FeLine seizure disorder - any ideas for care?

[2DogsFarm]

Posting again for my friend with the special diet cats.
The older (16) diabetic cat has now developed a seizure disorder.

Vet has so far prescribed HBP meds, no anti-convulsant or phenobarb (yet) but seizures are continuing and from what I’ve been told, are more frequent - 3 times this month.

My gut says it may be time for this cat as I cannot imagine QOL is very good for her.
But friend says when spells are over cat acts normally.
Not right away, but in a day or two, eating & playing as usual.

Anyone here have experience with seizures?
Anything work to resolve or at least mitigate?

[SquishTheBunny]

Your friend needs to go back to her vet if the seizures are continuing -was this not told to her?

Yes there are medications to resolve and treat seizures, but you need to get them from your vet

Good luck!

[Zu_Zu]

I agree with STB ```back to vet ~ Jingles & AO

[I]
I ‘second’ STB’s advice = RIGHT back to the vet !

Jingles & AO for this dear cat and her owner ~ [/I]

[2DogsFarm]

Cat has been back to the vet after every occurrence.

Really - vet is doing all she can, I am just wondering/questioning if all the meds are going to relieve the symptoms or just make the intervals longer.

And wanting to hear from others who have SD cats that are living with the condition.

[SquishTheBunny]

No offense, but vet is NOT doing everything they can.

First off, what diagnostics have been run? Are the seizures hypoglycemic seizures? Are her glucoses normal after each seizure? If they are hypoglycemic events then a change of insulin or feeding protocol is needed.

Is she hyperthyroid as well? Hyperthyroidism and brain tumors can also cause seizures. Both are managed with different medications.

Anticonvulsant medications are designed to minimize or prevent seizure activity regardless of the cause (with exception of hypoglycemic events). They should have some response on cats, whether its fully stopping them or minimizing the severity or increasing the interval between them. There are many different antiseizure medications available that are safe for cats to use.

Your friend needs to find a new vet now, or get the vet to refer her to a neurologist/internist who will do something to manage the seizures. At 16 though, chances of idiopathic epilepsy are probably very slim. Your friend should definitely think of palliative treatments (anticonvulsant, steroids) if she isn’t willing to run any diagnostics.

[2DogsFarm]

Thanks Squish.
Sorry I was not clear in my OP.

Vet has done glucose monitoring as do the owners.
Levles have been good as reported to me by her owner.
Cat is on special diet & has been since diagnosed as diabetic some years ago.
Not sure about testing thyroid, but probably has been done as the vet is thorough (while I am getting info 2ndhand & may not be so clear myself posting here).
Vet has advised only MRI or other neuro-diagnoistic may be necessary to find out the cause of seizures.

[SquishTheBunny]

That’s some important info lol.

Yes, MRI is indicated for sure. Then you will know “what” to treat for. But, if your friend doesn’t want to pay for that, palliative treatment with anticonvulsants is not a bad choice. Im still shocked as to why this isn’t an option for the cat. Not everyone has $1000+ to spend on an MRI. I would tell her to get a referral to someone who will discuss the use of anticonvulsants. Especially if she is looking for palliative treatment for QOL.

My old cat had seizures for a year, she responded well to keppra for some time. She likely had a brain tumor (other signs) so when she started havin breakthrough seizures that became frequent (small ones every day) it was her time. But, the anticonvulsants and prednisone gave her a good year with us.

[2DogsFarm]

Rechecked my last post & see I may be misleading “vet has advised only” <what I meant was vet has told them only MRI will give a definitive diagnosis.
Vet has also told owners phenobarb may be the next step.

Since this cat is already having eating issues maybe that’s why the Keppra has not been prescribed (side effect of decreased appetite)?

Right now friend is saying No to the MRI, but she is nuts enough about her cats that she may go that route.
I would not do that with such an old & already impaired cat, why add stress to an already stressed animal?
But to each their own.
I would hope my friend can see her way clear to treating as you did.
Daily seizures cannot be good for QOL.

[GoForAGallop]

My old cat developed seizures due to what we suspect was a brain tumor. (He was 17 at that point, so everyone’s opinion was we would just treat the symptoms 'cause what were we going to do if we knew the cause? Certainly not operate on a 17 year old cat!)

I brought him in when I found him walking in circles with a head tilt, fully expecting to put him down. (We had been treating him for hyperthyroidism for years at that point, so he was most definitely an OLD old cat.) As a last ditch effort, the vet put him on a low dose of prednisone and told me to cross my fingers.

He lived another two years, and passed peacefully at 19.

Agreed that at this point I would worry less about actually diagnosing your friends cat and just talk to the vet about medications strictly for managing quality of life. Anticonvulsants, prednisone, etc.

[JackieBlue]

Has anyone mentioned valium? A low dose may not only help with seizures, but in cats, valium can be quite an effective appetite stimulant. It should have an overall “destressing” effect, too, which sounds like it may be helpful.

[2DogsFarm]

Jackieblue:
I’ll mention Valium to my friend - sounds like it might be just what she needs (cat - not friend)

[SquishTheBunny]

You are right that keppra CAN reduce appetite, but a really good “palliative” course is the combination of Keppra (or phenobarb) AND prednisone. If there is a brain tumor, prednisone will decrease inflammation. A good side effect to prednisone is that is also increases hunger. Often time with the older kitties the keppra and pred combo is what works. However, being a diabetic your friend would need to monitor glucoses and insulin dosing if on pred as it will cause an increase in water and food intake, as well as urine production. The side effects of prednisone aren’t as noticible in cats though than in dogs.

Rectal valium is wonderful for when they are seizuring, but it has a short duration of action (generally under an hour) so it is not ideal as a preventive drug. It does make them hungry though, as does propofol!

There are other appetite stimulants available to cats.

Remind your friend its all about QOL though, she will know when its time and she shouldn’t feel bad about not making further diagnostics. IF she wants to keep the cat around though, she needs to treat it well and offer reasonable palliative treatments.