Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Small Animal Optho/Neuro > Feline Neurology > Flashcards

Feline Neurology Flashcards

1
Q

What is different about the assessment of the menace response in cats versus dogs?

A

in cats, the response is more reliable if you come from behind.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What condition in cats (mean age ~1 yr) is characterized by possible vacuolar myopathy or seizure that causes them to bite at flank/back and self-mutilate. This condition is difficult to diagnose because CBC/chem, toxoplasmosis, FIV/FeLV, MRI, CSF tap, and EMG are all normal.

A

feline hyperesthesia syndrome

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

what is the gold standard, first treatment of choice for feline hyperesthesia syndrome?

Bonus: What others are available?

A

gabapentin

others: clomipramine, amitriptyline, phenobarbital, prednisolone, meloxicam

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

In what age of cats does idiopathic epilepsy typically occur?

A

any age, but most commonly in patients LESS than 7 years.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is different about idiopathic epilepsy in cats versus dogs?

A
  1. cats typically display a rapid running behavior
  2. Status epilepticus is also very uncommon in cats.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Are cats normal during the interictal phase if they have idiopathic epilepsy?

A

yes.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Your feline patient that was diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy last year and was placed on phenobarbital comes in for a recheck.
The bloodwork shows an elevated ALP. What is your interpretation of this?

A

this is expected in dogs, however, in cats it is very rare.
Elevated ALP in cats on phenobarb can be an indicator of liver disease and should be investigated further.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Your feline patient with idiopathic epilepsy (treated with phenobarbital) is showing signs of lymphoma now (apathy, inappetence and generalised lymphadenomegaly).

What can you infer from this and what should be your plan?

A

Cats on phenobarbital can develop pseudolymphoma.
The best thing to do is stop the phenobarbital to ensure its drug-associated and not true lymphoma.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Which drug is better tolerated and is safer in cats with idiopathic epilepsy: phenobarbital or levetiracetam?

A

levetiracetam (keppra). This drug is safer and has less adverse side effects in cats.
It does cause them to hypersalivate, but this is due to the taste of the oral suspension.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Which drug is more effective in cats with idiopathic epilepsy: phenobarbital or levetiracetam?

A

phenobarbital

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Which drugs should NEVER be given to cats to treat idiopathic epilepsy?

A

Potassium bromide – fatal pneumonitis
Diazepam – liver failure (bile acids accumulate in hepatocytes)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Idiopathic epilepsy in cats has a poor prognosis if the patient is older (12% increased risk of death with each year of age). Why?

A

They do not respond to the treatments and then get euthanatized.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

what is the feline response rate to AEDs?

A

70%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

T/F: complete remission from idiopathic epilepsy in cats is possible without AEDs

A

true. It is reasonable for a client to choose not to treat their cat if the seizures are really spread out.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

what is the remission rate of feline idiopathic epilepsy?

A

40%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

_____________ are seizures that are objective and consistently precipitated by environmental or internal stimuli such as high-pitched sounds (crinkled foil, plastic bags, metal spoon falling, tapping glass).

A

Audiogenic reflex seizures

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

what ages of onset are most common for audiogenic reflex seizures?

Bonus: what cat breed is overrepresented?

A

age of onset: 10-19 yrs

breed: birmans

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

what is the treatment for audiogenic reflex seizures?

A

75% of cases respond to the noises being eliminated
Keppra shows most responsiveness (70-93%)
whereas phenobarbital has only 27% response rate.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

You do a brain MRI on your feline patient and you see contrast enhancement of the hippocampus region. This appears to be hippocampal necrosis. What is the #1 clinical sign seen with this condition?

A

focal facial seizures

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

what is the treatment for hippocampal necrosis aka temporal lobe epilesy?

A

AEDs – pheno, keppra, or combo
prednisolone

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

T/F: treatment of hippocampal necrosis is not successful in 50% of cases.

A

true

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What is the MOST common cause of neurologic disease (both brain and spinal cord) in cats?

A

Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)

23
Q

Clinical signs of FIP are variable, but the virus replicated within macrophages and leads to …

A

immune-mediated vasculitis

24
Q

What 2 things can be used to diagnose FIP-induced neurologic disease in cats?

A
  1. Brain MRI – see dilated ventricles and periventricular enhancement
  2. CSF coronaviral titers – high
25
Q

what is the treatment for FIP?

A

antiviral adenosine nucleoside analogue GS (441524) which is ~$10,000 per treatment

26
Q

What are the neurological clinical signs of toxoplasmosis in cats?

A

Toxplasmosis leads to encephalitis, granulomas, and/or segmental myelitis.

The clinical signs are seizures, vestibular signs, cerebellar signs, obtundation, proprioceptive ataxia, weakness, and incontinence.

27
Q

How do we diagnose toxoplasmosis in cats?

