Clinical leptospirosis in a cat presenting with severe hypokalaemia and glucosuria
- 1Department of Internal Medicine, Animal Referral Centre, Auckland, New Zealand
Abstract
Case summary: A 1.5-year-old, female spayed domestic mediumhair cat presented for lethargy, inappetence, weight loss, polyuria, polydipsia and severe generalised muscle weakness with cervical ventroflexion. She was noted to be severely hypokalaemic and to have severe glucosuria without significant hyperglycaemia. PCR and serological tests suggested a diagnosis of leptospirosis serovar Pomona. The cat was treated with doxycycline, potassium supplementation and spironolactone, after which the hypokalaemia improved and glucosuria resolved when assessed 2 weeks later.
Relevance and novel information: Cats are generally considered to be resistant to clinical infection with leptospirosis, and reports of clinical disease are rare. To the authors’ knowledge, there have been no reports of hypokalaemia or severe glucosuria in clinically affected cats. In addition, this report highlights the importance of considering leptospirosis as a differential diagnosis in cats who are exposed to various risk factors reported for this disease.
Related
- Correspondence on “leptospirosis presenting with fever, jaundice, and generalized lymphadenopathy: a case report with diagnostic challenges”
- Clinical Characteristics of Patients Presenting with Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis and Concomitant Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: a Multicenter Retrospective Study.
- Laron syndrome presenting with severe low bone density for age in a 28-year-old woman: a case report
- A rare diagnosis during evaluation for metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease: Glycogen storage disease type Ia presenting during adolescence in a male with severe obesity
- "Small Lesion, Major Distress": acute lacunar infarction presenting with severe pseudobulbar palsy-a case description.
BibTeX
@article{jagdhane2026clinical,
title = {{Clinical leptospirosis in a cat presenting with severe hypokalaemia and glucosuria}},
author = {Rhea Jagdhane and Ryan Cattin},
journal = {JFMS Open Reports},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1177/20551169261476284},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/20551169261476284},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Clinical leptospirosis in a cat presenting with severe hypokalaemia and glucosuria
AU - Rhea Jagdhane
AU - Ryan Cattin
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/31
JO - JFMS Open Reports
DO - 10.1177/20551169261476284
UR - https://doi.org/10.1177/20551169261476284
AB - Case summary: A 1.5-year-old, female spayed domestic mediumhair cat presented for lethargy, inappetence, weight loss, polyuria, polydipsia and severe generalised muscle weakness with cervical ventroflexion. She was noted to be severely hypokalaemic and to have severe glucosuria without significant hyperglycaemia. PCR and serological tests suggested a diagnosis of leptospirosis serovar Pomona. The cat was treated with doxycycline, potassium supplementation and spironolactone, after which the hypokalaemia improved and glucosuria resolved when assessed 2 weeks later. Relevance and novel information: Cats are generally considered to be resistant to clinical infection with leptospirosis, and reports of clinical disease are rare. To the authors’ knowledge, there have been no reports of hypokalaemia or severe glucosuria in clinically affected cats. In addition, this report highlights the importance of considering leptospirosis as a differential diagnosis in cats who are exposed to various risk factors reported for this disease.
SN - 2055-1169
ER -