Stroke in cats – Symptoms causes and treatment
Stroke in cats - Symptoms, Causes and treatment
Cats are not exempt from suffering from ischemic problems or from a lack of blood supply to the brain , which is known as a stroke or stroke and which can be secondary to an interruption in blood supply or due to a cerebral hemorrhage. The causes are varied, from accidents or trauma to chronic or serious diseases.
Stroke symptoms in cats range from mild with disorientation and confusion to signs such as blindness, head tilt, tremors, ataxia, and proprioceptive deficits. In the most serious cases, the stroke leads to the death of the cat. In the prevention of this disease, routine check-ups at the veterinarian are essential in order to detect the first signs of the disease causing it and keep the cat active and well cared for.
What is a stroke?
A stroke, also called a stroke or cerebral vascular accident, is caused by a lack or inadequate blood circulation in the brain due to an interruption of cerebral blood flow or secondary to internal bleeding in the brain. As a consequence of this brain damage or alteration, brain functions related to proprioception, balance, consciousness and the senses are affected. The first clinical signs of stroke in cats can confuse us with another feline neurological problem as they are derived from the vestibular apparatus or seizures.
Stroke symptoms in cats range from mild with disorientation and confusion to signs such as blindness, head tilt, tremors, ataxia, and proprioceptive deficits. In the most serious cases, the stroke leads to the death of the cat. In the prevention of this disease, routine check-ups at the veterinarian are essential in order to detect the first signs of the disease causing it and keep the cat active and well cared for.
Types of stroke in cats
Cats can develop three types of stroke, being the following:
Embolic stroke: occurs when a blood clot (thrombus) occurs in a location other than the cerebral bloodstream, but generally in a nearby location (large vessels of the heart or neck) that affects the cerebral circulation.
Thrombotic stroke: appears when a thrombus or clot develops in the cerebral bloodstream, interrupting the correct blood circulation of the brain.
Hemorrhagic stroke: occurs when a blood vessel that supplies the brain leaks or breaks, causing blood to flow out and interrupting the correct cerebral irrigation
Causes of stroke in cats
Whether it is a stroke secondary to an interruption of irrigation due to a clot or derived from a hemorrhagic cerebrovascular accident, the causes can be very varied, related to intoxications or, for the most part, the stroke can be secondary to systemic or organic diseases in cats.
The main causes of stroke or stroke in cats are the following:
- Hypertension .
Increased blood coagulability (polycythemia, multiple myeloma).
Kidney problems.
diabetes mellitus.
Hypothyroidism.
Liver disease.
intoxication.
Heart disease (bacterial endocarditis).
Intravascular tumors (lymphoma, hemangiosarcoma).
Clot development after surgery.
Stroke symptoms in cats range from mild with disorientation and confusion to signs such as blindness, head tilt, tremors, ataxia, and proprioceptive deficits. In the most serious cases, the stroke leads to the death of the cat. In the prevention of this disease, routine check-ups at the veterinarian are essential in order to detect the first signs of the disease causing it and keep the cat active and well cared for.
Symptoms of stroke in cats
The signs of stroke in cats can be confused with those caused by other neurological diseases. It consists of a focal, acute and non-progressive neurological deficit that usually appears in cats from 8 years of age .
The symptoms are always acute or peracute and generally present with non-convulsive asymmetric brain dysfunction. When circulation to the forebrain is impaired, symptoms can range from mild disorientation to death . In addition, a tournament or tilt of the head to the side of the lesion occurs and central blindness may occur, as well as ataxia, increased meowing, and proprioceptive deficits. Other associated signs may be anorexia, weakness, tremors and vomiting.
Diagnosis of stroke in cats
The definitive diagnosis of stroke in cats is achieved with magnetic resonance imaging , which is an advanced imaging test, but that does not mean that simpler tests such as blood tests and a urine test are not necessary to detect a underlying disease that caused the stroke.
Fundus examination may show hemorrhage when coagulopathy or high blood pressure is present, and a history and physical and neurological examination of the cat should always be performed to determine the possible cause of the problem and its location.
Treatment for stroke in cats
The treatment of stroke in cats is not specific, but supportive or medical, with the aim of stabilizing the cat and preventing it from losing its life .
The first thing is to administer oxygen and take a line for the administration of fluid therapy . The fluid that is used in acute cases is mannitol to combat the increase in brain size and the edema caused by this cerebral infarction. The dose used is usually 0.25-1g/kg intravenously over 10-20 minutes, repeated a maximum of 3 times a day (every 8 hours). This fluid should be combined with hypertonic saline if cranial hypertension is suspected.
Subsequently, the disease that could have caused it must be treated to recover the cat’s health and prevent recurrences.
