Small Animal Neurology/
Neurosurgery Unit
The Neurology/Neurosurgery unit is composed of six veterinary surgeons and one dedicated veterinary technician and provides 24-hour emergency service seven days a week, all year round. In addition, our four European Specialists and resident in Veterinary Neurology and Neurosurgery are available for telephone advice and in-house consultancy services to veterinary surgeons in both general and referral practices. We also encourage vets to come and see practice with us to develop their skills in neurology and neurosurgery.
We have an on-site 1.5 Tesla MRI scanner operated by specialist in diagnostic imaging on a 24-hour basis, electrodiagnostic facilities and state-of-the-art operating theatres which allow us to offer a comprehensive referral service for canine and feline patients with medical and surgical neurological conditions. The service can receive intracranial, spinal and neuromuscular emergencies on a 24-hour basis and prides itself on its congenital deafness-screening programme in a variety of at-risk breeds. The level of care of our patient is excellent thanks to the expertise of the anaesthetists in analgesia and intensive care, a very skilled and dedicated team of nurses and kennel assistants and a dedicated neurology intern. Our close interaction with the internal medicine, oncology, ophthalmology, soft-tissue surgery, and pathology units allows a comprehensive investigation and most up-to-date treatment modalities matched only by a few other locations in Europe.
Neurology staff
Luisa De Risio DVM PhD DipECVN MRCVS
European and RCVS recognised specialist in Veterinary Neurology
Head, Neurology/Neurosurgery Unit
After qualifying from the University of Parma, Italy, in 1996, Luisa completed an internship at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Parma University and subsequently at a referral practice in Paris. In 1998, 1999 and 2000 she worked as a visiting Resident at the Neurology Service at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of North Carolina State University, USA. Subsequently Luisa obtained a PhD at the University of Parma where she was appointed Lecturer in Neurology/Neurosurgery. In 2001-2003 she visited several Veterinary Schools and Specialty practices in Europe and in USA for collaborative research projects and further clinical training. In 2004 Luisa successfully passed the examination for the Diploma of the European College of Veterinary Neurology (ECVN). In 2005 she joined the Neurology/Neurosurgery service of the Animal Health Trust as Senior Clinical Neurologist and since January 2007 became Head of Unit. From September 2008 to August 2010 she has been a board member of the ECVN Examination Committee and since September 2010 she has been appointed as Chair of the ECVN Examination Committee and member of the ECVN Executive Committee. Luisa’s main areas of interest are neurosurgery, hereditary neurological disorders and feline neurology. Luisa has lectured at several continuing education and scientific meetings and she has published several studies on neurology and neurosurgery in peer reviewed journals. Luisa is an editorial board member of the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery and she is a reviewer for English and American scientific journals.
Alberta de Stefani-Llabrés DVM PhD DipECVN MRCVS
European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology
Senior Clinician in Neurology/Neurosurgery
Alberta obtained her veterinary degree in February 2001 from Padua University, Italy. She worked for few months in general practice, before starting a clinical PhD at Padua University. The PhD was successfully concluded with the thesis discussion in 2006. Over this period of time she also started a one-year general internship at the Animal Health Trust in November 2001. Following the internship she obtained a three-year ECVN approved residency in Neurology/Neurosurgery at the AHT. Her residency was sponsored by Vetoquinol. After completing her residency, Alberta stayed at the AHT as a Vetoquinol Clinician in Neurology/Neurosurgery. She successfully passed the examination for the Diploma of the European College of Veterinary Neurology in 2007 and became a Senior Clinician in Neurology/Neurosurgery at the AHT. Her main areas of interest are seizure pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment, and spinal cord diseases.
Victoria Doyle BVetMed DVM DipECVN MRCVS
European Specialist in Neurology
Senior Clinician in Neurology/Neurosurgery
Victoria graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2004 and worked as a mixed practice veterinary surgeon in Kent for 1 year before returning to the Royal Veterinary College to complete a one-year rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery. Victoria always had a strong interest in neurology and went on to complete a three-year ECVN approved scholarship in neurology at the Royal Veterinary College. Victoria passed the ECVN diploma in 2009. Victoria is interested in all aspects of neurology but has a particular interest in epilepsy and inflammatory brain diseases.
