2022

Signalment:11-year-old, male neutered, domestic shorthair cat

History:The cat presented to University of Georgia Veterinary Teaching Hospital neurology service for a 5-day history of a dropped jaw and inability to eat or drink. Bilateral trigeminal neuropathy was diagnosed on neurological examination. An atlantooccipital cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis revealed a normal total white blood cell count, but an increased neutrophil percentage was identified on cytology. No infectious organisms or morphologic abnormalities were identified. The cat was treated with clindamycin and prednisolone. After two days, the cat’s jaw tone improved, and the cat was subsequently discharged. One week after discharge, the cat represented with tetraparesis. Neurological examination revealed a C6-T2 myelopathy with central cord syndrome and left lateralization. The neurologic signs progressed to absent sensation in the right thoracic limb. The cat eventually developed Horner syndrome and then became apneic. Euthanasia was elected approximately 20 hours after presentation.

Gross Lesions:On postmortem examination, no significant gross alterations were observed within the central nervous system or other examined tissues.