Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with seizures and ataxia improves after thiamine treatment
By Palus, Viktor et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2010·Dick White Referrals, United Kingdom·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 We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above.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: Thiamine deficiency in a cat: resolution of MRI abnormalities following thiamine supplementation.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 2-year-old female domestic shorthair cat was brought to the vet after suddenly having seizures and trouble walking. Tests showed signs of thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency, which can affect brain function. The vet started her on thiamine supplements, and within just four days, her symptoms improved significantly, and follow-up imaging showed her brain was recovering well. This case highlights the importance of recognizing thiamine deficiency in cats and the effectiveness of supplementation in treating it.
People also search for: cat seizures treatment · thiamine deficiency in cats · cat ataxia causes · how to treat cat seizures
Abstract
Thiamine (vitamin B(1)) is an essential component of a number of metabolic pathways and thiamine deficiency results in a progressive encephalopathy in both humans and animals. Confirming thiamine deficiency is problematic and relies on demonstrating reduced red blood cells transketolase activity, or indirect methods including urinary organic acid analysis and dietary analysis. The characteristic and selective vulnerability of different brain regions in carnivores has been demonstrated by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the dog and cat as an aid to diagnosis. A 2-year-old, female, domestic shorthair cat was presented with an acute onset of seizures and ataxia. MR imaging was consistent with thiamine deficiency and supplementation resulted in a progressive clinical improvement. Repeated MR imaging 4 days after starting thiamine supplementation revealed near complete resolution of the MR abnormalities. Repeated MR imaging following appropriate therapy may be useful to further confirm thiamine deficiency.
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/20674425/