Feline Neurology Flashcards
What do you always need to do differently during a neuro exam in cats vs dogs?
Repeat tests! Cats are weird and sometimes will act as if they have deficits when they actually don’t
How should you perform the menace test in cats to ensure better accuracy?
come at them from behind
What is the average age in which Feline Hyperesthesia syndrome most often occurs?
1 YO
How do you diagnose Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome?
It’s very difficult to! Basically rule everything else out. CBC, Chemistry, Toxo test, FIV/ FeLV test, Brain /Spinal Cord MRI, CSF, and EMG are normal
What is the treatment for feline hyperesthesia syndrome?
Gabapentin (effective in 2/3 of patients), Clomipramine, Amitriptyline, Phenobarb, Prednisolone, meloxicam
Compare and contrast idiopathic epilepsy in dogs vs cats
In cats, can occur at any age, more common in patients <7 years of age
-often occurs during resting conditions
-rapid running is common
-status epilepticus is uncommon
-normal during interictal states
What is the recommended treatment for idiopathic epilepsy in cats?
Phenobarbital
What percent of cats go into complete remission with idiopathic epilepsy
40%- better than in dogs
Define audiogenic reflex seizure.
A seizure that is objectively and consistently precipitated by environmental or internal stimuli
What breed is predisposed to audiogenic reflex seizures?
Birmans
What drug is most efficacious for treatment of audiogenic reflex seizures?
Keppra
What clinical signs are common with hippocampal necrosis?
Hypersalivation, aggression, excess vocalization, facial twitching
What are the treatment options for hippocampal necrosis?
- Anti- epileptic therapy (phenobarbital, levetiracetam, combo therapy)
- Prednisolone
What is the pathogenesis of FIP?
A mutation in feline coronavirus (10% of cases) which causes the virus to replicate within macrophages resulting in immune mediated vasculitis. The dry form is usually responsible for neurologic signs
How do you diagnose FIP?
MRI- will see obstructive hydrocephalus and periventricular enhancement
-high CSF coronavirus titers
How does toxoplasmosis cause neurologic disease in the cat?
Reactivation of latent bradyzoites within the brain, spinal cord, and/or skeletal muscles
How to treat neurologic toxoplasmosis cases
Clindamycin or TMS
What are the clinical signs of cryptococcus in cats?
lethargy, behavioral changes, gait abnormalities, vestibular signs, seizures
How do cats acquire cryptococcus
Inhalation of saprophytic yeasts in soil and pigeon feces
How to diagnose cryptococcus
Serology, CSF, Fungal culture (gold standard)
What signs in cats are pathognomonic for crypto infection?
granulomatous chorioretinitis and retinal detachment
What is the treatment for crypto?
Fluconazole for life (only one that crosses BBB), prednisolone or combo amphotericin B and flucytosine
How can FeLV and FIV lead to neurologic symptoms?
FeLV predisposes to other CNS infections and lymphoma
FIV is a neurotropic virus and causes perivascular cuffing/glial nodules. It often leads to alterations in sleep patterns but CNS changes are only reported in 1-5% of cases
What neurologic change does FPV cause?
Cerebellar hypoplasia if infection was in utero, perinatal or queen was vaccinated with live vaccine during pregnancy
What is the most common physical exam change with feline ischemic encephalopathy?
Acute blindness
What causes feline ischemic encephalopathy?
Cuterebral migration
What is the treatment for feline ischemic encephalopathy?
Ivermectin, prednisolone, diphenhydramine
What are the most common causes of cervical ventroflexion in cats?
Hypokalemia (ammonium chloride toxicity), thiamine deficiency, myasthenia gravis, hyperthyroidism, hepatic encephalopathy
What is the most common brain tumor in cats and what is the prognosis?
Meningioma- terrible prognosis (18 day mean survival time with medical therapy after diagnosis, 37 months with SX)
What is the most common tumor affecting the spinal cord of cats?
Lymphosarcoma. Also the second most common intracranial tumor
- can affect basically anywhere in the CNS
What other areas are often affected in lymphosarcoma cases?
Bone marrow, kidneys, liver, spleen, lymph nodes
