Geralt the Maine Coon was saved from paralysis by the team at Blaise Veterinary Referral Hospital
Birmingham Vets Help Paralysed Cat Walk Again
2 months ago 
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A cat facing death after being left paralysed by a rare infection has been saved by vets.
Four-year-old Maine Coon Geralt couldn’t even crawl and anguished owner Samantha Smith, who lives near Oxford, feared he would have to be put to sleep.
But a team at Blaise Veterinary Referral Hospital in Birmingham, part of the IVC Evidensia network of referral hospitals, found he was suffering from cervicothoracic discospondylitis, much more commonly seen in dogs. And, after pinpointing the problem, they were able to administer treatment and save his life.
“Geralt was referred to us with acute paraplegia with absent deep pain perception, i.e., he was unable to move and feel his hind limbs at all,” said vet Dr Marios Charalambous, an ABVS American, EBVS European and RCVS Recognised Specialist in Veterinary Neurology.
“We did a neuro exam, a spinal tap and an MRI scan which showed the discospondylitis. It was severe and extended inside the canal, so it was compressing the spinal cord.
“It’s an extremely rare case, which I have only seen previously in dogs, never in cats.”
The neurology team did blood and urine culture to try and identify the bacteria responsible. Although that usually has a success rate of less than 50%, the culture sensitivity allowed them to pinpoint an antibiotic which might be effective.
Once this was administered, along with painkillers and other targeted medication, the impact was both remarkable and rapid.
“I wouldn’t have expected a very good prognosis as the neurological status was very severe,” said Dr Charalambous. “But to my surprise, there was a marked improvement.
“Within a couple of weeks of receiving the treatment, he had already started walking. And when I examined him a few months later, he was virtually normal.
“Our most recent MRI showed that while there were some chronic changes resulting from the infection, there no longer appeared to be an active lesion.
“And while there was still a mild compression of the spinal cord, it was much less than before, and Geralt compensates very well.”
The complex case is just one of the many success stories from IVC Evidensia’s purpose built state-of-the-art hospital.
“Previously I have only seen cases where there has been pain, not plegic, and this was also unusually in the cervical area,” added Dr Charalambous.
“So, as this was one of the most severe cases I have seen, and the first in a cat, I am delighted with the outcome. If we hadn’t acted, Geralt would either have died from the disease or would have to be euthanised.
“It shows that even when the prognosis seems poor, it is always worth trying to do something if the owners are motivated.”
Geralt is extra special for owner Samantha who bought him as part of an inheritance from her late grandfather.
Having watched him collapse in front of her and then believing he’d die she is eternally grateful to have him home and well.
“If you saw him now, you’d never know anything had ever happened,” said Samantha. “We thought we were going to lose him.
“We are so grateful to Blaise and for Marios for believing and giving Geralt every chance.”
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