Many of us say that cats hide their diseases well. Often they do not show signs of disease until the problem has been present for a long time. This truism seems valid for much of the brain disease seen in cats. Brain tumors are a common problem, and many cats are referred for signs that seemed to appear suddenly, when it is likely that a tumor has been present for months. When questioned, some owners confirm that their pets have been slowing down a bit for several weeks or months, but others seem not to have noticed anything prior to an episode of collapse, seizures, circling, or other signs of CNS disease.

Thus, on presentation, some cats seem profoundly affected by their signs of brain disease, and owners are often discouraged when they learn that their pet may have a brain tumor. In fact, brain tumors can often be treated effectively, and cats seem to return to normal after surgery. The most common type of brain tumor seen in cats is a meningioma -- these tend to be quite solid and circumscribed in cats (compared to dogs, where they are frequently more invasive). If a mass is on the surface of the brain, surgical resection may bring immediate

relief of signs. The diagnostic work up includes routine blood tests, thoracic radiographs, and an MR scan of the brain, and sometimes echocardiography or other tests. These tests, and the surgery following them, can be scheduled within a week of presentation of signs of brain disease, and the cost of diagnosis and treatment is only slightly higher than for an average myelogram and laminectomy in cases of spinal cord disease. Brain surgery is often necessary and helpful in dogs, however, follow-up radiation therapy or chemotherapy is more often needed in dogs, due to the more invasive nature of canine brain tumors.

In addition to the spinal cord surgeries that have been performed at SouthPaws for many years, brain surgery for tumor resection, biopsy of non-cancerous lesions, and for head trauma is available. During the past two years, we have performed brain surgery on dogs and cats, and have specialized anesthetic protocols, surgical equipment, and ICU aftercare for our patients. We welcome calls for consultation about anagnosis and treatment of animals with brain disease.

Michael Knoeckel, D.V.M. DACVIM (Neurology), has recently joined the SouthPaws team. He is a 1986 Colorado State University graduate. After several years of general practice, he completed a residency in neurology and neurosurgery at the University of California, Davis, in 1994.

Dr. Knoeckel brings to the practice a strong interest and considerable experience in spinal and intracranial surgery. He has also developed his skills in advanced imaging techniques such as MR imaging and Myelography, as well as electrodiagnostic methods for evaluating neuromuscular diseases. This, coupled with his knowledge and ability in dealing with seizure disorders, provides a strong addition to the well-rounded SouthPaws team.

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to clear larval or adult HW infections on their own. However, the sensitivity and specificity of currently available HW antibody tests is controversial. Therefore, if a cat is showing symptoms that make you suspicious enough to consider HW infection on your differential list, but the HW antibody test is negative, we cannot confidently rule out this disease based on this test result alone. 
Thoracic radiographs:  The radiographic appearance feline HW infection can vary from enlarged, tortuous, and possibly blunted pulmonary vessels, parenchymal changes (alveolar, interstitial, bronchiolar), perivascular abnormalities, and less commonly collapsed lung lobes and/or pleural effusion. Right heart enlargement may also be seen. Although survey radiography may be helpful in the diagnostic evaluation of cats suspected of having HW, there are several significant limitations. Radiographic signs of feline HW may be transient, they are not specific to HW infection (i.e. they occur in other feline respiratory or cardiac diseases), nor are they sensitive (not all cats with HW infections will have radiographic ab