A

serology +/- PCR

28
Q

what is the treatment plan for cats with toxoplasmosis?

A

Clindamycin

if clindamycin isn’t enough as monotherapy, trimethoprim sulfa + folic acid supplement

29
Q

what is the prognosis of cats with neurological toxoplasmosis?

A

good if treated early.

30
Q

which organism is responsible for the characteristic “roman nose” appearance in cats?

A

cryptococcus

31
Q

What clinical signs are seen in cats with cryptococcus?

A

lethargy
behavior changes
gait abnormalities*** most
vestibule signs
seizures

32
Q

How do we diagnose cryptococcus in cats?

A

Serology*
CSF – see round narrow budding yeasts with capsule
Fungal culture* gold standard

33
Q

what is the treatment for a cat with cryptococcus showing neurological signs?

A
  1. fluconazole for life
  2. prednisolone for first 3-5 days
  3. combo of amphotericin B and flucytosine for 12 weeks. caution with nephrotoxicity
34
Q

what is the prognosis of cryptococcus in cats showing neurological signs?

A

fair to good unless the patient is obtunded.

35
Q

which feline virus is ‘neurotropic’ and leads to encephalitis?

A

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)

36
Q

What are the neurologic clinical effects of FPV in cats that are infected in utero or perinatally.

A

Cerebellar hypoplasia which is non-progressive and has no associated inflammatory changes in the brain, therefore does NOT require euthanasia.

37
Q

T/F: it is very common for cats with FPV to exhibit forebrain lesions (seizures, behavior changes) and/or retinal damage

A

false – these things do occur but less commonly.

38
Q

Its august and a cat presents to your clinic with acute onset of blindness. On necropsy, you see linear ischemic injury to the neurons. What is your top differential?

A

cuterebral migration

39
Q

what is the treatment for a cat with feline ischemic encephalopathy due to cuterebral migration ?

A

ivermectin SQ SID for 3 days
prednisolone once due to the inflammatory reaction caused by cuterebral die off
and premedicate with diphenhydramine

39
Q

You perform a dental on a cat and the cat becomes blind, obtunded, and has a seizure post-operatively. What condition did you cause?

A

global cerebral ischemia
the mandibular artery is occluded when you opened the jaw wide during the dental. This led to no blood supply to the brain and subsequently brain necrosis.

40
Q

What is the prognosis for global cerebral ischemia?

A

guarded to poor
you can provide supportive care and anti-seizure medications.

41
Q

What is cervical ventroflexion caused by generally speaking?

A

Cats do not have an nuchal ligament, so when they experience weakness, it is very difficult for them to hold their heads up.

42
Q

What are the 5 specific causes of cervical ventroflexion in cats?

A
  1. hypokalemia (ammonium chloride toxicity –> kidney disease)**
  2. thiamine deficiency (vitamin needed for carbohydrate metabolism)
  3. myasthenia gravis
  4. hyperthyroidism
  5. hepatic encephalopathy
43
Q

A cat presents to your clinic with vestibular signs, vision loss, mydriasis, absent PLRs, ataxia, and seizures. After finding out what diet this cat is on, you diagnose this cat with thiamine deficiency. What is the prognosis for this cat?

A

good if caught early, only requires correcting the diet.
blindness and seizures have the potential to persist.

44
Q

what is the prognosis for a 7 yo cat that presents to you with myasthenia gravis but no mass is present?

A

good – most cats that have adut onset and no mass will go into remission within 6 months

the prog would be poor is a mass was present.

45
Q

what is the most common feline primary brain tumor?

A

meningioma

46
Q

what is the mean survival time of cats with meningiomas with medical therapy vs surgical therapy?

A

medical – 18 days
surgical (craniectomy) - 37 months

47
Q

Feline meningiomas are usually expansive meaning they cover multiple brain lobes. What are the top 5 neurologic signs seen in cats with meningiomas?

A
  1. behavior changes
  2. seizures
  3. ataxia
  4. visual impairments
  5. circling
48
Q

What is the most common neoplasm affecting the spinal cord in cats?

A

lymphosarcoma

49
Q

what is the 2nd most common intracranial tumor in cats?

A

lymphosarcoma

50
Q

What is the first thing you should do diagnostically if you suspect your feline patient may have a lymphosarcoma?

A

do an abdominal ultrasound to look for an intrabdominal mass. Extraneural lesions are found in 85% of cats with CNS lymphoma.

51
Q

what are other systems that are commonly infected in cats with feline CNS lymphoma?

A
  1. bone marrow (38%)
  2. renal (35%)
  3. liver (30%)
  4. spleen (23%)
  5. lymph nodes (23%)
52
Q

T/F: many neurological diseases in cats have a good prognosis

A

true

Small Animal Optho/Neuro (12 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions