Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Weakness from nerve disease confirmed in young cats by testing
By Aleman, M et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2014·Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Electrophysiologic confirmation of heterogenous motor polyneuropathy in young cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Five young cats from different breeds were brought in because they were experiencing weakness and other signs of muscle and nerve issues. The cats, aged between 3 months and 1 year, showed symptoms like a low head and tail posture and difficulty standing normally. Tests revealed problems with their motor nerves, confirming a condition called motor polyneuropathy, which affects how their nerves communicate with muscles. Treatment options were not detailed, but recognizing this condition early can help in managing the symptoms and improving the cats' quality of life.
People also search for: young cat weakness · cat muscle disease symptoms · motor polyneuropathy treatment in cats
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Reports of motor polyneuropathies in young cats are scarce. Further, in-depth electrophysiologic evaluation to confirm a motor polyneuropathy in young cats of various breeds other than 2 Bengal cats is lacking. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To confirm a motor polyneuropathy in young cats of various breeds. ANIMALS: Five young cats with heterogenous chronic or relapsing episodes of weakness. METHODS: Retrospective case series. Cats were presented for evaluation of generalized neuromuscular disease and underwent electrophysiologic examination including electromyography, nerve conduction, and repetitive nerve stimulation. Minimum database and muscle and nerve biopsy analyses were carried out. Descriptive statistics were performed. RESULTS: Disease onset was at 3 months to 1 year of age and in 5 breeds. The most common clinical sign (5 of 5 cats) was weakness. Additional neurologic deficits consisted of palmigrade and plantigrade posture (4/4), low carriage of the head and tail (4/4), and variable segmental reflex deficits (5/5). Motor nerve conduction studies were abnormal for the ulnar (4/4), peroneal (5/5), and tibial (2/2) nerves (increased latencies, reduced amplitudes, slow velocities). A marked decrement was observed on repetitive nerve stimulation of the peroneal nerve in 3 cats for which autoimmune myasthenia gravis was ruled out. All sensory nerve conduction studies were normal. Histologic evaluation of muscle and nerve biopsies supported heterogenous alterations consistent with motor polyneuropathy with distal nerve fiber loss. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Heterogenous motor polyneuropathies should be considered in young cats of any breed and sex that are presented with relapsing or progressive generalized neuromuscular disease.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25231268/