PERIODIC MUSCLE WEAKNESS AND CERVICAL VENTROFLEXION CAUSED BY HYPOKALEMIA IN A BURMESE CAT

A 2-year-old female Burmese cat was referred to the University Hospita l of Companion Animals of Utrecht University because of periodic muscl e weakness and cervical ventroflexion. Laboratory examinations reveale d hypokalemia. The combination of breed, clinical signs and hypokalemi a warranted the diagnosis of 'periodic hypokalemic myopathy', a homozy gote recessive hereditary disease in Burmese cats. Potassium supplemen tation resulted in complete disappearance of the signs. Possible cause s of hypokalemia in the cat are discussed.