Dogwood’s neurology service brings two board-certified veterinary neurologists and on-site MRI to the Atlanta area. From seizures and back pain to complex brain and spinal disease, our team offers advanced diagnostics, medical management, and surgery — with 24/7 emergency support for pets who cannot wait.
Veterinary Neurology & Neurosurgery
Advanced neurological care when your pet needs it most.
Appointments begin October 20th at our Dunwoody location, home to Dogwood’s MRI suite. Consultations are available Monday through Friday, with neurological procedures performed every day of the week.
Appointments
Monday - Friday
Referral and direct-schedule appointments with Dr. Antonakakis and Dr. Pinal, beginning October 20 at our Dunwoody hospital.
Procedures
Every Day of the Week
Scheduled MRI, spinal surgery, intracranial surgery, CSF sampling, and electrodiagnostics performed seven days a week.
Emergency Surgery
24/7 Back Surgery
Acute intervertebral disc disease and other spinal emergencies do not wait. Our neurologists are on call around the clock for emergency back surgery.
Meet our neurology team
Two board-certified veterinary neurologists.
Dogwood is proud to welcome two board-certified veterinary neurologists to lead our neurology and neurosurgery service. Together they bring years of specialty training in advanced imaging, medical neurology, and spinal and intracranial surgery.
Dr. Markos Antonakakis
Board Certified Neurologist
DVM, DACVIM (Neurology)
Dr. Markos Antonakakis is a veterinary neurologist and Diplomate candidate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Neurology). He earned his DVM at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece, completed rotating and neurology internships in the United Kingdom, and is finishing his neurology residency at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, alongside a PhD in Veterinary Clinical Sciences at Colorado State University (expected 2027).
At Dogwood, Dr Markos Antonakakis enjoys all aspects of neurology and neurosurgery. He has a particular interest in neurosurgery and especially brain and spinal tumor removals and spinal fracture fixation and interpreting advanced imaging modalities.
His scholarly work centers on neuro-oncology, including the development of cell-free DNA and genome-sequencing biomarkers for canine brain tumors and clinical trials combining radiation therapy with cancer stem cell vaccination. Dr. Antonakakis has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and presented his research at international veterinary symposia.
Dr. Karina Pinal
Board Certified Neurologist
DVM, DACVIM (Neurology)
Dr. Karina Pinal is a veterinary neurologist and Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Neurology). A native of the Atlanta area, she earned her bachelor's degree in biology from Oglethorpe University and her DVM from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, graduating Magna Cum Laude. She completed a small animal rotating internship at BluePearl in Atlanta, followed by her residency in neurology and neurosurgery at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine.
At Dogwood, Dr. Pinal cares for pets with conditions ranging from seizures and intervertebral disc disease to CNS tumors and congenital spinal malformations. She brings advanced training in both the medical and surgical management of neurologic disease, with particular expertise in neurosurgery.
Her research spans intervertebral disc herniation and congenital vertebral malformations, including a published case using custom 3D-printed reconstruction to stabilize a severe congenital malformation in an adult dog. Dr. Pinal has authored several peer-reviewed publications and is committed to bringing current, evidence-based neurologic care to Atlanta pet families.
What our neurology service offers
Neurologic disease can look like almost anything — a seizure, a stumble, a sudden weakness in the back legs, a change in behavior. Our neurology team combines advanced imaging with medical and surgical expertise so families can move quickly from “something is wrong” to a clear diagnosis and plan.
MRI on Site
Dogwood’s MRI suite lives at our Dunwoody hospital, so imaging, diagnosis, and treatment can happen in a single visit rather than across multiple referrals.
Spinal Surgery
Hemilaminectomy, ventral slot, dorsal laminectomy, and other spinal decompressive procedures for herniated discs, fractures, and instability.
Intracranial Surgery
Both of our neurologists enjoy performing intracranial procedures and work hand-in-hand with Dogwood’s surgery, internal medicine, oncology, and critical care teams for complex brain cases.
Seizure & Epilepsy Management
Diagnostic workup for new-onset seizures, medication planning, and long-term monitoring.
CSF Analysis & Electrodiagnostics
Cerebrospinal fluid sampling, nerve and muscle testing, and other advanced diagnostics to characterize disease.
24/7 Emergency Back Surgery
For sudden paralysis, severe back pain, or loss of deep pain sensation, the clock matters. Our team is available around the clock for spinal emergencies.
Common conditions we treat
Neurological diseases in dogs & cats.
The nervous system involves the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and muscles — and disease can present anywhere along that pathway. Below is a general overview of conditions our neurologists commonly diagnose and treat.
Common Canine Neurological Diseases
- Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) — cervical and thoracolumbar
- Idiopathic epilepsy & structural seizure disorders
- Fibrocartilaginous embolism (FCE)
- Degenerative myelopathy
- Steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis (SRMA)
- Granulomatous meningoencephalitis (GME) & other MUO/MUE
- Brain tumors (meningioma, glioma, choroid plexus tumors)
- Spinal tumors & nerve sheath tumors
- Cervical spondylomyelopathy (“Wobbler syndrome”)
- Lumbosacral disease & cauda equina syndrome
- Atlantoaxial instability
- Chiari-like malformation & syringomyelia
- Hydrocephalus
- Vestibular disease (peripheral and central)
- Idiopathic facial nerve paralysis
- Myasthenia gravis & other neuromuscular disease
- Polyradiculoneuritis (“Coonhound paralysis”)
- Traumatic brain and spinal cord injury
Common Feline Neurological Diseases
- Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD)
- Idiopathic and structural epilepsy
- Feline hyperesthesia syndrome
- Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) with neurologic involvement
- Toxoplasmosis & other infectious meningoencephalitis
- Brain tumors (meningioma, lymphoma)
- Spinal lymphoma
- Aortic thromboembolism with hind-limb dysfunction
- Diabetic neuropathy
- Peripheral vestibular disease & otitis media / interna
- Cerebellar hypoplasia / abiotrophy
- Ischemic encephalopathy
- Hypertensive encephalopathy
- Traumatic brain and spinal cord injury
- Congenital malformations (hydrocephalus, spina bifida)
This list is not exhaustive. If your pet is showing seizures, weakness, wobbliness, back or neck pain, sudden paralysis, tremors, behavior change, or any other neurological sign, contact our team — we are happy to help you decide whether neurology is the right next step.
Neurosurgery, backed by a full specialty team
Neurologic disease often involves more than one body system. A dog with a brain tumor may need oncology input. A cat with a spinal infection may need internal medicine and critical care. A patient going into surgery needs advanced anesthesia and post-operative ICU support.
Dr. Antonakakis and Dr. Pinal both enjoy taking on complex intracranial cases, and they work closely with our surgery, internal medicine, oncology, cardiology, critical care, anesthesia, and emergency teams to plan and perform complicated neurosurgical procedures under one roof.
MRI at our Dunwoody location
MRI is the gold standard for imaging the brain, spinal cord, and nerve roots. Because our MRI is on site at the Dunwoody hospital, patients can be examined, imaged, and — when needed — taken to surgery on the same visit, without the delay of transferring between facilities.
On-site imaging also means our neurologists read every study alongside the rest of your pet’s clinical picture, and can move directly from diagnosis to a treatment plan the same day.
Booking now for October 20
Have a neurology case or question?
Whether you are a pet owner noticing new symptoms or a referring veterinarian with a case to discuss, our neurology team is here to help. Reach out and we will get you scheduled or on the phone with a neurologist.
Emergency back surgery available 24/7. If your pet is suddenly unable to walk or is in severe pain, please call immediately.