February 20, 2025
A cat facing death after being left paralysed by a rare infection has been saved by veterinarians at Blaise Veterinary Referral Hospital in Birmingham.
After discovering he couldn’t walk, anguished owner Samantha Smith feared her cat would have to be put to sleep. Geralt, a four-year-old Maine Coon, was unable to feel or move his hind limbs, leading to his admission at Blaise.
The team at Blaise Veterinary Referral Hospital diagnosed Geralt with cervicothoracic discospondylitis, which is much more common in dogs. Soon after pinpointing the problem, specialists were able to administer treatment and save the patient’s life.
Dr Marios Charalambous, an ABVS American, EBVS European and RCVS Recognised Specialist in Veterinary Neurology, assessed Geralt’s condition:
“Geralt was referred to us with acute paraplegia with absent deep pain perception.”
“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.”
In an effort to identify the bacteria, the neurology team performed blood and urine cultures. Although the typical success rate is less than 50%, the culture sensitivity allowed them to find a suitable antibiotic.
Once the antibiotics were administered, along with painkillers and other targeted medications, the impact was both remarkable and rapid.
Dr. Charalambous highlighted the significant impact of Geralt’s treatment:
“I wouldn’t have expected a very good prognosis as the neurological status was very severe, 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.”
Despite having never treated this bacterial infection in a cat, Dr. Charalambous’ swift action was fundamental in saving Geralt’s life. He added:
“Previously I have only seen cases where there has been pain, not plegic, and this was also unusually in the cervical area. If we hadn’t acted, Geralt would either have died from the disease or would have to be euthanised.”
“As this was one of the most severe cases I have seen, and the first in a cat, I am delighted with the outcome.”
Geralt is extra special to owner Samantha, who bought him as part of an inheritance from her late grandfather. After watching the cat collapse in front of her and expecting a bad prognosis, she is eternally grateful to have him home and well.
Samantha shared her thanks to the Blaise veterinary specialists:
“If you saw him now, you’d never know anything had ever happened… We thought we were going to lose him.”
“We are so grateful to Blaise and for Marios for believing and giving Geralt every chance.”
This complex case is just one of many success stories from IVC Evidensia’s state-of-the-art referral hospital in Birmingham.
Read more about how Blaise Vets specialists treated a rare condition in Nova the dalmatian.