Cerebellar hypoplasia (video of Amy)

**Emeraldgreen** · 05-03-2008, 11:46 PM

Originally Posted by Laura's Babies

Cerebellar hypoplasia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Cerebellar hypoplasia is a disorder found in cats and dogs in which the cerebellum is not completely mature at birth. Usually symptoms can be seen immediately at birth in cats, but sometimes can take two months or so to become apparent in dogs. Cerebellar hypoplasia causes jerky movements, tremors and generally uncoordinated motion. The animal often falls down and has trouble walking. Tremors increase when the animal is excited and subside when at ease. There are several bacterial infections, such as herpes, that can result in the disorder in both cats and dogs. However, the disease can also be caused by malnutrition, poisoning, injury or general accidents during development in the fetus.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerebellar_hypoplasia"

Hi, I know this thread was started quite some time ago but I was wondering if you knew about this possible connection with the feline herpes virus and CH? Do you know if this means it can develop later on in a cat who has always had the herpes virus? My cat Stinky had herpes when we adopted her at 7 weeks of age. The vet thought she had a 50/50 chance of making it. Her eyes were all goopy and her nose too and she was kind of lethargic. We put her in a steamy bathroom many times per day and teabags on her eyes to soothe them and she made it through. This virus is mostly dormant but if she becomes stressed, it comes back and she is sick all over again. Now we give her Lysine when she starts sneezing after a stressful situation. The Lysine keeps the breakout to about 3-4 days.
I have noticed a few times while petting her that her head does this mild, very slight tremor thing. I pointed it out to my husband and he couldn't see it but I'm really in tune with our cats and I know them so well and I not only saw this once but twice, maybe a month apart and both times were this passed fall. She is 7 years old.
Do you think CH could show up in a cat at this age and start mildly? I'm concerned.
p.s. I will of course look into this and get as much info as I can but I found your thread and thought I'd ask.

**catfamily** · 05-04-2008, 04:51 AM

i'm sorry that i don't know but i do know how in tune you are with your cats,like myself,i watch them constantly when i can and almost analize them if i see anything that isn't normal to that individual cat.
my husband doesn't see the things that i do...then later finding i was right he knows how in tune i am with them like you.
to me...it would of scared me also,seeing the tremor...i feel so bad that your kitty mat have this.
i usually to put lysine in all the cans of catfood that i open.it's great that you do that.
maybe it isn't CH but it could be a mild start of it...just keep an eye out and try not to worry to much.

hoping your doing great otherwise Laura

**critters** · 05-04-2008, 05:45 AM

It shouldn't be CH newly appearing in a 7 YO. That doesn't mean, however, that something else can't be causing CH-like signs. I'd just keep an eye out in case of further changes.

**Medusa** · 05-04-2008, 06:38 AM

My Creamsicle has vestibular hyoplasia which means that the CH also caused deafness. She had all the symptoms of CH and they were so severe that, in the beginning, I feared that her only relief would be to have her PTS. She couldn't stand or eat on her own because her head swung violently back and forth like a pendulum. When she finally could walk, she could only walk in circles. She improved greatly over time, though, and now only falls when she gets too excited. So don't lose hope. My Siamese, Coco Puff, has a slight case of CH and it didn't reveal itself for at least 3 months after he was born, if I remember correctly. I came home from work one day and found him sitting on my kitchen counter top, staring into space and I couldn't get him to snap out of it. He had that slight tremor in his head that you mentioned. After being examined by the vet, it was determined that he, too, is a CH kitty. Now, though, you'd never know it. He hasn't had an episode since and he's so strong! This may be the only symptom that your kitty ever has, although, obviously, I can't say that for sure. My vet, who has since retired, told me that the CH had been caused by a herpes virus yet none of the other kittens that I had rescued during the time I rescued both Creamsicle and Coco Puff ever developed CH. So I don't know. I hope this helps you even if just a little.

**critters** · 05-04-2008, 07:14 AM

Originally Posted by Medusa

My vet, who has since retired, told me that the CH had been caused by a herpes virus yet none of the other kittens that I had rescued during the time I rescued both Creamsicle and Coco Puff ever developed CH. .

Are you sure he didn't say distemper, AKA panleukopenia?

**phesina** · 05-04-2008, 07:24 PM

Originally Posted by Emeraldgreen

Hi, I know this thread was started quite some time ago but I was wondering if you knew about this possible connection with the feline herpes virus and CH? Do you know if this means it can develop later on in a cat who has always had the herpes virus? My cat Stinky had herpes when we adopted her at 7 weeks of age. ... This virus is mostly dormant but if she becomes stressed, it comes back and she is sick all over again. Now we give her Lysine when she starts sneezing after a stressful situation. The Lysine keeps the breakout to about 3-4 days.
...
I have noticed a few times while petting her that her head does this mild, very slight tremor thing. I pointed it out to my husband and he couldn't see it but I'm really in tune with our cats and I know them so well and I not only saw this once but twice, maybe a month apart and both times were this passed fall. She is 7 years old.
Do you think CH could show up in a cat at this age and start mildly? I'm concerned.
p.s. I will of course look into this and get as much info as I can but I found your thread and thought I'd ask.

Hi Emeraldgreen, I just saw your question now. I have a CH boy named Elmer who is going on 2 years old now. I don't know the answer on whether it could start to develop later in life in a cat with herpes, though I tend to doubt it.

If Stinky continues to show these symptoms, I'd suggest you have your vet check her out. Whatever it is, it should probably be looked into.

Best wishes!

Pat and Elmer

**Emeraldgreen** · 05-08-2008, 11:19 PM

Originally Posted by phesina

Hi Emeraldgreen, I just saw your question now. I have a CH boy named Elmer who is going on 2 years old now. I don't know the answer on whether it could start to develop later in life in a cat with herpes, though I tend to doubt it.

If Stinky continues to show these symptoms, I'd suggest you have your vet check her out. Whatever it is, it should probably be looked into.

Best wishes!

Pat and Elmer

Hi, thanks for your post. I will definitely keep an eye on her and see if it happens again. If so, I should take her to the vet.