Neurology in San Francisco

Neurological Care at Our San Francisco Hospital

Noticing a change in how your pet moves or behaves can be alarming, especially when there's no obvious cause. Our board-certified neurology team at SAGE San Francisco diagnoses and treats these conditions with the help of in-house CT and MRI, so your pet can typically be evaluated and imaged in one place, without being referred elsewhere for advanced diagnostics.

Our neurologists also work directly alongside internal medicine and surgery at this hospital. If a case turns out to involve more than the nervous system, or a diagnosis points toward a surgical solution, that consult can happen in the same clinic, with every doctor kept informed of your pet's condition and treatment plan.

Neurological Conditions We Treat

Our San Francisco neurology team diagnoses and treats a full range of conditions affecting the brain, spine, nerves and muscles, including the following.

Epilepsy: recurring seizures caused by abnormal brain activity, typically managed with long-term medication
Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD, or "slipped disc"): a bulging or ruptured disc in the spine that can cause pain, weakness or paralysis
Meningitis: inflammation of the tissue surrounding the brain and spinal cord
Neuromuscular disease: conditions affecting the nerves and muscles that control movement, leading to weakness or difficulty walking
Brain or spinal tumors: growths that can affect coordination or behavior, often requiring imaging to diagnose and a combined medical and surgical approach to treat

Some breeds are more prone to certain conditions. Whatever your pet's breed or symptoms, our team can help determine the underlying cause and the right treatment path.

Diagnostics Available On-Site

Getting an accurate diagnosis starts with a thorough neurological exam, followed by imaging when needed. SAGE San Francisco offers the following in-house imaging:

CT imaging is used to evaluate the brain, spine, and surrounding structures for tumors, disc disease, and other structural changes
MRI imaging is considered the gold-standard test for conditions such as disc ruptures, brain and spinal cord tumors, congenital malformations, and inflammatory disease like meningitis or encephalitis
Electrodiagnostic testing measures electrical activity in the nerves and muscles to help diagnose neuromuscular disease
BAER (Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response) testing evaluates hearing function by measuring the brain's response to sound, and is useful for puppies, breeds prone to deafness, and pre-anesthetic screening

If your pet's diagnosis calls for surgical treatment (such as IVDD surgery, tumor removal, decompressive surgery for Chiari malformation, or spinal fracture repair), that care is also available at our hospital. Not every condition requires surgery. Many pets do well on medication or a combination of approaches. Your neurologist will walk you through the findings and recommend the plan best suited to your pet.

Frequently Asked Questions

What San Francisco pet owners ask us most about imaging and diagnostic testing

What is BAER testing?

BAER, short for Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response testing, checks how a pet's brain responds to sound to evaluate hearing. It's frequently used for puppies, breeds known to be prone to deafness, and as part of pre-anesthetic screening. The test is quick and non-invasive, and it's available on-site at our San Francisco hospital.

Does SAGE San Francisco have MRI on-site?

Yes. SAGE San Francisco has in-house MRI, along with CT, so most pets can be imaged and diagnosed without being referred to another hospital. Your neurologist will let you know whether MRI, CT or another diagnostic tool best fits your pet's specific symptoms.

Where is SAGE San Francisco located?

SAGE San Francisco is located at 600 Alabama St. San Francisco, CA 94110