Elsa Beltran DVM DipECVN MRCVS
European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology
Senior Clinician in Neurology/Neurosurgery
Supported by the Beryl Evetts & Robert Luff Animal Welfare Trust
After qualifying from the University Cardenal Herrera CEU, Valencia (Spain) in June 2002, Elsa spent two years in general practice. From November 2004 to April 2006 she completed a General Internship at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital in the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (Spain), before starting a Neurology internship at the Animal Health Trust from May to December 2006. Following the internship she obtained a three-year ECVN approved residency in Neurology/Neurosurgery at the AHT, where she is undertaking specialist training in clinical neurology, neurosurgery, electrodiagnostics, neuroimaging, neurophysiology and neuropathology. She successfully passed the examination for the Diploma of the European College of Veterinary Neurology in 2011 and became a Senior Clinician in Neurology/Neurosurgery at the AHT. Her research interests include brain meningiomas, spinal cord disease and neuromuscular diseases.
Daniel Sanchez-Masian DVM MRCVS
Clinician in Neurology/Neurosurgery
Daniel graduated from the University of Madrid (Spain) in June 1999. He worked for two years in the University Cardenal Herrera CEU, Valencia (Spain) after obtaining a scholarship at the Medicine and Surgery Department.
Daniel spent five years in a specialist Neurology Referral Centre in Barcelona (Spain) before he started a three-year ECVN approved residency in Neurology / Neurosurgery at the Ars Veterinaria Hospital in Barcelona (Spain). Daniel completed his residency in May 2011 and now he is working toward sitting his Diploma of the European College of Veterinary Neurology (ECVN) in 2012
Vetoquinol Clinician in Neurology/Neurosurgery
Fabio obtained his veterinary degree in July 2003 from Padua University, Italy. He worked for 2 years in general practice, before starting a three-year clinical PhD in Neurology/Neurosurgery at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Padua University. The main focus of his PhD was Caudal Cervical Spondylomyelopathy in Doberman pinschers. On 1st January 2009 Fabio started a three-year ECVN approved residency in Neurology/Neurosurgery at the AHT where he is undertaking training in clinical neurology, neurosurgery, electrodiagnostics, neuroimaging, neurophysiology and neuropathology. His residency is sponsored by Vetoquinol.
Resident in Neurology/Neurosurgery
Anita graduated from Massey University (New Zealand) in 2002. She spent the next year as an Intern in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at the Massey University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, before working as a general practice veterinarian for two years in New Zealand. From April 2006 until March 2008, Anita worked in general practice in the United Kingdom as a locum veterinarian. In March 2008, Anita joined the Animal Health Trust as the Intern in Neurology and Neurosurgery. Her main role is to support and learn from the Neurology clinicians, and care for their patients.
Intern in Neurology/Neurosurgery
Carlos graduated in 2009 from the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (Spain). He spent the next year as an Intern in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at the University of Barcelona Veterinary Teaching Hospital, before working as a general practice veterinarian for two years in Spain. In November 2011, Carlos joined the Animal Health Trust as the Intern in Neurology and Neurosurgery. His main role is to deal with neurological patients and he is also undertaking specialist training in clinical neurology.
Neurology Technician
Julia graduated in 1988 from the University of Loughborough with a degree in Human Biological Sciences. She joined the AHT as a Neurology technician in the Equine Clinical Unit in January 1989, as part of a project looking into nerve conductions in horses and ponies. Over time, more of her work was based at the Centre for Small Animal Studies, becoming solely based there as Electrodiagnostic Technician in 1993. Julia has also been responsible for building up the hearing clinic, screening at-risk breeds of dogs and cats for congenital deafness, and quantifying hearing loss in dogs with acquired hearing problems. Alongside this, she provides support in a number of research areas, assisting clinicians with data collection and follow-up of cases.
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