Page 974 - Problem-Based Feline Medicine

966 PART 11 CAT WITH AN ABNORMAL GAIT

With Nemaline rod myopathy, signs progress slowly Diagnosis
over the first year.
In cats with a suspected idiopathic peripheral neu-
Prevention ropathy, diagnosis is made on the clinical signs of
rapid onset of tetraparesis with loss of spinal reflexes.
Pedigree analysis and selected breeding are required to Muscle atrophy is evident within 7–10 days. One cat
remove the genes from the gene pool. was examined pathologically and had axonal degenera-
tion, fragmentation and loss of axons, as well as
IDIOPATHIC PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY, demyelination and accumulation of macrophages in the
CHRONIC RELAPSING POLYNEUROPATHY, ventral nerve roots.
POLYNEURITIS
In chronic, relapsing polyneuropathy, electrodiag-
nostic evaluation showed fibrillation potentials and
Classical signs
positive sharp waves in the limb and paraspinal mus-
● Lower motor neuron tetraparesis is the cles, as well as decreased nerve conduction velocities.
predominant sign.
Demyelination and remyelination were present in nerve
● Marked weakness with conscious
biopsies.
proprioceptive deficits, and decreased
spinal reflexes occur. In the cat with the acute, severe polyneuritis, patho-
logically there was extensive destruction of myelin
Pathogenesis associated with macrophages.

Nine cats have been reported with a suspected idio-
pathic peripheral neuropathy similar to polyradicu- Differential diagnosis
loneuritis (Coon Hound paralysis) in dogs.
Rule out other inflammatory, degenerative and toxic
Additionally, a chronic, relapsing polyneuropathy causes of muscle or neuromuscular disease.
has been reported in one cat and eluded to in other
Snake bite (appropriate geographic location, increased
publications.
CK and clotting times), tick paralysis (geographic loca-
A cat has been reported with severe, acute polyneuritis tion, abnormal breathing and tick), botulism (gastro-
without evidence of an infectious etiology. intestinal signs) all cause marked tetraparesis but have
other differentiating signs, disk prolapse may cause
Clinical signs tetraparesis but cats are not flaccid in all four limbs,
traumatic spinal cord injury, diffuse hemorrhage in
In cats with a suspected idiopathic peripheral the spinal cord and around the nerve roots appear
neuropathy, clinical signs were similar to those dogs clinically similar.
reported with polyradiculoneuropathy (Coon Hounds
paralysis) with paraparesis to tetraparesis, rapid muscle
atrophy and decreased to absent spinal reflexes. Treatment
In chronic, relapsing polyneuropathy marked lower Spontaneous recovery occurs in cats with idiopathic
motor neuron tetraparesis occurred, recovered sponta- peripheral neuropathy.
neously and reoccurred months later.
Good nursing care is essential to provide fluids, nutri-
Conscious proprioceptive abnormalities, depressed spinal tion and to prevent urine scalding and pressure sores.
reflexes and muscle atrophy were present in the limbs.
With chronic, relapsing polyneuropathy improve-
One cat was reported with a severe, acute polyneuritis ment, if not resolution of clinical signs, may occur in
with weakness, conscious proprioceptive deficits and some cats after corticosteroid therapy.
decreased spinal reflexes.
In the cat reported with acute, severe polyneuritis, no
Icterus and anemia were associated abnormalities. treatment was attempted.