Page 992 - Problem-Based Feline Medicine
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984 PART 11 CAT WITH AN ABNORMAL GAIT
● The effusive form of feline infectious peritonitis
TOXOPLASMOSIS
(FIP) virus occasionally causes lameness, with leak-
age of fluid into joint spaces.
Classical signs
● The granulomatous form of FIP may cause paresis
or paralysis as a result of spinal cord inflammation. ● More commonly causes CNS signs such as
ataxia and paresis.
Mycoplasma:
● Can cause a stiff gait, shifting leg
● M. gatae is linked to arthritis and tenosynovitis in
lameness, hyperaesthesia on muscle
older cats.
palpation and joint pain.
● Mycoplasmal infection may incite an antigenic
response resulting in the formation of immune-
See main references on page 705 for details (The Cat
mediated disease such as rheumatoid-like (deform-
With Signs of Acute Small Bowel Diarrhea) and page
ing) arthritis.
958 (The Cat With Generalized Weakness).
Clinical signs Clinical signs
Acute onset of lameness in one or several limbs. CNS signs seen most frequently, see The Paretic Cat
Usually associated with systemic signs such as (page 911).
pyrexia, lethargy. May cause shifting limb lameness.
May appear weak rather than lame if all four limbs Can cause arthritis and myositis.
involved.
Usually demonstrate joint pain on manipulation of Diagnosis
limbs.
High IgM titers suggest recent infection, but do not
confirm that T. gondii is responsible for the clinical
Diagnosis signs in a given cat.
Radiographic signs may demonstrate changes of ero- The organism can sometimes be seen in a muscle
sion and periosteal proliferation in advanced cases, but biopsy or very rarely in CSF.
may show no abnormalities initially.
FUNGAL INFECTIONS
Arthrocentesis generally required for cytology and cul-
ture and sensitivity.
Classical signs
Differential diagnosis ● Cats less commonly affected than dogs.
● Lameness due to fungal osteomyelitis.
Weak or paretic cat can appear similarly. See The Weak ● Can be a single bone involved, or more
and Ataxic or Paralyzed Cat (page 908). commonly multiple sites affected.
● Spores usually inhaled from the soil.
Immune-mediated polyarthritis.
See main references on page 368 for details (The Pyrexic
Treatment Cat) and page 401 (The Cat With Enlarged Lymph
Antibiotics for bacterial infection depending on results Nodes).
of culture and sensitivity.
L form infections respond well to 10–14-day course of Clinical signs
tetracycline or doxycycline.
Occurrence tends to be location dependent:
Calicivirus is often self-limiting, and cats recover ● Coccidioides: south-western USA, Mexico, Central
well. and South America.