Modified Glasgow Coma Scale (MGCS) Calculator
Score motor activity, brainstem reflexes and level of consciousness to grade neurological status and estimate 48-hour prognosis after head trauma.
1 Motor Activity
Assess gait, posture and limb tone in the recumbent patient.
2 Brainstem Reflexes
Assess pupil size, pupillary light reflex (PLR) and oculocephalic (doll's-eye) reflex.
3 Level of Consciousness
Assess responsiveness to the environment and to stimuli.
How to interpret the total (3–18)
| Total score | Prognosis | What it tends to mean |
|---|---|---|
| 15–18 | Good | Mild neurological impairment; favourable outlook with prompt care. |
| 9–14 | Guarded | Moderate impairment; outcome uncertain, needs close monitoring and treatment. |
| 3–8 | Grave | Severe impairment; low probability of survival, aggressive intervention required. |
Clinical use only. The MGCS (Shores; validated in dogs by Platt et al., 2001) is a decision-support aid for veterinary professionals, not a substitute for hands-on clinical judgement. A score of 8 correlated with roughly a 50% probability of survival in the first 48 hours in the validation study. Re-score serially — the trend over time is more informative than a single value. This tool does not diagnose, treat, or replace an in-person emergency exam.
Part of the ASK A VET™ clinical toolkit — practical veterinary tools designed by Dr Duncan Houston.