What to do if a cat has seizures

In order for taking anticonvulsants to be as safe as possible for the pet, it is necessary to strictly follow the instructions and recommendations of the veterinarian.

Cat cramps – what they may mean and what the owner should do

Cramps or spasms (convulsions) represent an involuntary contraction of the muscle fibers of individual or whole muscle groups. This condition is accompanied by a sharp pain sensation.

Convulsions in cats are not an independent disease, but only indicate the presence of serious pathological changes in the body of the animal. When spasms of muscle fibers occur, the pet cannot move, shows aggression toward its owner, and screams in pain.

Even if a cramp occurs that does not show itself later on, you should go to the veterinarian for a consultation. This is due to the fact that seizures in cats are not a variant of the physiological norm.

Feline family members have unusually elastic ligamentous and muscular apparatus, which allows them to adapt to even the most abrupt transitions from a relaxed state to an active one. Therefore, the cause of convulsions may be solely abnormalities of internal organs.

Causes of occurrence

Veterinary medicine divides convulsions in cats into several groups. They are associated with lesions of brain tissue, metabolic disorders or intoxication of the body. The main causes of seizures caused by lesions of the brain tissue:

• Tickencephalitis . A disease caused by the bite of a tick, which transmits the infection with saliva when bitten. It is characterized by febrile states, impaired coordination of movements, gastric contents eruption, diarrhea, lethargy, abrupt refusal to eat, serous oozing from the eyes, inadequate behavior.
• Rabies . A dangerous infectious disease for which there is no cure. When the brain is affected by Babes-Negri corpuscles, the animal shows serious signs, characterized by aggression, paralysis of the hind limbs. As a result of spasm of the respiratory muscles and respiratory center, the animal dies of asphyxia.
• Hypoxia . Oxygen deprivation leads to lesions of brain tissue, disrupting the entire body. Insufficient oxygen causes seizures. But in the first stages of the pathology, the symptoms are not pronounced, and the seizures are so brief that they may go unnoticed by the owner. As the pathological condition develops, the convulsions intensify, and their duration also increases. A characteristic feature of hypoxia is the lividity of the mucous membranes, shortness of breath, and fainting of the pet.
• Hydrocephalus . A pathology that occurs when the outflow of intracerebral fluid is impaired. As a rule, the disorder is congenital, appearing from the first days of a kitten's life. Babies have a larger cranial volume than other kittens, they also lag behind in development, and when they reach 2 months of age, clonic seizures are observed. Their increase in frequency and the duration of the seizures indicates that the kitten is soon fatal.
• Tumors in the brain . The initial stages of brain cancer do not have pronounced symptoms, but as the tumor grows, characteristic signs of pathology appear. The animal begins to circle aimlessly in one place, bump into various objects and walls, becomes aggressive, convulsions are observed.
• Lack of vitamin B1 . Thiamine is an important element necessary for the normal functioning of all organs and systems, including the brain. In acute vitamin B1 deficiency, certain parts of the brain are affected, manifesting as convulsions and trembling of the hind or forelimbs.
• Cranial trauma. . Severe injuries resulting from damage to the integrity of the cranium are manifested by disorders such as loss of consciousness, eruption of gastric contents, twitching of the muscles holding the eyeball, paralysis of certain muscles.

Seizures in cats: symptoms

Seizures in cats can take many forms. Generalized or grand mal seizures may include seizures, limb stiffness or limb twitching, loss of consciousness, abnormal vocalization, and loss of control of urination or defecation.

A grand mal seizure may occur alone or as a series of seizures. It usually lasts one or two minutes. If the seizure lasts more than 5-10 minutes, this condition is called "status epilepticus" and requires immediate medical attention. In this case, the cat should be taken immediately to the veterinary clinic. She should also be seen by a veterinarian after any seizure for a complete examination and diagnosis.

Other types of seizures are absences, or partial seizures. During these, the cat may chase its tail or its shadow, become aggressive, or bite. They occur very rarely.

Sometimes the seizures are so brief that the owner may simply not notice them. Other times, the owner may notice abnormal behavior after the seizure, during what is called the post-seizure stage.

