Feline Medicine Q&A 15

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A 7-year-old male neutered DSH is presented because it has an abnormal gait (walking with the hocks touching the ground) and posture. There is no history of trauma and the owner believes that these abnormalities have developed over the last few weeks. On further questioning, the owner reveals that the cat has been losing weight for the last 2 months, during which time it has also been noticeably polydipsic and polyuric.

Question	Answer		Article
Describe the cat’s posture.	The cat has a bilateral plantigrade stance.		Link to Article
What are the differential diagnoses?	The posture and gait abnormalities are suggestive of bilateral LMN disease and likely causes include: Metabolic/endocrine causes of polyneuropathy such as diabetes mellitus, lipid granulomas impinging on nerves (hyperlipidaemic cats). Toxic polyneuropathy caused for example by exposure to organophosphates, heavy metals, or vincristine. Infectious and inflammatory causes of polyneuropathy, e.g. Toxoplasma gondii, idiopathic polyneuritis, FeLV- or FIV-associated polyneuropathy. Spinal cord disease (e.g. neoplasia, disc compression, inflammatory disease) causing LMN deficits. Neoplasia affecting peripheral nerves (unlikely to be bilaterally symmetrical), paraneoplastic causes of peripheral neuropathy. Idiopathic polyneuropathy (often associated with other nerve involvement).		Link to Article
What is the most likely cause of the cat’s clinical signs?	In this case the most likely cause is diabetic neuropathy.		Link to Article