Natasha Olby

Bio

Natasha Olby gained her veterinary degree from Cambridge University in the UK in 1991, and after a brief period spent in mixed general practice, returned to Cambridge to complete a PhD in spinal cord injury and a surgical training.

Following completion of her PhD and a post doctoral position, also focused on spinal cord injury, she moved to North Carolina State University to do a neurology/neurosurgery residency and she has stayed at NCSU as a faculty member since then.

Dr. Olby is the 2014 recipient of the Faculty Achievement Award from the American Association of Veterinary
Clinicians. The award is presented to an AAVC member who has achieved national recognition in academic or institutional practice, teaching, research, or in another endeavor that advances veterinary medicine.

In 2017, Dr. Olby was awarded the Dr. Kady M. Gjessing and Rahna M. Davidson Distinguished Chair in Gerontology. Read more here.

She is the author or co-author of more than 100 scientific publications, is the co-editor of both the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) Manual of Canine and Feline Neurology, and Advances in Veterinary Neurology, 2014. Vet Clinics of North America. Additionally, Dr. Olby authors book chapters in a variety of veterinary textbooks and manuals.

Natasha Olby is a professor of veterinary neurology and neurosurgery. She is board certified in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Neurology Specialty and is a past president of the organization (2008-2011).

CERTIFICATIONS

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, UK, 1996
Veterinary degree (VetMB), University of Cambridge, 1991
Bachelor of Arts (BA), University of Cambridge, 1988

Area(s) of Expertise

GENETICS, NEUROBIOLOGY, VETERINARY CANCER CARE
Treatment of spinal cord injury
Understanding the genetic basis of hereditary neurodegenerative diseases and brain neoplasia
Therapy of canine brain tumors
Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (Cardiology/Neurology)

Publications

• A novel task of canine olfaction for use in adult and senior pet dogs , SCIENTIFIC REPORTS (2023)
• A review of frailty instruments in human medicine and proposal of a frailty instrument for dogs , FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE (2023)
• Activity patterns are associated with fractional lifespan, memory, and gait speed in aged dogs. , Scientific reports (2023)
• Age-associated changes in electroretinography measures in companion dogs , DOCUMENTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA (2023)
• Diagnosis and management of dogs with degenerative myelopathy: A survey of neurologists and rehabilitation professionals , JOURNAL OF VETERINARY INTERNAL MEDICINE (2023)
• MRI features can help to confirm a diagnosis of progressive myelomalacia, but may not be accurate in dogs lacking characteristic clinical signs at the time of imaging , VETERINARY RADIOLOGY & ULTRASOUND (2023)
• Phenotypic and genetic aspects of hereditary ataxia in dogs , JOURNAL OF VETERINARY INTERNAL MEDICINE (2023)
• Presumed pituitary apoplexy in 26 dogs: Clinical findings, treatments, and outcomes , JOURNAL OF VETERINARY INTERNAL MEDICINE (2023)
• Relationship between engagement with the impossible task, cognitive testing, and cognitive questionnaires in a population of aging dogs , FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE (2023)
• Sleep and cognition in aging dogs. A polysomnographic study , FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE (2023)

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