Feline Neurology Flashcards
What are some components of the feline neuro exam?
Mentation
Behavior
Posture
Gait
Cranial Nerves
Postural Reactions
Sensation
Evaluate gate, hopping, wheel barrow, paw placement
1/3 cat don’t have cutaneous trunci so need to pluck single hair not pinch to test this
What percent of cats wont have a menace?
1/3
Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome
Age:
Diagnostic Test Results:
Clinical Signs:
Treatment:
Age: 1 yr
Diagnostic Test Results: All normal
Clinical Signs: Tail flicking, head shaking, hallucination, self-mutilate
Treatment: Gabipentin (2/3 patients), clomipramine, amitripramine, Amitriptyline, Phenobarbital, Pred, Meloxicam
Feline Idiopathic Epilepsy
Age:
When:
Signs:
Seizure Characteristics:
Treatment:
Prognosis:
Age: <7yr
When: During resting conditions
Signs: Rapid running, erratic, chase and circle
Seizure Characteristics: Not status epilepticus, normal interictal
Treatment: Phenobarbital or Levetiracetam (Keppra)
*Watch for pseudolympoma - stop phenobarbital and it stops
Prognosis: Poor if patient is older, 70% respond to AED, 20% euth and 40% complete remission of seizure
Audiogenic Reflex Seizure
Definition:
Signs:
Breed Predisposition:
Age:
Trigger:
Treatment:
Definition: seizure that objectively and consistantly precipitated by enviromental or internal stimuli
Signs: Myoclonic jerk, progress to generalized, noise trigger
Breed Predisposition: Birmans
Age: 10-19yr
Trigger: High pitched noise (glass or foil)
Treatment: Less noise (decrease 75%), Keppra, phenobarbital
Hippocampal Necrosis
Signs:
Diagnosis:
Treatment:
Signs: Focal Facial Seizure, Hypersalivation and Aggressiveness
Diagnosis: MRI/Autoantibody titer - see necrosis, inflammatory cells, immune mediated response
Treatment: Phenobarbital, Levetiracetam, Combo, Prednisolone (Refractory to meds)
Worst type of seizure
What are some common CNS infections in cats?
FIP, Toxoplasmosis, Cryptococcus, FeLV, FIV, Panleukopenia
Feline Infectious Peritonitis: What virus must the cat get to have the mutation that causes FIP?
Feline Corona Virus
Feline Infectious Peritonitis: Where does this virus like to replicate?
Macrophages resulting in immune mediated vasculitis
Feline Infectious Peritonitis: It is the most common CNS disease of brain and spinal cord. True/False
Ture
Feline Infectious Peritonitis: Who is commonly effected?
Pedigree up to 4 years, breeding colony, rescue center
Feline Infectious Peritonitis: What are some clinical signs?
Anterior chamber hemorrhage and vascular cuffing (Disease of brain - see in eye since it is an extension of the brain.)
Feline Infectious Peritonitis: How do you diagnose it?
MRI - fluid in 3rd ventricle that is swollen/CSF tap
Feline Infectious Peritonitis: Is there a treatment?
Yes, it is fatal without it
Antiviral adenosine nucleoside analogue GS
Toxoplasmosis:
Who is the natural host?
The cat
Toxoplasmosis:
What stage causes pathology?
Bradyzoites make cysts in the brain, spinal cord or skeletal muscles
Toxoplasmosis:
What are some clinical signs?
Neurologic and ocular (anterior uveitis)
Toxoplasmosis:
How do you diagnose it?
Serology +/- PCR
Toxoplasmosis:
What is the treatment?
Clindamycin or Trimethoprim Sulphonamide with a folic acid supplement
Toxoplasmosis:
Prognosis?
Good if treated early
Cryptococcus:
What type of pathogen is it?
Fungus (saprophytic yeast (soil and pigeon feces)
Cryptococcus:
Route of transmission?
Inhalation
Cryptococcus:
Clinical signs?
Lethargy, behavioral changes, gait abnormalities, vestibular sign, seizure (Roman Nose), retinal detachment
Cryptococcus:
How do you diagnose it?
Serology, CSF, Fungal culture
Cryptococcus:
Treatment?
Fluconazole, Prednisone, amphotericin B and Flucytosine
What are some viral feline infecitons?
FeLV, FIV (neurotopic, see perivascular cuffing and glial nodules, alter sleep pattern, CNS change), FPV, feline parvo
What is Feline Parvo Virus (panleukemia)?
Cerebellar hypoplasia, in utero infection, perinatal infection, vaccination of a pregnant queen with live FPV, non-progressive disorder, no inflammatory change in brain, forebrain lesion, retinal damage
Prognosis: happy life
What are clinical signs of Feline Ischemic Encephalopathy?
Acute Blindness - central, good PLR
What do they think is the cause of FIE?
Cuterebra migration
What can you see on the histology of a cat with FIR?
Line of destruction of tissue
What is the treatment for FIE?
Ivermectin, prednisone, diphenhydramine
When is FIE commonly seen?
Aug, July, Sept
What is global cerebral Ischemia? Clinical signs? Prognosis? Hx?
Jaw completely open and ecludes
Signs: Blind, seizure, obtunded, seizure
Prognosis: poor
Maxiallry artery blocked to brain
Dental? not reversible, hypokalemia, hypothyroid
What artery is occluded in Global Cerebral Ischemia?
Maxillary
What causes Cervical Ventroflexion?
No nuchal ligament - diffuse weakness
Hypokalemia = renal disease - stone
Treat with ammonium chloride
Thiamine Deficiency, Myasthenia gravis, hyperthyroidism, hepatic encephalopathy
Which type of cancer is most common in cats?
Meningioma
How progressive is meningioma?
Very - dont know until bad (22-38 from signs to diagnosis)- seizures
What is the median survival time with medical therapy?
18 days
What are clinical signs of a meningioma?
Behavior change, seizures, ataxia, visual impairments
Where does lymphosarcoma like to localize to?
Spinal cord and brain
(bone marrow, kidney, liver, spleen, lymph nodes)
