Long-Term Clinical Response to Medical Treatment, Behavioral Therapy, or Their Combination in Cats With Hyperesthesia Syndrome.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Hyperesthesia syndrome (HS) is a common yet poorly understood condition in cats, with hypothesized neurological and behavioral causes and limited data on outcomes and treatment. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to describe the clinical outcomes and the treatment response of 28 cats with HS, managed through various therapeutic strategies. ANIMALS: Clinical records of 28 cats with HS and minimum of 1-year follow-up were reviewed. METHODS: Retrospective, observational, descriptive study conducted on a case series of cats affected by HS. Sixteen cats (57%) received fluoxetine alone (Fluoxetine-only), seven (25%) were managed with behavioral modification and gabapentin or fluoxetine (Fluoxetine/Gabapentin + Behavior) and five (18%) were treated with behavioral modification alone (Behavior-only). RESULTS: An episode-free period (EFP) ≥ 9 months was observed in 23 (82%) cats. Fifteen cats (94%) in the Fluoxetine-only group experienced an EFP of ≥ 9 months. Moreover, they had a shorter time to recovery (median [IQR] = 8 [3.5-18] days) compared to the Fluoxetine/Gabapentin + Behavior and Behavior-only groups (median [IQR] = 100 [90-210] and 60 [30-90] days, respectively). At the 1-year follow-up, 26 (93%) cats no longer had HS clinical signs and 14 (50%) were still under pharmacotherapy. Relapses were reported only in one case (4%). CONCLUSIONS: Most of the cat's diagnosed with HS, and managed through various therapeutic strategies, experienced an EFP of more than 9 months and showed absence of clinical signs at 1 year follow-up.