Note on Feline Hyperaesthesia Syndrome in Cats

Description

Feline hyperaesthesia syndrome is a complex and poorly understood syndrome that can affect domestic cats of any age, breed or sex. Feline hyperaesthesia syndrome is also known as apparent neuritis, atypical neurodermatitis, psychomotor epilepsy, Siamese pruritic dermatitis, rolling skin syndrome and twitchy cat disease. The syndrome mainly affects cats after they have reached adulthood with the majority of instances affecting cats between the ages of one and five. Frantic scratching, biting or grooming of the lumbar area, usually at the base of the tail and rolling of the dorsal (anatomy) lumbar skin are the most typical symptoms. These clinical indications normally arise in a single episode following which the cats return to normal. Affected cats might be difficult to distract from their behaviour during these episodes and they often appear to be absent-minded or in a trance-like state. In most cases, the disease is considered mild and the sickness does not progress after it has taken hold in the cat. Overall, the prognosis for the illness is favourable as long as it does not progress to extreme self-aggression and self-mutilation which could result in infection. If a cat mutilates its own tail or is otherwise injured, it should be sent to a veterinarian right once for treatment as an infection could be more harmful than the cut itself. The endocrine system, neurological system, neuromuscular system and exocrine system are all affected by feline hyperesthesia syndrome. Depending on the underlying reason, cats with the illness may exhibit a variety of clinical symptoms. Excessive grooming, particularly of the lumbar region; tail chasing; tail mutilation caused by scratching and biting of the lumbar region and tail; frantic running and jumping and rolling of the skin in the dorsal lumbar area are some of the clinical signs. Clinical indications will usually appear in one- to two-minute bursts. The cat will usually return to its normal behavior during such an incident. Endogenous or external triggers might trigger these episodes which can happen several times per day or week. The skeletal muscle causes the skin to roll in the dorsal and lumbar regions. The rippling effect is caused by this muscle which is placed just beneath the skin and is hyper responsive when touched.

The diagnosis of feline hyperesthesia syndrome in cats is particularly difficult. Due to a paucity of pathophysiology knowledge, the illness must be identified by ruling out other potential explanations of clinical symptoms. Most pet owners avoid this time-consuming and frequently expensive procedure and opting instead to treat the symptoms and behaviors with a variety of therapeutic trials in the absence of a firm diagnosis. Many of the behaviors associated with feline hyperesthesia syndrome are similar to or identical to those seen in other feline health conditions. For example, psychogenic alopecia and feline hyperesthesia syndrome have a lot in common. Other illnesses affecting these organ systems must be ruled out since feline hyperesthesia syndrome affects the endocrine, neurological, neuromuscular and exocrine systems. This includes allergies, fungal infections, parasites and dermatitis as well as spinal problems including arthritis, pinched nerves, slipped discs and forebrain difficulties that can induce phantom pains.

A general physical exam, neurological exam, blood chemistry analysis, urine analysis, radiography, magnetic resonance imaging, muscle biopsy, bile acid tolerance, cerebral spinal fluid analysis and serologic testing for infectious causes are all tests that can be used to rule out these possibilities. For this syndrome, a behavioral history can be a useful diagnostic tool. For diagnosis and therapy, knowing a cat's proclivity for obsessive compulsive disorders, anxiety, fear and over-attachment to its owner is quite useful. Cases of feline hyperesthesia syndrome should be referred to a feline behavior specialist for a second opinion whenever possible.

The elimination or reduction of environmental elements that may induce breakouts, stress or anxiety is usually the initial step in treating the illness. This is normally accomplished by identifying the behaviors that lead to attacks and the limiting reasons that cause these behaviors. In most situations, owners must refrain from caressing the cat's lower back, adhere to strict feeding schedules and schedule specified play periods.

If behavioral changes do not alleviate the symptoms of the condition, pharmaceutical interventions may be required. The sort of medication utilized will be determined by the underlying cause. Several types of medications that may be used to treat the illness or its symptoms are listed below, with popular drugs used to treat this condition mentioned as examples of each category of drug: If dermatitis or other skin problems are detected, anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisolone will be used. If the cause is considered to be seizure-related, antiepileptic medicines will be utilized. The most effective of these medications is phenobarbital but it does not work on all cats. Gabapentin can be used as an analgesic as well as an antiepileptic. However, it must be xylitol-free as xylitol is hazardous to a variety of mammals. When a behavioral issue is detected, behavior-modifying medicines are administered. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants and benzodiazepines are examples.