Feline Top 10 Neurologic Diseases - Part 1 Flashcards
what is the classic case presentation of hypokalemic myopathy in cats?
cervical ventroflexion in an older cat with generalized weakness & a stiff/stilted gait
how is hypokalemic myopathy in a cat diagnosed?
low blood potassium levels (less than 3.5 mEq/L), renal profile, thyroid panel, & CK
what treatment is used for hypokalemic myopathy in a cat?
oral potassium gluconate, dopamine infusion if life threatening, & add potassium to fluids
what are the big differentials you should consider for cervical ventroflexion?
polymyositis, myasthenia gravis, organophosphate toxicity, & coral snake envenomation
T/F: hypokalemic is usually associated with chronic kidney disease in a cat
TRUE
what is the classic case presentation of a cat with an aortic thromboembolism?
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
how is an aortic thromboembolism diagnosed in a cat?
minimum database, heartworm test, T4, coag panel, doppler u/s, & abdominal u/s
how is an aortic thromboembolism in a cat treated?
treat underlying disease, manage pain, hydrate, clot dissolution (warfarin or heparin)
what is the prognosis for a cat with a saddle thrombus?
guarded to poor, high recurrence rate
how can a saddle thrombus be prevented in a cat?
aspirin
what is the classic case presentation of a cat with a traumatic CNS injury?
history of trauma/contusions/lacerations, paraparesis, paraplegia, tetraparesis, pain, altered consciousness, & seizures
what diagnostics are used for a cat with a traumatic CNS injury?
survey spinal rads, ct, +/- mri
what drugs should not be used for a cat with a traumatic CNS injury?
steroids
what treatment is used for a cat with a traumatic CNS injury?
check airway/breathing/circulation, then IV fluid support, O2 support, surgical decompression/stabilization, cage rest, & external splint
for a cat with CNS trauma, where do they often have fractures?
sacro-caudal fractures
what is the classic case presentation of a cat with a brain tumor?
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
how is a brain tumor diagnosed in a cat? why do we not do CSF taps on them often?
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
what definitive treatment is used for a cat with a brain tumor?
surgical resection, radiation, & chemo
what supportive treatment is used for a cat with a brain tumor?
prednisolone & levetiracetam
what is the most common brain tumor type in cats?
meningioma
what is the classic case presentation of a cat with the dry form of FIP?
often under 2 years old, usually intact, purebred cats from a multicat household with signs often involving brainstem and/or cerebellum
what clinical signs are seen in a cat with dry FIP?
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
how is the dry form of FIP diagnosed?
CSF analysis shows protein over 200 mg/dL, WBC over 100 (neutrophilic) or CSF antibody titer to FIP
what treatment is used for a cat with the dry form of FIP?
supportive care only
what is the prognosis for a cat with the dry form of FIP?
grave prognosis - usually succumbs in days to months
