Liverpool Vet School Presents: 12 Minute Medicine

S2E05: Neuromuscular Disease: Thinking Beyond the Spine

In this episode of Liverpool Vet School Presents: 12 Minute Medicine, host Dan Batchelor is joined by Stef Phillipps to explore the approach to neuromuscular disease. What is neuromuscular disease and how does it differ from conditions affecting the central nervous system? The discussion highlights the importance of the neurological examination, including assessment of the postural reactions and spinal reflexes and how these findings can help localise the lesion. The episode explores common neuromuscular conditions including polyrediculoneuritis and myasthenia gravis, discussing their clinical presentation, diagnostic approach and current understanding of these disease.

S2E04: When Dogs Go Off Their Legs

In this episode of Liverpool Vet School Presents: 12 Minute Medicine, host Dan Batchelor is joined by Stef Phillipps to discuss the approach to dogs presenting with paresis or paralysis. What do terms such as ambulatory paraparesis, non-ambulatory paraparesis and paraplegia actually mean, and why are they important? The discussion explores how a thorough clinical history, triage assessment and physical examination can help guide the diagnostic approach, ensuring patients are cardiovascular stable and systemically well before focusing on the neurological problem. Stef and Dan also explore some of the most common causes of dogs going off their legs, including acute intervertebral disc extrusion, particularly in breeds such as Dachshunds and French Bulldogs. Other conditions discussed include chronic disc protrusions and neoplasia, alongside an overview of treatment and considerations.

S2E03: Head Tilts, Nystagmus and Neuro Exams

In this episode of Liverpool Vet School Present: 12 Minute Medicine host Dan Batchelor is joined by Stef Phillipps to explore the approach to patient presenting with a head tilt. What causes a head tilt and why is it so commonly associated with vestibular disease? The discussion covers the anatomy and function of the vestibular system, including the differences between central and peripheral vestibular disease and why distinguishing between the two is clinically important. A practical 12 minute conversation designed to build confidence when assessing patients with vestibular signs in everyday practice.

S2E02: Seizures or Something Else

In this episode of Liverpool Vet School Presents: 12 Minute Medicine hot Dan Batchelor is joined by Stef Phillips to explore some of the common conditions that can look like seizures but aren't. The discussion begins with movement disorders, including how the present and the treatment options available for affected patients. A practical 12 minute conversation designed to build confidence when approaching patients presenting with episodic neurological signs.

S2E01: Neurology Without Fear: Approaching Seizures

In the first episode of Season Two of Liverpool Vet School Presents: 12 Minute Medicine, host Dan Batchelor is joined by one of our Neurology clinicians Stef Phillipps to introduce this season's focus on neurology. The episode explores why it's important to dispel "neuro-phobia" in clinical practice and discusses the approach to the seizure patient, including why the neurological examination matters and how to begin performing one confidently. The conversation covers what abnormal neurological findings may indicate, common causes of seizures and the difference between generalised and focal seizures. Idiopathic epilepsy is also discussed, alongside the initial diagnostic approach. The episode also touches on when MRI may be indicated and considerations for seizure management, recognising that treatment decisions are highly patient-specific.