipECVN, MRCVS, EBVS® European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology and RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Neurology

Read more

 

MODULE 1: The neurological examination and localization

Date: 1st Feb 2025

Modality: Streaming

Competencies and objectives:

  • Establish the fundamentals of neuroanatomy in dogs and cats.
  • Describe and interpret a comprehensive neurological examination, emphasizing differences between dogs and cats.
  • Localise a lesion within the CNS and provide a differential diagnosis based on the VITAMIND framework.

Module Summary:

  • The Neurological Examination.
  • Localization of Spinal Lesions.
  • Localization of Intracranial Lesions.
  • Differential Diagnosis Based on VITAMIND.

Speaker: Elsa Beltrán

MODULE 2: Diagnostic methods

Date: 2nd Feb 2025

Modality: Streaming

Competencies and objectives:

  • Understand cerebrospinal fluid function and its diagnostic utility.
  • Understand the differences between advanced imaging procedures when studying the spine and the brain, including when to choose CT versus MRI and how to interpret them.

Module Summary:

  • Cerebrospinal Fluid: Technique and Interpretation.
  • CT Scan vs MRI in the Spine.
  • CT Scan vs MRI in the Brain.
  • Interactive Clinical Cases.

Speaker: Anna Suñol

MODULE 3: Epilepsy and Movement disorders

Date: 1st March 2025

Modality: Streaming

Competencies and objectives:

  • Understand epilepsy classification and clinical presentation.
  • Identify long-term versus emergency treatment for epileptic seizures.
  • Differentiate between epileptic seizures and paroxysmal dyskinesias, including their treatment and prognosis.

Module Summary:

  • Epilepsy: Clinical Presentation and Classification.
  • Epilepsy Treatment.
  • Movement Disorders.

Speaker: Holger Volk

MODULE 4: Brain disorders: vascular, inflammatory, Metabolic and Toxic

Date: 2nd March 2025

Modality: Streaming

Competencies and objectives:

  • Recognize the clinical presentation of a stroke and discuss treatment and prognosis.
  • Understand the most common inflammatory brain diseases in dogs and cats, including their treatment.
  • Recognize and treat metabolic encephalopathies.

Module Summary:

  • Vascular encephalopathies: ischemic and haemorrhagic.
  • Immune-mediated encephalitis.
  • Infectious brain disorders (including ear infections).
  • Metabolic and toxic encephalopathies.

Speaker: Fabio Stabile

MODULE 5: Brain disorders: Congenital and developmental brain diseases, inherited and degenerative

Date: 5th April 2025

Modality: Streaming

Competencies and objectives:

  • Present the most relevant congenital brain diseases for daily clinical practice.
  • Physiopathology and clinical presentation of Hydrocephalus and Chiari-Like malformation.
  • Diagnostic approach of storage diseases with a focus on Lafora disease, neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, and metabolic diseases like L-2-HGA.
  • Understand age-associated cognitive decline.

Module Summary:

  • CSF disorders – hydrocephalus and supracollicular fluid collection.
  • CSF disorders – Canine Chiari and syringomyelia.
  • Neuropathic pain: Management of Canine Chiari and syringomyelia.
  • Inherited brain diseases.
  • Canine/Feline dementia.
  • Congenital brain disorders.

Speaker: Clare Rusbridge

MODULE 6: Myelopathies: Vascular, inflammatory and Degenerative myelopathy

Date: 6th April 2025

Modality: Streaming

Competencies and objectives:

  • Clinical presentation, diagnosis and prognosis of vascular versus inflammatory myelopathies.
  • How to treat the challenging discospondylitis.
  • The most common spinal cord diseases in cats.
  • Clinical case discussion.

Module Summary:

  • Vascular myelopathy.
  • Inflammatory and infectious diseases of the spine.
  • Degenerative myelopathy: clinical presentation and differential diagnosis.
  • Interactive clinical cases.

Speaker: Alex Forward

MODULE 7: Neuro-oncology

Date: 3rd May 2025

Modality: Streaming

Competencies and objectives:

  • Identify the differences in presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer in the brain or spine.
  • Clinical case presentation with decision making.

