Feline Top 10 Neurologic Diseases - Part 1

Question 1

what is the classic case presentation of hypokalemic myopathy in cats?

Answer 1

cervical ventroflexion in an older cat with generalized weakness & a stiff/stilted gait

Question 2

how is hypokalemic myopathy in a cat diagnosed?

Answer 2

low blood potassium levels (less than 3.5 mEq/L), renal profile, thyroid panel, & CK

Question 3

what treatment is used for hypokalemic myopathy in a cat?

Answer 3

oral potassium gluconate, dopamine infusion if life threatening, & add potassium to fluids

Question 4

what are the big differentials you should consider for cervical ventroflexion?

Answer 4

polymyositis, myasthenia gravis, organophosphate toxicity, & coral snake envenomation

Question 5

T/F: hypokalemic is usually associated with chronic kidney disease in a cat

Answer 5

TRUE

Question 6

what is the classic case presentation of a cat with an aortic thromboembolism?

Answer 6

middle aged to geriatric cat that is usually male, a persian or DSH, with acute pain/paraplegia, cool paws, cyanotic nail beds, absent femoral pulses, painful gastrocnemius muscles, & tachypnea

Question 7

how is an aortic thromboembolism diagnosed in a cat?

Answer 7

minimum database, heartworm test, T4, coag panel, doppler u/s, & abdominal u/s

Question 8

how is an aortic thromboembolism in a cat treated?

Answer 8

treat underlying disease, manage pain, hydrate, clot dissolution (warfarin or heparin)

Question 9

what is the prognosis for a cat with a saddle thrombus?

Answer 9

guarded to poor, high recurrence rate

Question 10

how can a saddle thrombus be prevented in a cat?

Answer 10

aspirin

Question 11

what is the classic case presentation of a cat with a traumatic CNS injury?

Answer 11

history of trauma/contusions/lacerations, paraparesis, paraplegia, tetraparesis, pain, altered consciousness, & seizures

Question 12

what diagnostics are used for a cat with a traumatic CNS injury?

Answer 12

survey spinal rads, ct, +/- mri

Question 13

what drugs should not be used for a cat with a traumatic CNS injury?

Answer 13

steroids

Question 14

what treatment is used for a cat with a traumatic CNS injury?

Answer 14

check airway/breathing/circulation, then IV fluid support, O2 support, surgical decompression/stabilization, cage rest, & external splint

Question 15

for a cat with CNS trauma, where do they often have fractures?

Answer 15

sacro-caudal fractures

Question 16

what is the classic case presentation of a cat with a brain tumor?

Answer 16

older cat (signs depend on the tumor location), seizures, altered consciousness, pacing/head pressing, turns toward the side of the lesion, loss of conscious proprioception, hypermetria, head bobbing, ataxia, intention tremors, ehad tilt, nystagmus, facial nerve paralysis, tongue paralysis, strabismus, & poor swallowing

Question 17

how is a brain tumor diagnosed in a cat? why do we not do CSF taps on them often?

Answer 17

MRI is safest/fast/best quality, CT also is safe & fast - CSF analysis will sometimes show elevated protein but tumor cells are rarely found & there is a risk of brain herniation

Question 18

what definitive treatment is used for a cat with a brain tumor?

Answer 18

surgical resection, radiation, & chemo

Question 19

what supportive treatment is used for a cat with a brain tumor?

Answer 19

prednisolone & levetiracetam

Question 20

what is the most common brain tumor type in cats?

Answer 20

meningioma

Question 21

what is the classic case presentation of a cat with the dry form of FIP?

Answer 21

often under 2 years old, usually intact, purebred cats from a multicat household with signs often involving brainstem and/or cerebellum

Question 22

what clinical signs are seen in a cat with dry FIP?

Answer 22

nystagmus, circling, head tilt, hypermetria, intention tremors, ataxia, seizures, pacing, dementia, loss of conscious proprioception, paraparesis, cranial neuropathies, & uveitis/chorioretinitis where the iris changes colors

Question 23

how is the dry form of FIP diagnosed?

Answer 23

CSF analysis shows protein over 200 mg/dL, WBC over 100 (neutrophilic) or CSF antibody titer to FIP

Question 24

what treatment is used for a cat with the dry form of FIP?

Answer 24

supportive care only

Question 25

what is the prognosis for a cat with the dry form of FIP?

Answer 25

grave prognosis - usually succumbs in days to months