Ataxic cat - video

RE: Ataxic cat - video

Steve Leonard — Wed, 11 Apr 2018 17:46:38 GMT

Hi Neil,

Jacques Penderis did a great interactive lecture at BSAVA Congress this year on neurological localisation which was videoed and will be accessible to members on the website soon so worth a look.

This cat is ataxic in its hindlimbs so lesion could be anywhere from Forebrain to S1 (unlikely to be more distal i.e. a polyneuropathy as forelimbs appear unaffected)

Pupil size is controlled by Occularmotor nerve 2 in midbrain. Anisocoria can be a sign of raised intracranial pressure but you'd expect mentation changes. Horner's syndrome should also have other features - ptosis, prolapsed 3rd eyelid, enophthalmos.

If there is one condition affecting both pathways then you are therefore most likely to find it in the brain.

Differentials are going to be many and include:

Infectious - toxo, fell/fiv, FIP (FIP is the most common infectious cause of central signs in a cat)

Toxic - the advocate

Vascular - bleeds / coag disturbances / hypertension

Trauma

Any update on the cat?

Cheers

Steve

RE: Ataxic cat - video

grumpyoldman — Sat, 07 Apr 2018 18:25:55 GMT

It looks like ataxia without paresis there is often a mild incidental anisocoria +/_ Hibbus in poorly cats probably check the menace and palpebral reflexes . I would get some really good X-rays of the T3-L3 area as it looks UMN on the hindquarters. Thinking about type 2 disc disease , osteomyelitis or neoplasia

RE: Ataxic cat - video

joanne mcallister — Thu, 05 Apr 2018 09:34:44 GMT

second for toxoplasmosis. Reactivation of previous infection?

RE: Ataxic cat - video

Neil Wheadon — Thu, 29 Mar 2018 19:47:05 GMT

I saw him again today

Yesterday was much the same, but today was improved. I checked his ears and these are clear.

His eyes are as below (does anyone know how to rotate the image?)

I'll try to follow him up (joys of a locum) Bloods out of the question at the moment

RE: Ataxic cat - video

MattB — Thu, 29 Mar 2018 15:41:30 GMT

Hi Neil.

Have you considered Toxoplasmosis? Is the cat a hunter?

Cheers,

Matt

RE: Ataxic cat - video

Diane Heyder-Bruckner — Thu, 29 Mar 2018 11:52:31 GMT

Ataxia looks vestibular to me, but I'd expect nystagmus with that, and a head tilt (unless generalised central, or bilateral peripheral but that would be unlikely.. It being 12, I would want to check its blood pressure and do some bloods to check for CKD and hyperthyroidism. If signs there before the Advocate was given then I guess it's unlikely to be the cause..

Dee

RE: Ataxic cat - video

Bob Russell — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 15:39:13 GMT

How were the ears? Otitis?

Not a fan of Advocate but data sheet does state that oral ingestion can cause ataxia, tremors, nystagmus etc.

RE: Ataxic cat - video

Anthony Dennison — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 15:04:28 GMT

Cat has quite a wide based stance on his hind limbs which suggests neurological. Good video though, seeing the cat jump on the chair etc is useful.

RE: Ataxic cat - video

Neil Wheadon — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 07:40:12 GMT

Thankyou for the suggestions, my thought was an inner ear issue to do with a loss of balance, but unsure where to go with this one. He had a shot of dexafort with the Advocate because he was so itchy (the coat looked better even after a day)

The subtle anisocoria may be significant, but I'm unsure as usually it's pretty obvious.

I've left it a day as the data sheet on Advocate says very rarely Ataxia, but I applied the Advocate myself in 4 separate places near the back of the head, so unless he's very nimble that seems less likely.

I told the owner I'd call her today having posted on here so any input gratefully received, so thanks to Iain, Kate and Utlendigur (must google that name

Neil

RE: Ataxic cat - video

Utlendigur — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 22:23:03 GMT

Bilateral vestibular syndrome? Not sure how the anisocoria fits in though.

I made the mistake of listening with the sound on and initially thought the cat sounded like one an Aussie video I'd seen of a cat with tick paralysis.

RE: Ataxic cat - video

Kate Richardson — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 21:56:26 GMT

No idea why someone would 1 star you for your post, lets hope it was a mistake

Neuro is my least favourite area so hoping to learn something.

To me the main differentials would be weakness, ataxia or loss of balance. I think it is loss of balance, which with the aniscoria would make me think otitis interna. But I may well be very wrong!

RE: Ataxic cat - video

Neil Wheadon — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 21:04:23 GMT

Why a one star.

Clinical.

it took time to put this together. I had to ask the owners permission, ask the nurse to film it, that took a few goes, E Mail it to my laptop, further edit, upload to Youtube, download it to here.

It's inoffensive and all you could do was one star it

Maybe you should get out more

Neil

RE: Ataxic cat - video

Iain Richards — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 20:36:31 GMT

Low potassium?