Feline Medicine Q&A 14
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This question was provided by Manson Publishing as part of the OVAL Project. See more Feline Medicine questions |
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This 10-year-old neutered female DSH cat has a history of polydipsia/polyuria, weight loss, and intermittent vomiting.
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| What is the most obvious feature this cat is displaying? | This cat is showing ventroflexion of the neck, a classic sign of neuromuscular weakness. |
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| What differential diagnoses should be considered? | This is not a specific clinical sign and can be caused by numerous myopathies, neuropathies, or ‘junctionopathies’.
Hypokalaemia is probably the single most common cause of this type of presentation. In this cat, the accompanying clinical signs (polydipsia, polyuria, weight loss, and intermittent vomiting) would be strongly suggestive of hypokalaemia secondary to CRF. However, hyperthyroidism would also be an important differential, as would paraneoplastic disease (e.g. with hypercalcaemia causing polyuria and polydipsia). |
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| What are the priorities for further investigation? | Priorities for further investigation would be a thorough history, physical and neurological examination. A neurological examination should aim to detect any specific deficits, and distinguish muscle weakness from neurological disease (e.g. by careful assessment of proprioceptive responses). Initial screening blood tests should include serum biochemistry (including CK, urea, creatinine, calcium, phosphate, sodium, potassium, thyroxine) and urinalysis. |
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