Neurologic or not? Catch misleading cases

This session will highlight the most common non-neurological conditions that mimic neurological diseases. Ranging from musculoskeletal, metabolic, and systemic disorders – everything is on the table! These “look-a-likes” can easily send clinicians down the wrong diagnostic path, leading to unnecessary testing, delayed treatment, or missed diagnoses. By focusing on subtle clinical clues and key differentiators, we’ll explore how to identify when something is masquerading as a neurological condition. Through case-based examples, we will discuss practical strategies to refine the diagnostic process and avoid getting tricked by these liars and cheats! Attendees will leave with a stronger foundation for tackling these tricky cases and preventing the pitfalls that can come with false neurological presentations.

This session originally was presented at AVMA Convention 2025 in conjunction with the 40th World Veterinary Association Congress. 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

• Differentiate between common non-neurological conditions and true neurological diseases by analyzing key clinical clues and patterns.
• Identify subtle signs and diagnostic differentiators to accurately recognize when a non-neurological condition is masquerading as a neurological issue.