Cerebellar Disease in the Dog and Cat: A Literature Review and Clinical Case Study (1996-1998)

Lu, Diane Dah-An (1999) Cerebellar Disease in the Dog and Cat: A Literature Review and Clinical Case Study (1996-1998). Master of Veterinary Medicine thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is to detail the history, clinical findings, ancillary investigations and, in some cases, pathological findings in 25 cases of cerebellar disease in dogs and cats which were presented to Glasgow University Veterinary School and Hospital during the period October 1996 to June 1998. Clinical findings were usually characteristic, although the signs could range from mild tremor and ataxia to severe generalised ataxia causing frequent falling over and difficulty in locomotion. Diffuse cerebellar diseases were more common than focal in this study. Both dogs and cats are susceptible to cerebellar diseases, however, the aetiologies vary between these two species, hi the dog, inflammatory disease of unknown aetiology (or steroid- responsive tremor syndrome) was the most common cause of cerebellar disease, affecting ten out of fourteen cases. In contrast, cerebellar hypoplasia possibly caused by panleukopaenia virus was the most common cause of cerebellar signs in the cats, affecting four out of eleven cases, while only one dog was diagnosed with a developmental abnormaly. Inflammatory cerebellar disease in the cats was caused most commonly by feline infectious peritonitis virus, which was diagnosed in two cats. Feline spongiform encephalopathy occurred in two cats. Degenerative cerebellar disorder was diagnosed in three cases, with a definite diagnosis of abiotrophy in two cases and lysosomal storage disease in a cat. Trauma or angiopathy was suspected in two cases. Cerebellar neoplasia was relatively rare, and was diagnosed only in one dog. A thorough physical and neurological examination was important in localising the lesion and determining whether a multisystemic disease was present. However, in most cases, a definite diagnosis could not be achieved on the basis of history and clinical findings. CSF analysis was found to be useful in some cases, especially in ruling in an inflammatory cause. The definitive diagnosis was made by histopathological examination in six cases. The pathological findings are discussed in relation to the literature.

• Item Type: Thesis (Master of Veterinary Medicine)
• Qualification Level: Masters
• Additional Information: Adviser: Ian R Griffiths
• Keywords: Veterinary science, Animal diseases
• Date of Award: 1999
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1999-75394
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 19 Nov 2019 20:18
• Last Modified: 19 Nov 2019 20:18
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/75394