Wow - you know, since Onyx and Jade have come into our lives, it has just been one 'wonder'ful thing after another! So out of a really strange situation - even the FAB consultant doesn't recognise it as a standard thing - it's really uncanny all these contacts!!
Just for info - here's the FAB reply:
Dear Jos and Vera,
Thank-you for the query that you submitted to FAB. Jade and Onyx are both very beautiful cats. Unfortunately, because I have not examined
Onyx it is impossible to give you any information relating specifically to his case. However, I can give you some advise regarding the similar cases. The first thing I would do is to make sure that the potassium levels have been checked. This isn't always included on blood tests. This is a problem that affects predominantly Burmese cats (but can affect others) when they are 6 months to 1 year of age and is brought about by an inability to move the potassium from the cells to the blood properly. I've attached a picture of a cat with this problem. The signs come and go (in fact the cat in the picture had been fine only an hour before). If it is this problem it is treated easily by supplementing the potassium orally, however, untreated it can lead to severe muscle weakness (affecting the neck and legs-especially back legs), which will often lead to this dropping of the neck and a bunny hopping motion on the limbs (or sometimes walking on the flats of their hocks).
If the potassium is normal, the next rule outs are either a neuropathy or a myopathy. There are some seconday causes such as Toxoplasmosis,
but once these are ruled out then other causes can be investigated. It would be interesting to see what his Creatine Kinase is, as an
elevation would make one more suspicious of a muscle problem. In which case, the next stage of investigations would normally involve
EMGs (to look at the electrical activity in the muscle and find out which ones are working abnormally) and then muscle biopsies. I know
this sounds very invasive, but unfortunatly it is the only way we have of finding out what is going on in his muscles. If your vet decides
do go down this route, then I would recommend that he/she tests for Dystrophin as muscular dystrophy will affect only male cats (however,
the signs don't usually come and go). Alternatively, if there are abnormalities on a neurological examination, then the next step would
be an MRI (again needing an anaesthetic) and possibly CSF tap to look for signs of inflammation/abnormalities in the fluid around the spinal
cord.I hope this helps. If your vet would like any specific advise about Onyx, they are welcome to e-mail me. Kind regards
Kerry Simpson FAB
Yes, will post ops results asap - am staying home to keep a close eye on my honey's
