ACUTE IDIOPATHIC POLYNEUROPATHY IN 9 CATS

This report describes nine unrelated cats with acute idiopathic polyne uropathy. All cats presented with acutely developing tetraparesis or t etraparalysis and loss of spinal reflexes. Seven cats recovered comple tely within 4 to 6 weeks, without any medication. Two years after comp lete recovery, none of these cats had had a relapse. In the acute stag e, two cats were euthanized because of respiratory complications. Post mortem examination was performed on one of these cats and revealed gen eralized peripheral motor polyneuropathy. The clinical signs in these cats were identical to those of the Guillain-Barre syndrome in humans.