The cat may look very tired or, conversely, be over-excited, eat and drink too much, or in general behave abnormally. If your pet exhibits any of these signs, you should contact a veterinarian.

Cat seizures: what to do

Except in cases of epileptic status, seizures in cats rarely require immediate medical attention. This means that the owner does not need to go to the veterinary clinic immediately. If a cat has had a seizure, but it stops after one or two minutes, you should call a veterinarian and make an appointment to have the animal evaluated as soon as possible.

If the seizures are short, but come in a series of seizures, or if the cat is having multiple seizures at once, you should see a veterinarian immediately.

While the cat is having epileptic seizures or is recovering from them, he should not be touched unless there is a risk that he might fall down stairs or into water and be dangerously injured. If you touch the cat during a seizure, it may bite or scratch severely.

If the seizure persists, the cat should be taken to a clinic for emergency medical care. Using a thick towel, the cat should be lifted and wrapped for safe transport. The veterinarian's office will need to answer questions about the animal's medical history:

• number, frequency and duration of seizures;
• vaccination history;
• Where the cat lives – at home or outdoors;
• the cat's diet and feeding regimen;
• whether the cat has had any recent vomiting or diarrhea;
• Any recent weight changes.

Answers to these questions will help the veterinarian recommend the right exam and treatment. Examination may include blood and urine tests, fecal analysis and/or imaging studies, including X-rays, ultrasounds and MRIs.

Seizures in dogs and cats

Seizures are involuntary contractions of muscles. By the nature they distinguish between tonic и clonic convulsionsas well as focal и generalized – depending on the degree of involvement of the skeletal muscles. According to the origin they are divided into cerebral и spinal.

Seizures in dogs and cats usually appear as a symptom of an underlying disease and are often accompanied by loss of consciousness.

Causes of seizures: Epilepsy, internal non-infectious diseases, acute metabolic disorders (reduced blood sugar levels, reduced blood calcium levels – postpartum eclampsia in dogs), infectious and invasive diseases (such as toxoplasmosis, rabies, severe worm infestations), neoplasms, intoxications, inflammatory processes in the central nervous system.

At the initial stage, the animal is anxious, sometimes hides and loses spatial orientation. Then there is trembling, no reaction to sound and visual stimuli – does not react to a name and familiar words, bumps into others, sometimes the dog may howl or whimper.

Then the seizure phase begins, lasting no more than two minutes in duration. Muscular trembling becomes stronger, the animal most often falls on its side, muscles tense, limb movements are observed. Abundant salivation, involuntary urination and defecation are characteristic.

In the next, recovery period, the animal comes to itself, but nervous disorders are observed in it for another half an hour to two days. A shaky gait and weak reaction to what is going on around them are characteristic. Some animals during this period sleep a lot, some eat a lot.

To identify the cause of seizures in dogs and cats, the following points are important.

When collecting the anamnesis, consider the origin of the animal, the presence of similar phenomena in parents, vaccinations, treatment for internal and external parasites, diseases suffered by the animal, allergic reactions, the duration of the seizure, its duration. If possible, watch a video recording of the attack.

What to do if the cat has seizures

If your cat has a seizure, lay it down on a flat surface.

If your pet has a seizure, you should follow these tips:

• If your cat has a cramp, calm down and don't panic, because if you are agitated, not only will you not be able to provide first aid, but you may also hurt your pet;
• Put the pet on a hard flat surface, such as the floor. Put a disposable diaper under the cat, as it is not uncommon for pets to have uncontrollable bowel and bladder emptying during a seizure;
• Never try to hold or forcefully open the animal's mouth in order to put a stick or other object into it;
• Do not try to put medicines or especially pills into the animal's mouth.

After the seizure you should cover the pet with a warm blanket and show it to the veterinarian as soon as possible.

Massage for cat seizures

Massage helps to shorten the duration of the seizure and reduce unpleasant and painful sensations. That said, don't overdo the massage. Gentle stroking of the cramped limb will be enough to help the pet.

No need to put any effort into holding the animal or into stretching the muscle and straightening the limb during the massage!

