Feline Epilepsy?

[silvertabbies]

Hi Irina

I do have a fair amount of feline epilepsy experience and my cat started similar seizing to yours at two and a half This has now gone on for two years but because they are more than six weeks apart my vet, (and most vets do I think), consider that is controlled and no need for meds. The usual med is pheno and although the vet will probably warn of side effects, once the dose is right the cat will lead a normal life but sometimes a little subdued and you can always get the odd break thru seizures.
There are two types of seizure - the grand mal which is what you describe and which my cat has also. The other type is is the petit mal which is more subtle and involves twitching, being spaced out etc. as I have never experienced that I cannot write more about it.

Sometimes the fits are caused by something new in the house like new furniture, carpets etc, which have toxic materials in them, or sometimes flea treatment can trigger them, or maybe a fall. BUT a lot of epilepsy is idiopathic - no known cause. I would keep a diary of your cats seizures and see if any pattern emerges.

There are homeopathic things you can try if your cat is not on meds - I use valerian drops - liquid valerian in non alcholic glycerine - a few drops twice a day on her food has extended her seizure free period by several weeks and we only started it this summer.


There is so much I could write but I would advise you to join a specialist Yahoo Group where we live, breath and eat seizures and you will get a lot more help.

http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/epi-felines/

Everyone is very friendly there.

Many of us have not gone down the expensive test route - usually a MRI scan and usually if the seizures are controlled by pheno they are happy with that.

We have found a lot of vets are inexperienced with feline epilepsy and I really do feel our little group has more knowledge and I really encourage you to join us - of if you don;t want to then just ask me some questions. One of our most knowledgeable members is also in Australia.

I know these things can be very scary when they happen but you do learn to cope.

best wishes Rob (in UK)

Hello everyone

So here is our little Pip's story.
In August 2012, Pip was sitting on a chair, when suddenly he jumped down and started running circles around the table. Then he ran of into the bedroom, I followed him, before I could reach the bedroom I heard a huge cry, I ran into the bedroom, and there he was, our little boy convulsing on the floor uncontrollably. During the seizure he had urinated himself and also hurt his gum, so there was a little bit of blood. This lasted about 45 seconds. Then he came around. By this time we already had the vet on the phone, and we were getting ready to take him into the vets.

Apart from slightly high temperature everything was fine with him by the time we got there, but the vet decided to keep him for observations. We also decided to do blood tests to see if they could find anything.

Next morning, results were in and nothing showed up, he was a perfect little healthy boy. So he was sent home.

About 6 weeks later, it happened again, he didn't run as much but still dashed, and this time I noticed his head was very close to the ground and he didn't look right. He fell next to my legs and had a 35second long seizure. Straight after that he was taken to the vets. They did another round of blood test, and also sent of for a toxicology report. Everything again came back clean. They gave him some antibiotics and sent him home.

About a month after that it happened again, this time he did not run or anything, and the seizure was a lot less violent. We again took him to the vets but the vet did not see any reason for running any more tests. And sent him home straight away.

About another month goes by, and he has another non-violent seizure. We rang the vets again, and they said not to bring him in and just keep an eye out.

They have given us a referral to go to a Internal Medicine department in Perth. The only thing all of the test they want to run is going to cost us around $3000, and that is not sort of money we have laying around. We love our little boy and trying to get some advice, we don't know anyone else who has experienced feline epilepsy.

He has not had a seizure now in almost 2 months (knock on wood).
I guess what I am after is any advice, any experience with this? Putting him down is not an option, and vets say his seizures are not often enough to medicate.

Please if anyone has anything to add or say, I would greatly appreciate it.