seizures in 10 year old cat. Help please!

Re: seizures in 10 year old cat. Help please!

morna — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 09:36:34 GMT

Hadn't thought of that. Thanks! She's still blind but much to my surprise is eating really well and starting to stand up/move around more. I sent her home last night and blood has been sent off to see if any signs of toxo/FIP. Yesterday was my last day of work so I've had to pass the case onto my colleagues. Will let you know how she gets on. No insurance so MRI not possible unfortunately.

Re: seizures in 10 year old cat. Help please!

Horcrux — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 18:44:02 GMT

It looks like feline ischemic encephalopathy, brain tumor can not be excluded as well.

Re: seizures in 10 year old cat. Help please!

morna — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 11:18:48 GMT

She's a little brighter after fluids overnight. Blood pressure was around 140mmHg systolic yesterday. Still blind and not keen on walking around but sitting up and will eat voluntarily now. Have taken blood to send away for toxo/FIP and started on clindamycin this morning. Going to take some xrays today as well. Was considering pts if no better today but there has definitely been an improvement overnight so going to persevere and try to keep her stable while we wait for lab results.

Re: seizures in 10 year old cat. Help please!

Christopher Saul — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 18:10:37 GMT

[quote user="morna"]Quick scan showed no free fluid in abdo - was concerned re FIP due to high globulins/neuro signs though cat maybe too old??[/quote]

Though more commonly a disease of youngsters, FIP is sometimes seen in older cats; the neuro form is normally a variation of the 'dry' or non-effusive form, so the lack of an abdominal effusion doesn't really help to rule it out. Sadly there isn't a definative ante-mortem test for FIP though, the most useful clinical test is probhably alpha 1 acid glycoprotein (AGP) ; a recent study (Giori et al, 2011) supports this. If I suspect FIP I request AGP together with FCoV titre and a full haematology from glasgow university.

I agree the response to antibiotics doesn't really fit with lymphoma, though of course doesn't rule it out altogether. FNAB of submandibular lymph nodes are frequently unrewarding if there's alot of dental disease. Have you done radiography to look for any mediastinal masses etc? Is there any hepatosplenomegaly? Can you visualise the medial iliac lymph nodes on ultrasound?

If the cat is insured, may be worth considering MRI.....

Definately a difficult case

Chris

Re: seizures in 10 year old cat. Help please!

Bob Russell — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 15:03:44 GMT

My suspicion is that this is unlikely to be 10yrs old unless as a rescue it had a documented history. Many rescues (and vets) underestimate ages in cats and dogs. Many '4yr old' cats could just as easily be 8yrs old and age clarifies the likely diseases in an elderly cat. Renal failure/hyperthyroid etc.

I make a point of asking owners if they have had the animal from a kitten (or puppy as applicable).Often the age on the computer is way off! I would still be very suspicious of lymphoma!

Whilst quite unlikely double check for possible exposure to toxins such as permethrin. On-going exposure can happen. Did you check T4 levels?

Re: seizures in 10 year old cat. Help please!

Kate Richardson — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 14:30:04 GMT

Check urine for SG to assess for renal insufficiency and most importantly- check blood pressure especially now as avisual.

Re: seizures in 10 year old cat. Help please!

morna — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 14:20:35 GMT

I wish I had when I saw the cat last week! Today I can only feel the submandibular lymph nodes. Popliteals are tiny and very ill-defined today and can't feel any others. Do you think it's worth fna of smln's? (cat also has grotty teeth).

She's still pretty spaced out now, have just examined her eyes again and she appears to have lost vision. plr and palpebral reflex normal. no menace. Pupils are also rhythmically dilating and constricting independent to changes in light. Have just looked this up and apparently it's known as pupillary athetosis or hippus (you learn something new every day!). Can't find any information about hippus in cats though.

Re: seizures in 10 year old cat. Help please!

Michael Woodhouse — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:05:11 GMT

Did you take a FNA of the LNs? It's lymphoma until you rule it out.