Diagnostic and predictive ability of hyperbilirubinemia severity in cats: A multicenter retrospective study.

Background: Total serum bilirubin concentration (TBIL) can provide useful information on several pathophysiological conditions in cats. Nevertheless, whether the variable severity classification of hyperbilirubinemia can reliably indicate certain disease processes or predict a biliary obstruction (BO) has not been investigated.

Hypothesis/objective: Determine if hyperbilirubinemia of variable severity can assist clinicians to identify BO, which often is considered a surgical emergency.

Spinal decompression and stabilisation in a cat with lumbar vertebral pathological fracture and subluxation, following discospondylitis and spinal epidural empyema.

Case Series Summary: A 1-year-old castrated male Maine Coon cat was referred because of a 1-week history of progressive spastic non-ambulatory paraparesis. An MRI examination of the thoracolumbar spine showed multiple lytic lesions, with the most aggressive one centred on the adjacent endplates of L1-L2 and its associated disc. Ventral new bone formation, L1 vertebral body shortening and mild dorsal displacement of the caudal aspect of L1 were noted.