Module Summary:

  • Brain tumour classification and clinical presentation.
  • Brain tumour diagnosis and symptomatic therapy.
  • Brain tumour treatment.
  • Spinal/nerve tumour classification and clinical presentation.
  • Spinal tumor treatment.
  • Clinical cases.

Speaker: Tim Bentley

MODULE 8: Peripheral Nervous System

Date: 4th May 2025

Modality: Streaming

Competencies and objectives:

  • Describe and interpret the neurological examination in patients with peripheral nervous system disorders.
  • Understand diagnostic methods for patients affected by the peripheral nervous system.
  • Differentiate the most common diseases of nerves, muscles, and neuromuscular junctions, including their diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.

Module Summary:

  • Neurological examination of the peripheral nervous system.
  • Complementary test for peripheral nervous system diseases.
  • Most common nerve diseases.
  • Most common neuromuscular junction diseases.
  • Most common myopathies.
  • Clinical cases study.

Speaker: Ane Uriarte

MODULE 9: Disc disease and caudal cervical spondylomyelopathy

Date: 31st May 2025

Modality: Streaming

Competencies and objectives:

  • Define the different types of disc herniations and their treatment.
  • Understand the different types of caudal cervical myelopathies and their treatment and prognosis.

Module Summary:

  • Intervertebral disc disease: classification and clinical presentation PF.
  • IVDD: Diagnostic techniques, treatment, and prognosis PF.
  • Caudal cervical spondylomyelopathy.

Speaker: Steven De Decker, Paul Freeman

MODULE 10: Emergency

Date: 1st June 2025

Modality: Streaming

Competencies and objectives:

  • Stabilisation of the neuro-emergency patient.
  • Recognising and treating status epilepticus in dogs and cats.
  • Treatment approach to the traumatised spine and brain.

Module Summary:

  • Introduction to neurological emergencies including assessment and stabilisation.
  • Cluster seizures and SE.
  • Traumatic brain and spinal injuries.
  • Acute encephalopathies, including vestibular disease.
  • Clinical cases.

Speaker: Sophie Wyatt

MODULE 11: Myelopathies: Anomaly and LS disease

Date: 28th June 2025

Modality: Streaming

Competencies and objectives:

  • Presentation of the most common vertebral malformation with their clinical signs, epidemiology and treatment.
  • Understand the lumbosacral syndrome and it’s challenging presentation.

Module Summary:

  • AA luxation.
  • Articular process dysplasia and SAD.
  • Lumbosacral: clinical presentation, treatment, and prognosis.

Speaker: Sebastien Behr

MODULE 12: Final Review

Date: 29th June 2025

Modality: Streaming

Competencies and objectives:

  • Identify and integrate various. neurological diseases discussed during the postgraduate program based on clinical cases.

Module Summary:

  • Clinical cases neurological examination and localisation.
  • Clinical cases brain.
  • Clinical cases spine PF.

Farewell and conclusion of the postgraduate program.

Speaker: Steven De Decker, Paul Freeman

We offer you 2 payment methods:

· Interest-free payment in instalments

  1. Interest-free instalments
  2. Payment in full (BACS or Credit Card)

For details on interest-free instalment options, please refer to the information request section.

· Price (exam included): £ 7.500

*An additional fee of £70 will be required for the issuance of the university degree

Terms and conditions of payment

The remaining fees must be paid by direct debit during the first 10 days of each month.

All payments must be completed before the end of the last training course.

Request more information

Testimonials from our students

Testimonials from our students

Brochures for Veterinary Postgraduates
All the information about our veterinary postgraduate programs
Download it now!
Diapositiva anterior
Diapositiva siguiente
Brochures for Veterinary Postgraduates
All the information about our veterinary postgraduate programs
Download it now!
Diapositiva anterior
Diapositiva siguiente

Contact us

If you would like to request information about any of our training services, please fill in the following form or contact us by phone or email

Request for information

Contact us

If you would like to request information about any of our training services, please fill in the following form or contact us by phone or email

Request for information