Many veterinary practitioners lack confidence when confronted with neurology patients. This 'neurophobia' limits the successful assessment of animals with neurological signs and these patients are therefore often referred to specialist centres. Many neurology patients can however successfully be managed in private practice following a calm and rational approach. By breaking down a complex clinical presentation into easy-to-answer questions you can make, initially overwhelming, presentations more manageable. Information from the clinical history and neurological examination will further provide easy-to-identify clinical cues that can help you recognise the most likely diagnosis for your patient. It is important that the most likely differential diagnoses are recognised before considering further diagnostics and eventual referral.