How a cat owner can help the veterinarian

In order to make the veterinarian's job easier and help him with making a proper diagnosis, the cat's owner must provide the following information to the specialist:

• the age of the pet as accurate as possible and indicate (see how to find out the age of the cat) whether the seizure occurred for the first time or if it has happened before;
• How long the seizure lasted and if the cat was conscious or faint
• Whether the development of the seizures depends on the pet's feeding periods and activity, e.g., for some illnesses, seizures develop exclusively in sleep;
• Whether the pet has any chronic or congenital diseases;
• Whether the pet has ever had a serious injury, including a brain injury;
• Whether the cat might have been poisoned, especially for free-range cats;
• Whether you have given the cat any medications or new food supplements.

For the vet to make an accurate diagnosis, you need to give as much information as possible.

Accurate and maximally detailed information from the host makes it possible to make a quick diagnosis. This makes it possible to begin treatment almost immediately after the attack. However, it should not be forgotten that some conditions require a more precise diagnosis and additional procedures such as an MRI or X-ray.

How to help a cat with seizures

Now let's consider what to do if a cat has seizures for the first time. The owner should proceed as follows:

1. Place a small pad or soft blanket on the floor and place the cat on top. Keep the cat from hitting the bare hard floor with its whole body during the cramp. Do not place the cat on an elevated surface (sofa, table, window sill etc.) during the seizure since the cat may fall and bump itself during the seizure;
2. During the seizure the cat should be held with handsDuring the seizure the cat can be held with the hands and gloves or a towel wrapped around the palm of the hand. But you should not go into the animal's mouth to hold its tongue, as the animal will not swallow it;
3. In the room where the sick animal is, it is advisable to open a window or a vent to allow fresh air to enter;
4. During convulsions, the owner should not panic.The owner should not panic, shout and pick up the cat shaking in convulsions. You should be as calm as possible;
5. It is very important to remember what kind of convulsions the cat has had (the duration and frequency of convulsions, which muscle groups were affected, how the animal behaved during the seizure). This information can be valuable in making the correct diagnosis;
6. During the seizure or immediately afterwards A few drops of Corvalol may be placed on the cat's tongue. This will help the cat quickly regain consciousness;
7. As soon as the seizures subside, you should talk to the cat gently and calmly and offer it something to drink. But you should not insist on eating for a couple of hours after the muscle spasms (if the cat wants to eat – let it eat, but you should not force-feed it);
8. If the convulsions are localized If the convulsions are localized (e.g. back paws) you may give your cat a light massage by kneading the parts of your body that have just been in spasm;
9. If the seizure is not isolated, an immediate visit to a veterinary clinic is necessary. The cat should be placed in a secure and closable carrier and taken to a specialist as soon as possible.

Characteristic symptoms

Seizures in cats have certain symptoms. Any seizure, no matter what its cause, is accompanied by the following manifestations:

1. Severe tension of the affected muscle group (stretched limbs, frozen in an unnatural posture).
2. Characteristic signs of fright (dilated fixed pupils, flattened ears, rapid breathing).
3. The cat may remain motionless for a long time for fear of increased pain.
4. At the height of the seizure, the cat may foam at the mouth or urinate spontaneously.

At the end of the seizure, the cat may be in a stunned state. She may not recognize her home or the people around her for some time.

Varieties of the ailment

Depending on which muscle group is covered by the spasm, there are several types of convulsions:

According to the duration of the attack and the nature of the muscle spasms, the following varieties of twitches are distinguished:

1. Myoclonic – the easiest variant of the development of a seizure. They are not accompanied by pain and are more often focal or unilateral. The spasms are brief and go away on their own.
2. Clonic – longer in duration. Muscles twitch (spasms alternate with relaxations). The disorder can be localized or generalized.
3. Tonic ones are even longer and stronger. In most cases, they are generalized.
4. Tonic-clonic seizures in a cat combine both types of spasms. During an attack, clonic seizures gradually turn into tonic seizures.

