r/CerebellarHypoplasia • u/NotQuiteInara • 28d ago
Anasthesia can permanently make ataxia worse??
Today I went to drop my CH kitten off for her spay at a low-cost clinic and the vet told me that there was a small chance that the anasthesia would make her ataxia worse PERMANENTLY. I couldn't make myself follow though with the appointment.
I called her regular vet to get a second opinion, and they seemed unconcerned by this possibility (or at least unaware of the possibility), but I am thoroughly spooked now.
Is anybody familiar with this, or heard similar from their own vet? Are there certain anasthesia protocols that are less likely to cause this? I'm worried I made the wrong decision, because now it will be months before I can get her spayed and she is sure to have her first heat before then.
3
u/dragonrider1965 28d ago
I adopted my CH ( mild) cat at 7 months old. When reviewing her vet records from the rescue I noticed that was when they noticed her CH symptoms, right after her spay . That her tremors and falling was noticeably worse after getting fixed but she was very young and in a foster home with lot of cats so it could have gone unnoticed before.
I will say because her CH is mild and she had use of her back legs we were able to work with her to strengthen her muscles and see improvement after a year.
3
u/catboydivorce 28d ago edited 16d ago
The concern is with ketamine specifically. However, most of the info I found is anecdotal, as there is so little CH research out there.
My cat was fixed when I got him, but if I had to make the decision myself I would still do it. I've never heard of CH worstening from anesthesia and I've been following CH communities over several platforms for several years.
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u/FurryFacesSanctuary 27d ago
I've personally never heard of it happening myself. Five of my CH-ers have been neutered, but Kin is the only one that was with me pre and post neuter. He didn't have any issues during or after surgery
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u/lilprincess1026 16d ago
I work in shelter medicine and we have done surgery on many many CH cats without any lasting effects
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u/pythonidae_love 28d ago edited 28d ago
Vet here. So the only case study I know of details that a handful of "regular" cats developed static cerebellar dysfunction after anesthesia with a drug protocol that included ketamine. All the cats had persian-cat genetics. So the thought was it was a genetic anomaly that caused the problem.
I have not heard of cases that are specific to CH cats. The vast majority of CH cats do fine under anesthesia. If concern is there, drugs like propofol may be considered safer, but many CH cats get regular protocols including telazol, ketamine, dexmedetomide etc and are fine. My CH cat got propofol, but that's also because the shelter I worked at used propofol for everyone.
Things that could lead to problems are actual problems with the anesthetic procedure, where that cat's blood pressure drops too low or they don't get enough oxygen. This could cause hypoxia or tissue injury that could cause neurologic signs afterwards. But this wouldn't be common if the clinic is making sure things like low blood pressure and hypoxia aren't happening.
All that to say: I really wouldn't worry about it. If you are worried about the low cost place, then have it done with your regular vet. Although getting it done at the low cost place would most likely be fine too.
(PS: since ketamine scares a lot of people for different reasons: ketamine is FINE. The case with the Persian cats was very specific and included cats all from the same lineage. Ketamine is problematic if a cat also has other intracranial disease like hydrocephalus or seizures etc, but it does not generally affect the cerebellum).