A 6-month-old domestic shorthair cat was evaluated for proprioceptive
ataxia of the pelvic limbs. Over 2 months, the cat became poorly ambulatory, paraparetic with proprioceptive
ataxia and developed a firm, distended bladder with intermittent overflow
urinary incontinence. Block vertebrae (T1-3, T4-5 and T10-11) and
lordosis were identified on radiographs of the vertebral column. MRI revealed T3/4
intervertebral disc protrusion with severe extradural compression, secondary syringohydromyelia caudal to the protrusion and generalised
intervertebral disc disease throughout the cervical and thoracic vertebrae. Dorsal
laminectomy at T3/4 resulted in resolution of
paraparesis and marked improvement in coordination and strength. Block vertebrae are usually considered an incidental finding. In this patient, angular deformation (
lordosis) and adjacent segment disease probably contributed to clinically significant
intervertebral disc degeneration and protrusion.
RELEVANCE AND NOVEL INFORMATION: There are few case reports in the literature of multiple congenital vertebral malformations causing neurological deficits in cats. This is the first reported case of successful surgical management of
intervertebral disc protrusion, possibly secondary to block vertebrae and
lordosis in a cat.