Neurology and Neurosurgery: The Neurology service investigates and treats diseases of the nervous system including the brain, spinal cord, nerves and nerve / muscle junctions.

Consultants:

Giunio Bruto Cherubini DVM DipECVN MRCVS

  • European & RCVS Recognised Specialist in Veterinary Neurology
  • Head of Neurology and Neurosurgery

Caroline Altenhoefer DVM MRCVS

Giunio Cherubini is a veterinary Neurology Specialist with an international reputation and he has more than a decade of experience of specialist Neurological treatment for animal.

The Neurology service provides 24 hour, seven days a week neurological care, comprising advanced neurological imaging and neurological investigations, neurosurgery, intensive care, physiotherapy and nursing care. Neurology is run by Giunio Bruto Cherubini and Caroline Altenhoefer, with the assistance of our ECVN Residents in Neurology/Neurosurgery Viktor Palus and Salih Eminaga. We are supported by Helen Fentem Jones and Gemma Fry (Veterinary Physiotherapists) and our Neurology nurses.

We offer a full range of diagnostic procedures, including advanced electrodiagnostic tests, in-house MRI (which is interpreted by Specialists in both Diagnostic Imaging and Neurology) and CSF analysis.

Our experience in Medical treatment of Neurological conditions is wide, reflecting our busy clinical case load. Neurosurgery is our particular field of expertise and, with many years of experience, we regularly perform neurosurgery for traumatic injuries, developmental problems, vertebral instability syndromes, intervertebral disc disorders and neoplastic conditions. Neuro-oncology is an area of special interest and surgery is routinely performed for brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerve and spinal tumours.

We are very fortunate to work in a multidisciplinary specialist centre where immediate friendly access to the expertise of our specialist colleagues in other disciplines enables an integrated and holistic approach to our patient care. As a service, we are proud of our professsionalism, compassion and approachability and we will make you feel comfortable to leave your animal in our care. Moreover our team of highly professional and caring neurology nurses will look after your pet as if he or she were their own.

"Dear Giunio, throughout the period you have treated my Piers, giving unfailing help and kindness to us both. You have been courteous, optimistic and supportive through a very stressful period. I shall always remember with gratitude."

Jill Rose

Dick White Referrals - Giunio Bruto Cherubini

Giunio Bruto Cherubini: Consultant Neurology Specialist

DVM DipECVN MRCVS

  • Honorary Associate Professor of Veterinary Neurology, University of Nottingham
  • Diplomate, European College of Veterinary Neurology
  • RCVS / European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology

Head of Neurology and Neurosurgery

Giunio Cherubini is a Veterinary Neurology Specialist with an international reputation and with over a decade of experience in specialist veterinary neurological treatment.

Hello, I am Giunio Bruto, my father gave me this name in memory of Giunio Bruto, the leader of the plot that assassinated Giulio Cesar and in Italy my name is a symbol of the fight against tyranny and absolutism, for  freedom. Despite my attachment to the whole name, you can call me just Giunio.
After working for three years in a referral Neurological centre in Rome, I completed a residency in Neurology at the Royal Veterinary College in 2004. I was conferred the John Presthus award for the best European Resident presentation in Neurology in 2004 by the European College of Veterinary Neurology. Following my Residency, I achieved promotion to the position of Lecturer in Neurology/Neurosurgery, holding this position for a further three years.

I joined DWR in January 2007 to set up a dedicated Neurology, Neurosurgery and Neuro-oncology service for dogs, cats and exotic animals. For me, the fascination of Neurology is that the nervous system is developed in the entire body and so any type of medical or surgical disease can have a neurological component or can be secondary to a neurological disorder.

My primary field of special interest lies in the surgical and oncological management of cancer of the nervous system. In order to further our veterinary knowledge in this area, I maintain active contact with Neuro-oncologists working in human medicine and I am an active member of the British and European Society of Neuro-oncology.

I actively publish the results of our clinical investigations and case studies in scientific publications and I have presented data in national and international conferences. I am a member of several editorial boards of veterinary clinical journals, including JSAP, JFMS and UKVet.

I currently supervise and train our two ECVN Neurology Residents towards their specialist status, I am responsible of the DWR Internship program and I contribute to the undergraduate teaching programme at the University of Nottingham School of Veterinary Medicine and Science.

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Dick White Referrals - Viktor Palus

Viktor Palus: ECVN Resident in Veterinary Neurology

DVM, MRCVS

  • European College of Veterinary Neurology (ECVN)- approved Resident in Specialist training

I graduated as a veterinary surgeon in June 2005 from Kosice University in Slovakia. After graduation I worked at the Small Animal Hospital at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in the Czech Republic, where I developed strong interest in Neurology.  In 2007 I moved to a small animal practice in the Cotswolds, where I looked after hospitalised patients and I additionally worked for a local RSPCA clinic on a part time basis.

