Page 842 - Problem-Based Feline Medicine

834 PART 10 CAT WITH SIGNS OF NEUROLOGICAL DISEASE

contaminates the cat’s fur or adheres to the feet, enough Differential diagnosis
lead may be ingested during normal grooming to cause
Rule out other encephalopathies, encephalitis, head
toxicity.
trauma, hydrocephalus and tumor.
Clinical signs
Treatment
Early signs are lethargy, inappetence and weight loss.
Chelation therapy with calcium EDTA (25 mg/kg SC,
Gastrointestinal signs (vomiting, diarrhea) and hema- IM or IV q 6 h for 2–5 days) or penicillamine (10–15
tologic abnormalities (obvious basophilic stippling or mg/kg PO q 12 h) may be necessary to improve clinical
nucleated red cells occur in less than 50% of cats with signs.
lead poisoning) may accompany the CNS signs.
Nervous system signs include depression, behavioral Prognosis
changes, tremors, seizures, ataxia, blindness and weight
Variable depending upon the degree of toxicity.
loss.

Diagnosis Prevention
Prevent exposure to the toxin.
Increased lead levels in the cat’s blood best supports
a diagnosis.

RECOMMENDED READING
Braund KG. Clinical Syndromes in Veterinary Neurology, 2nd edn. St. Louis, Mosby, 1994.
Bunch SE. Acute hepatic disorders and systematic disorders that involve the liver. In: Textbook of Veterinary Internal
Medicine, 5th edn. WB Saunders, Philadelphia, 2000, pp. 1326–1340.
Chrisman CL. Problems in Small Animal Neurology, 2nd edn. Philadelphia, Lea & Fabiger. 1991.
deLahunta A. Veterinary Neuroanatomy and Clinical Neurology, 2nd edn. Philadelphia, WB Saunders, 1983.
Greene CE (ed) Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat, 2nd edn. Philadelphia, WB Saunders, 1998.
Oliver JE, Hoerlein BF, Mayhew IG. Veterinary Neurology. Philadelphia, WB Saunders, 1987.
Oliver JE Jr, Lorenz MD. Handbook of Veterinary Neurologic Diagnosis. Philadelphia, WB Saunders, 1993.
Wheeler SJ. Manual of Small Animal Neurology. West Sussex, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, 1989.