MISCELLANEOUS SPINAL CORD DISORDERS IN CATS

摘要

Clinical presentation of spinal cord dysfunction varies upon the location, lesion extent, and rate of progression. Cats with spinal cord disease commonly manifest sensory, motor, and autonomic dysfunction. Abnormal gait descriptions include ataxia (loss of proprioception), paresis (weakness), and paralysis (loss of voluntary motor function). Subtle proprioceptive loss and paresis may become more apparent during postural reaction testing. Spinal reflexes determine the neuroanatomic localization. Paraspinal hyperesthesia may or may not be a clinical sign but assists with localization and consideration of differentials when present. Asymmetry of neurologic deficits is common with vascular, inflammatory, and compressive myelopathies. Time of onset (peracute, acute progressive, acute non-progressive, and chronic) of spinal cord dysfunction also is an important consideration when establishing differential diagnoses.