Six Mile Bottom was my next destination where I enrolled on an Internship at Dick White Referrals, which I completed in 2009. During my Internship, I strengthened my passion for Neurology and I stayed on at DWR to undertake an ECVN approved Residency in Neurology/Neurosurgery. I like all aspect of neurology, neurosurgery and neuro-oncology. It is very rewarding to help our silent patients from their troubles and pain and see them healthy, comfortable and able to walk home again following treatment.

I love travelling, hiking, skiing and all outdoor activities. I have six year old Czech Wirehaired Pointer called Lexy and a four year old Ball Python called Keny. Unfortunately, both of them are back in Slovakia but I look forward to spending time with each of them during my vacations.

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Dick White Referrals - Salih Eminaga

Salih Eminaga: ECVN Resident in Veterinary Neurology / Neurosurgery

DVM GPCert(SAS) MRCVS

I qualified in June 2001 from Ankara University. After spending two years as a Research Assistant in the Department of Surgery, I moved to England and became MRCVS by examination in 2005. I worked in general practice for over four years, during which time my main interest was small animal surgery and I achieved my GPCert(SAS) in September 2009.

My interest in Neurology began during my undergraduate days, before I qualified as a veterinary surgeon. Two years spent as a Research Assistant after graduating strengthened my interest in Neurology and Neurosurgery. In November 2010, I joined Dick White Referrals as an ECVN approved Resident in Neurology and Neurosurgery.

I am originally from Cyprus and I enjoy camping, canoeing, swimming and walking when the weather is warm and sunny! I live with my five year old rescued Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Amber.

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Dick White Referrals - Charlene Stowe

Charlene Stowe: Senior Neurology Nurse

RVN

I joined Dick White Referrals in October 2008 the same year I qualified as a Veterinary Nurse, having previously worked in general practice for five years. I am passionate about neurology, intensive care nursing and physiotherapy, and I thoroughly enjoysmy work. I am currently studying towards the RCVS Higher Educational Diploma in Advanced Veterinary Nursing.

I have a black Labrador called Jazz and five cats called Dopey, Pudding, Magic, Jeffrey and Tinkerbell. Outside of work I enjoy walking holidays, snowboarding, scuba diving, reading and gardening.

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Dick White Referrals - Lyndsay Broadhurst

Lyndsay Broadhurst: Veterinary Nurse

RVN

I qualified as a Veterinary Nurse in January 2008 and I joined Dick White Referrals in September 2010. Before joining DWR, Iworked in veterinary practice in Essex in which we did both general and referral veterinary work.

I enjoy all aspects of veterinary nursing but I am particularly intested in in neurology, and critical care nursing.

Outside of work I enjoy travelling and photography, I love reading and looking after my Border terrier.

Dick White Referrals - Kate Pickles

Kate Pickles: Veterinary Nurse

RVN

I qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2008 and subsequently spent two and a half years working in general practice. I spent an additional three years working in referral veterinary  practice before joining DWR in September 2010.

I have a keen interest in neurology and particularly enjoy intensive care nursing. I am planning to start studying towards the RCVS Higher Educational Diploma in Advanced Veterinary Nursing in September 2012.

Outside of work I enjoy travelling to new places, socialising and cooking.

Dick White Referrals - Emma Wilmott

Emma Wilmott: Veterinary Nurse

RVN

I joined DWR in October 2011after working in general practice in Wiltshire for five years. I completed  a degree in veterinary nursing at Harper Adams University College and qualified in 2010.

I enjoy nursing critical and intensive care patients and I have a a keen interest in neurology. I have a black Labrador called Polly, a three legged cat called Murphy, a terrapin called Terri and I keep chickens.

Outside of work I am  passionate about chickens, walking her dog, baking and gardening.

Dick White Referrals - Melanie Broughton

Melanie Broughton: Veterinary Nurse

RVN A1

I joined Dick White Referrals in November 2011, having spent six years working in general practice. I qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2008 and I continued my studies to gain my A1 assessors qualification.

I have a a particular interest in neurology along with intensive and critical care nursing. I am keen to continue my studies further and I look forward to starting the RCVS Higher Educational Diploma in Advanced Veterinary Nursing.

Melanie has a cat called Chops and a guinea pig called Fudge. Outside of work I enjoy reading, going to the gym and looking after my animals.

Treatments - Neurology and Neurosurgery

Inpatient Care

Currently, we are the only UK Veterinary Specialist Neurology and Neurosurgical facility with full time veterinary physiotherapists directing and managing our in-patient care alongside our nursing staff. Physiotherapeutic input into patient care has greatly enhanced our ability to restore physical function for our patients. Some of our neurological and neurosurgical patients require high dependency care and this is provided by our highly committed and dedicated Neurology nurses.

Treatments - Neurology and Neurosurgery

Diagnostic Investigations

We are able to undertake a wide range of neurological diagnostic investigations, including advanced electrodiagnostic tests for muscle & nerves disorders, for deafness, for urinary and faecal neurogenic incontinence, in-house MRI (which is interpreted by Specialists in Diagnostic Imaging and Neurology) and CSF analysis (with in-house Clinical Pathologist interpretation).

