What is a neurological disorder?
Neurological diseases are the result of a malfunction of the cat's nervous system.
- If brain function is impaired, convulsive syndrome is possible.
- An infectious process in the spinal cord leads to an unsteady gait, impaired limb function or complete paralysis.
- Improper functioning of the nerves affects any part of the pet’s body, including the face, mouth, and paws.
- Considering that the nervous system regulates all functions of a cat, if it is upset, there may be problems with coordination, meowing, swallowing, urination and defecation.
Nerve damage in cats and dogs
Nerve damage occurs due to trauma (wound, bruise), infectious, toxic, allergic and other factors. Nerves are often damaged when compressed by foreign bodies, bone fragments, or tumors. In this article we will talk about how to identify and cure the disease.
Nerve damage occurs due to trauma (wound, bruise), infectious, toxic, allergic and other factors. Nerves are often damaged when compressed by foreign bodies, bone fragments, or tumors.
Cutting or rupture of a nerve is accompanied by its degeneration, which proceeds according to the Valerov type. The peripheral end of the nerve immediately loses function and experiences pronounced necrobiotic and necrotic changes. At the first stage of degeneration, swelling, vacuolization, varicose thickening of the axial cylinders, fragmentation and disintegration of nerve fibers with the formation of so-called ovoids are observed. The structure of the myelin sheath changes on the 3rd-4th day, on the 5th day the myelin begins to turn into fat.
In the central segment, the connection of the axial cylinders with the nerve cells, nerve regeneration remains. As a result of the proliferation of Schwann membrane cells and axial cylinders, a thickening, the so-called growth flask, is formed at the central end of the nerve. If the ends of the cut nerve have not shifted to the side or along the length and in the space between them lies a thin layer of newly formed connective tissue, then the growing axial cylinders relatively easily penetrate the distal, dead segment of the nerve and, gradually lengthening, penetrate its entire length. The final stage is undamaged, the changes cover a limited area.
If a massive scar has formed as a result of injury, then unfavorable conditions arise for regeneration in the area of the damaged nerve. A scar more than 1 cm thick represents an insurmountable obstacle to the growth of axial cylinders. In this case, at the end of the growth of the central segment of the nerve, a tumor-like growth of a dense plexus of nerve fibers is formed.
Nerve crushing occurs due to severe trauma. In this case, its flattening, partial rupture, fiber disintegration, hemorrhage from the nerve vessels and other changes are observed, but without signs of complete separation. Such injury is accompanied by a retrograde type of degeneration, which is based on progressive inflammatory changes characteristic of ascending neuritis.
Nerve contusion occurs during falls, blows and other cases, which is accompanied by hemorrhages, destruction of the myelin sheath, as well as individual nerve fibers. Mononuclear infiltration is observed, damaged axial cylinders degenerate. Often an elongated scar grows in the area of damage.
Compression of the nerve can be caused by pressure from a plaster cast, callus, exostosis, tumor, prolonged lying on a hard surface (for example, on an operating table), which is characterized by ischemia, disintegration of the myelin sheaths, and primary degeneration of the axial cylinders at the site of damage. Paresis and sometimes paralysis are observed; in the latter case, regeneration of the nerve is very difficult.
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Paresis (weakening) and paralysis (loss) of motor functions can be of central or peripheral origin and depend on damage to motor centers (central) or pathways (peripheral). Damage to the motor or sensory nerve is observed. When the mixed nerve is damaged, motor dysfunction is more pronounced. Lesions occur as a result of injury, toxic or infectious effects, or ischemia; sometimes they can be caused by vitamin deficiency.
When the peripheral motor neuron is damaged, hypotonic and atonic paralysis develops, followed by atrophy of the paralyzed muscles; When the central motor neuron is damaged, spastic paralysis occurs. Palsies of the prescapular, radial, femoral and other mixed nerves are characterized by the rapid development of neurogenic muscle atrophy, after 4-5 weeks it is clearly expressed.
With paresis, atrophy is mild or absent, but the function of movement is noticeably impaired. With paresis and paralysis of the motor nerves, a change in muscle tone occurs: hypotension is more often observed, and hypertension is less common.
The diagnosis is made based on the symptoms, taking into account which muscles are innervated by a given nerve. For example, with radial nerve palsy, the function of the extensor muscles of the elbow, wrist and finger joints is lost; The limb is bent at rest, but during movement the joints do not fully extend. When the femoral nerve is paralyzed, the function of the quadriceps muscle of the thigh is lost—the knee and lower joints bend, and their active extension becomes impossible.
