Seizures in cats - Causes and what to do

At ExpertAnimal we know that taking care of your cat's health is essential for him to have the quality of life that he deserves so much.Felines are usually strong and resistant animals, unlikely to get diseases.However, this does not mean that you should lower your guard against any strange behavior.

That a cat convulsion is a situation that generates high levels of discomfort in their human companions, because it is a very distressing situation of presence.It is also for our feline, who does not understand what happens to him.However, keep calm, help him in the moment and go to your veterinarian is the unspeakable way to help him.That is why we want to talk to you about seizures in cats, causes and what to do when they occur.how to deal with this problem in the most appropriate way.

What are seizures?

It is a series of repetitive and uncontrollable movements , produced by an alteration of the normal functioning of brain activity.A simple way to explain the process is to say that they are caused when neurons, responsible for carrying electrical impulses through the nervous system, receive a greater excitement than they can withstand, causing abnormal electrical discharges in the brain as a result of excessive stimulation .

When the brain receives such abnormal discharges, it responds with the obvious signs of a seizure.The danger lies not only in the attack itself, but also can cause brain damage and affect other organs, such as the lungs.Early diagnosis and timely treatment are crucial to avoid lethal consequences .

Seizures are not common in felines, and usually present as symptom from another pathology .They should not be confused with epilepsy.Epilepsy occurs on its own and is for life, without the occurrence of another disease that may influence its appearance; Seizures, on the other hand, are accompanied by other conditions and are a product of them, although with treatment they may not disappear completely, even though it is possible to control them.

Causes of seizures in cats

There are many disorders that may have seizures in cats as symptoms, then we explain what they are:

Diseases infections: toxoplasmosis , encephalitis, meningitis, peritonitis, among others.
Congenital deformities: hydrocephalus, etc.
Trauma in the head.
Diseases cerebrovascular.
Poisoning: with insecticides, pest poisons, external parasiticides, household products with Toxic and dangerous labels.
Metabolic diseases: Hypoglycemia, thyroid pathologies, liver problems, among others.
Tumors brain.
Rage.
Use of certain medicines.
Deficiency of thiamine .
Feline leukemia .
Presence of certain pair asitos that have migrated abnormally in the cat's body.
Feline Immunodeficiency .

Symptoms of seizures

In felines, seizures are presented in different ways .In some cases, the symptoms are quite obvious, while in others the signs can be difficult to detect.most common are:

Uncontrolled movement of the legs
Rigid body
Loss of consciousness
Uncontrolled mastication
Fall to the side
Salivation
Defecation and urination

The crisis can last from 2 to 3 minutes , and before it, the cat can try to attract the attention of humans or, on the contrary, hide.This type of episodes are simple to identify, although there may also be others of milder signs, manifesting in behaviors such as chasing the tail in an obsessive way, uncontrolled movement of the factions and persecution of something that is not there, among others.In these cases, the cat only loses consciousness of what happens partially.Any type of behavior abnormal should be consulted with the veterinarian immediately.

What to do during the attack?

When there is an episode of seizures in the cat, you need to be prepared to know what to do, because some mistake will make the cat or you get hurt, or the attack will last longer.:

Keep calm : Avoid crying, make a loud sound and even talk to him, because these types of stimuli can further excite the feline's nervous system.
Remove any object that could hurt the cat, but avoid touching it , as it could bite you or spit you out since it will not be aware of what it does.if it is in danger of falling from somewhere, in which case we recommend you take it with a towel and place it on the floor or manipulate it with some kitchen gloves.
Eliminate any sound that may exist in the environment, such as television or music, turn off the lights and even close your windows if it enters intense sunlight.
Do not wrap the cat if it is not necessary or expose it to the heat of the heating.
Do not try to give it water or food , or offer them to you when the tremors have stopped.
Never self-medicate your cat, only a veterinarian can tell you how to proceed onwards.
Once past the attack, take it to a cool place under your surveillance and contact your veterinarian .

Diagnosis

In order for the diagnosis to be satisfactory, you should provide the veterinarian with all the information about the signals that you have been able to detect, this will help you know which are the most appropriate tests to detect the root of the problem.The diagnosis is aimed at determining if it is epilepsy or seizures, and that could be causing them.In this sense, it can include:

Complete medical history: information on all various diseases, injuries and conditions of the cat throughout his life.Advated vaccines and medications used.
General physical examination.
Neurological studies.
Electroencephalograms, electrocardiograms, radiographs and magnetic resonances, among others.
Analysis of urine and blood.

Of course, not in all cases it will be necessary to perform each of these medical studies.

Treatment

Seizure treatment is focused both on reducing their frequency and intensity , and eradicating what causes it .Of course, according to the cause a specific treatment will be necessary, which must be prescribed by your veterinarian.

With respect to seizures, phenobarbital is usually used in animals to prevent seizures, and diazepam to control them when they occur, however, the drugs must be prescribed by your doctor , as well as the doses and the frequency thereof.These two specific components cannot be used in cats with liver problems.

Usually, medications should be administered for life, always at the same time and at the same dose.Seizures may reappear, but the animal will be able to lead a normal life if the medications are followed.recommendations of the veterinarian.

A diagnosis Early and continuity of treatment can greatly improve the condition of the cat, but the longer you wait to consult with the specialist, the worse the final prognosis will be, reducing the chances of the cat leading a normal life and increasing the risk of episodes seizures occur more frequently.

As an extra recommendation, it is best that you consider that your cat does not leave the house from now on, to prevent him from suffering an attack while being outside, exposing himself to dangers of all kinds against to which you will not be able to help him.

This article It is merely informative, at ExpertAnimal.com we do not have the power to prescribe veterinary treatments or make any type of diagnosis.We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian in the event that it presents any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Seizures in cats-Causes and what to do , we recommend that you enter our Other health problems section.

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