Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Does gabapentin before vet visits change cat neurological exams
By de Azevedo, André F et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2023·Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Does preappointment gabapentin affect neurological examination findings? A prospective, randomized and blinded study in healthy cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A study looked at how giving healthy cats a dose of gabapentin before a vet visit affected their neurological exams. The results showed that cats who received gabapentin had noticeable changes in their walking and balance, which could lead to misinterpretations of their neurological health. For example, many cats given gabapentin showed issues with paw placement and balance compared to those who received a placebo. However, gabapentin did not affect the assessment of other neurological functions like cranial nerves. This means that while gabapentin can change how a cat moves, it doesn't interfere with all aspects of a neurological exam.
People also search for: cat neurological exam results · gabapentin effects on cats · why is my cat unsteady · cat walking problems after medication
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of a preappointment oral dose of gabapentin on the neurological examination of cats. METHODS: A prospective, randomized and blinded clinical trial was conducted in 35 client-owned healthy cats. Cats were scheduled for two appointments and randomly assigned to receive either a placebo or a 100 mg gabapentin capsule prior to the second veterinary visit. A neurological examination was performed during each visit, and the results were compared between groups. Normal/abnormal response rates for each test were based on the number of cats that allowed the test to be performed. RESULTS: Gabapentin was administered to 17 cats. Gait and postural reactions were significantly affected in the gabapentin group. Comparing the gabapentin with the placebo groups, proprioceptive ataxia was identified in 4/17 (23.5%) vs 0/18 cats ( = 0.0288); paw placement deficits were seen in 10/11 (90.9%) vs 1/4 (25%) cats; table tactile placement deficits were identified in 13/17 (76.5%) vs 0/18 cats (<0.0001); hopping deficits were seen in 5/17 (29.4%) vs 0/16 cats ( = 0.0185); and abnormalities on wheelbarrowing and extensor postural thrust were reported in 5/17 (29.4%) vs 0/18 cats ( = 0.0129). These results had no correlation with age or dose/kg received. No significant difference was noted in the assessment of level and content of consciousness, posture, cranial nerves and spinal nerves. No significant differences were noted in test compliance or examination duration. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Gabapentin significantly altered gait analyses and postural reactions in this group of healthy cats. The administration of gabapentin could lead to false-positive results and, possibly, an incorrect identification of neurological lesions. In contrast, gabapentin did not impair the assessment of cranial nerves and spinal reflexes, which can be assessed in patients receiving the drug.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36790148/