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.
Veterinary head-trauma assessment · Dogs & Cats
Score motor activity
Assess gait, posture and limb tone in the recumbent patient.
Score brainstem reflexes
Assess pupil size, pupillary light reflex (PLR) and oculocephalic (doll's-eye) reflex.
Score level of consciousness
Assess responsiveness to the environment and to stimuli.
MGCS score
The total, the prognosis band and the 48-hour survival estimate update as you score.
Your MGCS score will appear here
Score one option in each of the three categories and the total, prognosis band and 48-hour survival estimate appear here.
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.
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. |
How do you interpret a modified Glasgow coma scale score?
The total runs from 3 to 18. On this page, 15 to 18 is a good prognosis band (mild impairment), 9 to 14 guarded (moderate impairment) and 3 to 8 grave (severe impairment). A score of 8 correlated with roughly a 50% probability of survival in the first 48 hours in the validation study. Re-score serially, because the trend over time tells you more than a single value.
What does the modified Glasgow coma scale assess in dogs and cats?
Three categories, each scored: motor activity (gait, posture and limb tone), brainstem reflexes (pupil size, pupillary light reflex and the oculocephalic, or doll’s-eye, reflex) and level of consciousness (responsiveness to the environment and to stimuli).
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