Cat Care: Epilepsy Explained
Cats can develop epilepsy at any point in their life, and as it's a neurological condition, it can be distressing for your cat to experience the seizures associated with epilepsy. It's not always possible to determine why a cat develops epilepsy, but known triggers include trauma, infection, exposure to toxins and the presence of a tumour.
Symptoms Of Epilepsy
Most people have an understanding of what an epileptic seizure looks like, but there are additional symptoms associated with epilepsy that tend to show up just before a seizure begins. Your cat may start walking in circles or pacing back and forth. Increased salivation, vomiting, disorientation and loss of bowel control are common pre-seizure symptoms. Being aware of these symptoms can give you the chance to make your cat's environment as safe as possible before a seizure begins. For example, you can move furniture out of the way and place cushions around your cat, but you should never hold them down or try to contain them in anything, as this could cause injury. During a seizure, your cat may injure themselves by knocking into an object or falling. If you have any concerns about their well-being after a seizure, you should have them checked over by your vet.
Diagnosing And Treating Epilepsy
Your vet will take details of your cat's symptoms and take blood samples, which can show whether your cat has an infection or whether their inflammatory markers are raised, which can be a sign of a tumour. In some cases, the vet may recommend an MRI or CT scan to check for brain lesions, which are not uncommon in cats with epilepsy.
An anticonvulsant will be prescribed, and the goal will be to significantly reduce the number of seizures your cat has. Some cats will stop having seizures completely when taking the optimum dose of an anticonvulsant, but it can take some time to determine the best anticonvulsant and dose for symptom control. An anticonvulsant should never be stopped suddenly, so if you feel your cat's medication is not working for them, speak to your vet before making any changes. Your vet may also recommend some changes to your cat's living environment, such as ensuring they have a quiet, calm place to retreat to if they seem easily stressed, as this may impact seizure frequency.
Without treatment, your cat's epileptic seizures can increase in frequency. So to prevent your cat from experiencing unnecessary discomfort, contact your vet right away if your cat begins having seizures.
To find out more, contact a local vet.