Treatments - Neurology and Neurosurgery

Medical Neurological Conditions

We commonly treat epilepsy, vestibular syndrome, inflammatory/infectious meningoencephalomyelitis, cranial nerve paresis, myasthenia gravis, inflammatory and degenerative muscle and nerve disorders, tetanus, botulism and neuro-toxicological syndrome, collapsing and movement disorder episodes, feline hyperaesthesia and facial pain syndrome.

Treatments - Neurology and Neurosurgery

Neurosurgery

Neurosurgery is our field of expertise and, with many years of experience, our neurosurgery caseload includes patients treated for traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, hydrocephalus, cysts of the brain and of the spinal cord, Chiari malformation and syringohydromyelia, atlanto-axial subluxation, wobbler syndrome, intervertebral disc disorders, cauda equina syndrome, malformations of the spinal cord and of the spine and spinal fractures.

Treatments - Neurology and Neurosurgery

Neuro-oncology

Neuro-oncology is an area of particularly special interest we routinely and successfully surgically treat patients with brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerve and spinal tumours. The treatment these tumours often requires a combination of surgical and adjuvant chemotherapy and, on occasions, radiation therapy.

Treatments - Neurology and Neurosurgery

Clinical Investigations

We are currently undertaking a collaborative project with the University of Nottingham and the Human Genome Damage and Stability Centre, University of Sussex to develop blogical markers to enable in vivo, non-invasive diagnosis of brain tumours in dogs as a first step for further development for markers for brain tumours in humans.

Dick White Referrals - Publications

Selected publications

  • Palus V, Volk HA, Lamb CR, Targett MP, Cherubini GB (2012) MRI features of CNS Lymphoma in dogs & cats. VRU 53 44-49.
  • Eminaga S, Palus V, Cherubini GB (2011) Acute spinal cord injury in the cat: causes treatment and prognosis. JFMS 13 850-862.
  • Ricci E, Cherubini GB, Jacovljevic S, Aprea F, Cantile C (2011) MRI findings, surgical treatment and follow-up of meningomyelocele with tethered spinal cord syndrome in a cat. JFMS 467-472
  • Palus V, Penderis J, Jakovljevic S, Cherubini GB (2010) Thiamine deficiency in a cat: resolution of MRI abnormalities following thiamine supplementation. JFMS 807-10
  • Negrin A, Cherubini GB, Lamb CR, Benigni L, Adams VJ, Platt SR (2010) Clinical signs, MRI findings and outcome in 77 cats with vestibular disease: a retrospective study. JFMS 291-299
  • Cherubini GB, Platt SR, Howson S, Baines E, Brodbelt D, Dennis R (2008). Comparsion of MRI sequences in dogs with multifocal intracranial disease.
JSAP 634-640
  • Gajanayake I, Niessen S, Cherubini GB, Shelton D (2008) Autoimmune myasthenia gravis and dysautonomia in a dog.
JSAP 593-595
  • Cherubini GB, Lowrie M, Anderson TJ (2008) Pelvic limb ataxia in the older dog: 1 assessment & non-painful conditions. 2 painful conditions. In Practice 386-391; 
434-441
  • Scurrell E, Davies E, Baines E, Cherubini GB, Platt S, Blakemore W, Williams A, Schöniger S (2008) Neuropathologycal findings in a Staffordshire Bull Terrier with L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria.
J Comp Path160-164
  • Niessen SJM, Eastwood J, Smyth JBA, Cherubini GB (2007). Five new cases of canine Dysautonomia in England (2004-2006). JSAP 346-352
  • Cherubini GB, Rusbridge C, Singh BP, Schoeniger S, Mahoney P (2007). Rostral Cerebellar Arteries Infarct in 2 cats. JFMS 246-253
  • Negrin A, Lamb CR, Cappello R, Cherubini GB (2007). Results of MRI in 14 cats with meningoencephalitis and comparison with CSF analysis.
JFMS 109-116
  • Cherubini GB, Platt S, Anderson TJ, Rusbridge C, Lorenzo V, Mantis P, Cappello R (2006). Characteristics of MRI of GME in 11 dogs. Vet Rec 110-115
  • Cherubini GB, Mantis P, Martinez T, Lamb CR, Cappello R (2005). Utility of MRI in distinguish neoplastic from non-neoplastic brain lesion in dogs & cats.
VRU 384-387
  • Lamb CR, Croson PJ, Cappello R, Cherubini GB (2005). MRI findings in 25 dogs with inflammatory cerebrospinal fluid.
VRU 46: 17-22.
  • Cherubini GB, Mantis P, Targett M, Lu D, Wessmann A, Cappello R (2004). MRI findings in dog with discospondylitis caused by Bordetella species.
JSAP 417-420