Convulsions in a cat causes triggering unusual behavior of the pet

If the cat has cramps what to do and name the exact cause can only a certified specialist with many years of experience. Most doctors identify three main types of convulsions that can cause this condition in an animal:

• Clonic – it appears in the form of jerky, single muscle contractions, short-lived action;
• Tonic – it is characterized by convulsions of prolonged action;
• Epileptic – the most severe degree accompanied by gagging of the upper jaw, during which the cat may recline its head, roll its eyes, produce frothy saliva, and urinate very often

Moreover, if the cat suddenly had a seizure, the reasons that provoke such behavior according to medical practice are defined by eight main points:

• Epilepsy – there is a neurological nature of the disease, which is detected by the veterinarian during a targeted examination;
• Pathology of internal organs – kidneys, liver, hypokalemia, etc;
• Pathologies of the cardiovascular system;
• In toxoplasmosis;
• All types of infectious diseases caused by lesions of the body with bacteria, viruses and any other parasitic substances;
• Intestinal parasitosis;
• Tumors of various etiologies;
• Poisonings.

Hind paw cramps in cats can occur, which can also be a consequence of any of the above diseases. However, every owner should clearly understand that if there are cramps in the cat treatment and all the necessary drugs can be prescribed by a highly qualified specialist.

How to treat seizures in a cat and possible pre-hospital care

If you find your pet in an inadequate state characterized by the above symptoms, you should never try to resolve the situation yourself and try to treat it with home remedies.

The best support when seizures occur would be to keep the pet at rest, with strict attention paid to possible nearby hard objects to avoid hitting areas of the body. It is best to wrap the cat in a warm blanket and place him in pillows.

To prevent the tongue rolls back, you should support the head slightly and call emergency veterinary assistance as soon as possible. If you live far enough away from a vet station, you can exceptionally open the mouth a little and give a couple of drops of volocardine or Corvalol to help relieve the condition and wait for the doctor to arrive.

My cat is cramping, I'm holding my cat, she's trembling, what's wrong with her? It's just like her muscles are cramping

One of the most frightening symptoms of illness in cats is cramping (involuntary muscle contractions) . Cramps in a cat usually indicate the presence of a serious illness. What are the causes of cramps in cats? What should an owner do if his or her cat has cramps?
Often cat seizures are considered a sign of epilepsy, but not always muscle spasms are caused by this particular disease. There are also non-epileptic seizures, which can be caused by a variety of reasons. Seizures are also divided into tonic and clonic. Tonic spasms are characterized by prolonged muscle tension, while clonic ones are characterized by short sharp contractions alternating with relaxation.

A true epileptic seizure in a cat is usually accompanied by loss of consciousness, but cat convulsions caused by other causes may occur without loss of consciousness. Seizures in the cat can be caused by two main groups of causes, which include diseases of the brain and metabolic disorders or intoxication.

Diseases of the brain that can provoke seizures in a cat, in addition to true epilepsy, include, for example, inflammatory diseases. Most often they are a complication of a variety of infections (rabies, toxoplasmosis, distemper, parvovirus encephalitis), parasitic diseases, fungal infections of the brain.

Seizures may also be provoked by hydrocephalus (hydrocephalus of the brain), craniocerebral trauma, thiamine deficiency (vitamin B1), brain tumors, vascular diseases (ischemia or brain infarction), as well as chronic CNS diseases, which are accompanied by brain damage (they count more than a dozen).

But also cat seizures can be caused by causes not directly related to the activity of the brain. One such cause is hypoxia (insufficient oxygen supply to the brain) caused by respiratory or cardiac problems.

Treatment

Treatment is prescribed on a strictly individual basis, the choice of drugs and manipulations depends on the precise diagnosis, the cause of seizures:

These medications are administered only under the supervision of a doctor and in the exact dosage appropriate to the age and weight of the pet. After the acute seizure is over, symptomatic therapy is given:

• Solutions to stabilize the water-salt balance and prevent dehydration of the body;
• antiemetics;
• complex vitamin preparations;
• drugs that have strong analgesic properties.

Prevention of seizures in cats

To prevent the occurrence of seizures, the owner of the animal should provide him with proper conditions of detention, regular treatment against worms and insects, a balanced diet.

Seizures in cats – a fairly common phenomenon, they can be a sign of a variety of pathologies. Unlike people, the accompanying symptoms are not characteristic, so only a veterinarian can make an accurate diagnosis after examination. If you seek medical help in time, the prognosis for the pet will be favorable.