Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with stiff neck and weight loss caused by too much vitamin
By Goldman, A L·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·1992·Warwick Animal Hospital·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Hypervitaminosis A in a cat.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 10-year-old cat was brought in because it was lethargic, not eating well, and losing weight over several months. The cat had a stiff neck and a hard lump in its throat. X-rays showed abnormal bone growth in the neck and chest areas, and blood tests revealed extremely high levels of vitamin A. Unfortunately, the cat was euthanized for unrelated reasons six months later, and the examination confirmed that the bones in its neck and spine had fused due to excessive vitamin A from a diet high in raw liver. Pet owners should be cautious about feeding their cats raw liver to avoid this serious condition.
People also search for: cat lethargy and weight loss · hypervitaminosis A in cats · raw liver diet for cats · cat neck stiffness · cat not eating well
Abstract
A 10-year-old cat that was kept on a diet consisting largely of raw liver was evaluated because of lethargy, partial anorexia, and weight loss of several months' duration. The cat's head and neck were rigidly extended, and a hard mass was palpable in the ventral cervical region. Cervical and thoracic radiography revealed proliferative bony lesions of the cervical and thoracic vertebrae as well as of the sternum and costal cartilages. Serum vitamin A concentration was 4 times normal. For reasons unrelated to hypervitaminosis A, euthanasia and necropsy were performed 6 months after evaluation. The skull and the cervical and first few thoracic vertebrae were rigidly fused, and the vertebral architecture was altered by deposition of new bone. The sternum and costal cartilages were similarly affected. The historical, physical, radiographic, laboratory, and postmortem findings were consistent with the diagnosis of hypervitaminosis A. On the basis of findings in this cat, hypervitaminosis A should be suspected in any sick cat fed a diet consisting partly or completely of raw liver.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1639706/