Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat suddenly paralyzed from spinal fibrocartilaginous embolism in UK
By Scott, H W & O'Leary, M T·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·1996·Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Fibro-cartilaginous embolism in a cat.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 9-year-old cat suddenly became unable to move its back legs, a condition known as paraplegia. After thorough testing, including X-rays and blood work, the veterinarian couldn't find a clear cause for the problem. Unfortunately, the cat was euthanized 12 days later, and a post-mortem exam revealed that a blockage in the spinal cord caused by fibrocartilaginous embolism (a type of tissue blockage) was responsible for the paralysis. This case is notable as it is the first reported instance of this condition in a cat in the UK.
People also search for: cat sudden paralysis · cat back leg weakness · fibrocartilaginous embolism in cats
Abstract
A nine-year-old cat was presented with a history of an acute onset of paraplegia. On the basis of the neurological examination, the lesion was localised between the fourth lumbar and third sacral segments (L4 to S3) of the spinal cord. Investigations included radiography, myelography, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, routine haematology and biochemistry, feline leukaemia virus testing and urinalysis. A definitive diagnosis was not achieved and the cat was euthanased 12 days after presentation. Post mortem examination revealed infarction of the spinal cord secondary to fibrocartilaginous embolisation. This is the first reported case of fibrocartilaginous embolism in the cat in the UK.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8736227/