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Treatment

If your cat only experiences mild neck pain, a brace and confinement may be recommended. But, if your cat is experiencing neck pain along with other neurological symptoms, surgery is often the best course of action. The dorsal (top) approach involves the use of a wire or other synthetic material to fix the vertebral abnormalities. The ventral (underside) approach involves the use of a bone graft to repair the damage. The ventral approach is often considered the more stable approach in damage repair.

Living and Management

For the best chance of recovery, it is recommended that you have your cat treated as quickly as possible after the initial distress has been observed, and immediately after a trauma has occurred. If surgery is prescribed, younger cats will generally experience a full recovery when movement is restricted post-surgery. This is usually done with cage rest – keeping the cat in a cage, or enclosed space – so that the cat cannot overexert itself or re-injure itself. Physical rehabilitation following treatment is equally important for a full recovery, benefiting neurological functions as well.

Prevention

As most cases are present at birth (congenital), preventative measures are limited.