Seizures in felines are not uncommon.Many of the anti-seizure medications used to treat dogs are toxic to cats and treatment options are limited.There are a number of medications and lifestyle changes you can try to treat and control speach in your cat.A medication that will help to reduce or eliminate your cat's seizures can only be prescribed by a doctor.Make an appointment for your cat as soon as possible.
Step 1: Take your cat to see a doctor.
Ensuring that your cat gets the proper treatment is dependent on a proper diagnosis.If your cat's doctor diagnoses him with a seizure, he will be able to prescribe you a medication to reduce or eliminate it.Provide the vet with information about your cat's seizures, such as how long the seizures last, and how often they occur.
Step 2: Allow your cat's vet to do tests.
Your cat's vet will need to perform a number of tests on your cat.It will help your cat's vet to rule out other causes of the seizures, such as an injury.
Step 3: For life, give your cat the medication.
Your cat will need to be on medication for the rest of their life if your cat's vesical doctor determines that it is necessary.Do not stop your cat's medication or skip it if it causes a seizure.
Step 4: phenobarbital helps to prevent seizures.
The most common medication used to treat cats with seizures is phenobarbital.There are some important things to keep in mind if your cat has been prescribed phenobarbital.Seizures are caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain.The anticonvulsant phenobarbital raises the motor cortex's threshold for stimulation while simultaneously decreasing neural excitability.The cat's nerves become less responsive and her brain needs a bigger triggering point to cause a seizure.
Step 5: Follow your vet's instructions for administering phenobarbital.
Instructions for how to properly administer the medication will be provided by your cat's vet.Follow the instructions carefully.If the dose isn't working, call your cat's doctor.phenobarbital crosses the stomach lining and is quickly absorbed into the blood stream.
Step 6: Cats who are difficult to pill should be given liquid phenobarbital.
Both tablets and liquid form of phenobarbital are available.Cats who have a hard time swallowing pills are more likely to use the liquid form.If needed, give this information to your cat's doctor.When small amounts of the medication have been prescribed, liquid phenobarbital is better.The tablets are hard and can be difficult to cut up.
Step 7: It is possible that phenobarbital may cause cats to be sleepy.
The cat may appear to be unconscious in the first few days of treatment.Once her body adjusts to the new medication, you cat should become more alert and active.
Step 8: phenobarbital can cause your cat to gain weight.
The cat's thirst and appetite can be stimulated by phenobarbital, which may cause her to gain weight.If you want to maintain your cat's health, you can feed her a healthy diet or a reduced calories diet.
Step 9: There are risks associated with phenobarbital.
Regular liver bloodwork is required to monitor your cat's function.The cat's phenobarbital can't be broken down properly if it is impaired.In rare cases, phenobarbital causes the immune system to destroy blood cells and the bone marrow to stop producing new cells.The best way to prevent these problems is to keep an eye on your cat's health and bring her to the vet for regular check-ups.Seizures can be deadly, so your vet will take this risk into account.
Step 10: Understand how diazepam works.
If treatment with phenobarbital is impractical, diazepam can be given to your cat.In order to decrease the likelihood of a cluster of seizures, diazepam is given directly after a seizure, instead of being administered on a daily basis.Some cats are more prone to seizure clusters than others.A seizure cluster is a group of seizures that happen in a row.Valium works by depressing the central nervous system activity and making the brain waves less active.It helps to decrease the chance of more seizures.
Step 11: Give the drug to your cat.
You can give diazepam to your cat.Depending on how your cat reacts to the medication, the correct dosage will vary from cat to cat.Your vet will usually give you between 1 and 5mg per day.
Step 12: During a seizure, administer diazepam.
A rectal suppository will be more effective if the cat is in the grip of a seizure.The correct dose for an average sized cat is 5mg tube sizes.The cat will be sedified for 6 to 8 hours, which will make additional seizures less likely.The same technique as for taking a cat's temperature is used to administer the suppository.
Step 13: In rare cases, diazepam can cause death.
In rare cases, the use of diazepam in cats can cause a fatal hepatic necrosis.The liver goes into irreversible shut down because of an individual reaction.It's not clear what the exact reason is for this.It's important to remember that this is a rare occurrence, and the chances of it happening need to be taken into account.
Step 14: During a seizure, don't touch your cat.
You should not touch your cat during a seizure.Touch, sound, or smell stimulates the brain and can prolong a seizure.In order to get everyone out of the room, close the curtains, turn off the lights, and turn the TV off.Don't put your hand in your cat's mouth.The cat may not be able to let go.
Step 15: If your cat has a seizure, place cushions around her.
If the cat is seizing, place cushions around her to protect her.If the cat is in danger of falling, place a thick duvet on the ground to break her fall.
Step 16: An epileptic cat can be kept indoors.
Cats like to explore and roam around their territory.Seizures can happen anywhere at any time.While climbing a tree, your cat could fall and hurt himself.A cat that relies on her wits to stay one step ahead of her neighbor's dog could get into trouble if she had a seizure at the wrong time.You should consider keeping your cat indoors.If she has fallen from a height, you are more likely to find her.
Step 17: Think about changing your cat's diet.
There is no evidence that a cat's diet causes it to have convulsions.There are anecdotal accounts of cats that stopped having seizures when they were fed a gluten free diet.Since cats are obligate carnivores, it can be argued that they are not equipped to deal with wheat in their diet, and thus more likely to formgluten antibodies which are toxic to the brain.If your cat is otherwise healthy, you don't need to worry about putting a balanced diet on it.A board certified animal nutritionist can help you find a balanced diet for small animals.You can find one at a major university if you check this resource.