Forecast. In cases of concussion and bruising of nerves, the prognosis is favorable - the lesion ends in recovery relatively quickly. In cases of cutting, rupture, prolonged compression or crushing of the nerve, the prognosis ranges from cautious to unfavorable; in cases of allergic and toxic paralysis, the prognosis is unfavorable.
Treatment is complex using medications, physiotherapy, and, if necessary, surgical methods (nerve suturing).
In order to eliminate the pain reaction and restore nutrition to the affected area of the nerve, a short novocaine blockade, ionogalvanization with a 1% novocaine solution, light massage and warming (sollux, heating pad) are used. To restore muscle tone and have a specific effect on the transmission of nerve impulses, it is advisable to use ionogalvanization with strychnine or injections with veratrine in increasing doses. These injections should be combined with vibration and manual massages. A course of injections of prozerin and nicotinic acid is often carried out.
A noticeable therapeutic effect when a nerve is cut or ruptured is given by injections of a 6% solution of vitamin B, which is involved in the synthesis of acetylcholine (0.5-3 ml for dogs) in combination with lidase (30-90 IU), which promotes the growth of nerves through scars.
For mixed nerve palsies, vitamin B12 (50-200 mg per injection) is injected into the affected muscles at several points, which accelerates the regeneration of the damaged nerve. In addition, vitamin B6 is injected as a nerve growth factor. It is advisable to make novocaine blockades of the corresponding sympathetic nodes (for example, stellate), which promotes blood supply and improves the functional state of the nerve.
Neuritis
Inflammation of a single nerve (neuritis), several nerves (polyneuritis), a nerve plexus (plexitis), nerve roots and corresponding nerves (radiculoneuritis) is observed. There are serous, purulent, interstitial neuritis, which in their course can be acute or chronic, ascending or descending.
Diseases are caused by mechanical, toxic, infectious, cold and other factors, sometimes B-vitaminosis.
In the acute stage of the disease, especially with interstitial neuritis, severe pain occurs, thickening of the nerve trunk, accompanied by hyperesthesia (increased sensitivity), sometimes anesthesia, muscle hypotonia, hyperhidrosis in the area of nerve branching. With parenchymal neuritis, nerve conduction decreases or disappears.
In cases of ascending neuritis, purulent infection spreads through the lymphatic clefts of the nerve and can reach the spinal cord; with descending neuritis, the process spreads in the opposite direction.
Diagnosis is made based on symptoms.
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Physiotherapeutic procedures are used locally (Sollux, Minin lamp, helium-neon laser irradiation), painkillers are used orally (pyramidon, aspirin, analgin, baralgin), local anesthesia with a 0.5% solution of novocaine, trimecaine. It is recommended to carry out perineural injections of a 0.5% solution of novocaine in 20° alcohol.
(based on materials from “Diseases of Cats and Dogs”, edited by A.I. Mazurkevich, 1996)
Symptoms
Neurological diseases are accompanied by a wide range of symptoms, depending on the location and cause of the lesion.
A sick cat will not tell you whether she is dizzy, disoriented, or depressed. The owner will have to look for the cause of the disease on his own or with the help of a veterinarian.
The diagnosis is made by the presence of obvious symptoms such as seizures, sudden blindness, loss of the ability to walk or an unsteady gait (ataxia), partial or complete paralysis of the muscles of the head and limbs.
Muscle twitching and tremors are more difficult to detect. Pay attention to your cat's appearance of abnormal disorientation or confusion, eye movements that are too rapid (nystagmus), head tilted to one side, or pacing in circles. This is all very serious. If you notice any symptoms, contact your veterinarian without delay.
Specific pathogens
Specific causative agents of inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system in animals include viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and parasites. Among them are the following:
- viral diseases of dogs: canine distemper, rabies, pseudorabies;
- viral diseases of cats: feline viral peritonitis, feline immunodeficiency virus, rabies, unknown virus (“not FPV virus”);
- protozoa: Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum;
- fungi: Cryptococcus neoformans, Aspergillius spp., Blastomyces dermatidis, Coccidiodes immitis, Cladosporium spp.;
- bacteria: Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., Pasteurella spp., anaerobic bacteria;
- Rickettsia and spirochetes in dogs: Erlichia canis, Rickettsia rickettsii (Rocky Mountain fever), Borellia burgdorferi (Lyme disease);
- parasites: Cuterebra spp., Dirofillaria immitis.
Diagnostics
At the veterinary clinic, the cat will be examined: its reflexes, gait, eyes will be checked and its reaction to pain will be assessed. Be prepared to present your pet's medical history to the doctor.
Sometimes additional blood and urine tests and examination of the thyroid gland are required to exclude feline hyperthyroidism, which manifests itself with mild neurological signs. The cat's blood pressure will be taken.
Kitten development
