Feline Brain Diseases

Diseases affecting the feline brain will frequently cause seizures, behaviour changes, circling, visual loss and sometimes thirst and appetite changes. The asymmetry of the disease, the focal or multifocal nature of the disease, the onset and progression of the disease as well as the signalment of the cat will help determine what is the most likely cause. Definitive diagnosis will require advanced imaging and CSF analysis if a thorough systemic investigation including blood work, liver function tests and cavity imaging is considered normal. The causes of feline brain disease include infections (such as FIP, Cryptococcus and Toxoplasmosis), neoplasia (most commonly meningioma), trauma, metabolic disease and toxicity, and less frequently vascular disease. This session will use a video case based approach to highlight the most common presenting characteristics of each of these diseases as well as how they are investigated and managed.