Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with weight loss and balance loss had brainstem demyelination
By Poncelet, L et al.·Published in Veterinary pathology·2011·Free University of Brussels·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Primary bilateral pontine demyelination in a cat with similarity to central pontine myelinolysis.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A cat was brought in after losing weight for three months and recently started having trouble with balance and coordination. The vet found an abdominal mass and suspected a brain issue. Sadly, the owners chose to euthanize the cat. A postmortem examination revealed signs of severe malnutrition and brain damage in the area that controls balance, which is similar to a condition seen in humans after rapid treatment for low sodium levels. This case highlights how poor nutrition can lead to serious neurological problems in cats.
People also search for: cat weight loss and balance problems · cat brain issues · cat malnutrition symptoms · cat euthanasia decision
Abstract
An adult cat was presented with the history of 3 months' weight loss and more recent loss of balance and ataxia. An abdominal mass was palpable; results of neurologic examination suggested a brainstem disorder. The owners elected euthanasia. Postmortem findings included suppurative jejunal lymphadenitis and bilateral demyelination in the ventral pons with sparing of axons and neuronal soma. The location and character of the lesion mimicked those of human central pontine myelinolysis, an iatrogenic condition that may follow rapid correction of hyponatremia or develop spontaneously in patients with malnutrition or energy deprivation. In this cat, the poor nutritional state may have contributed to the development of this novel pontine lesion.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20634414/