Fitting cat - anything I should be watching for?

lowis

a diary is an excellent idea!

i did one of these for my cat who had cancer and it was so useful to go back and cross reference it when she wasn't quite herself, or her appetite seemed to slow. through my daily note-taking i was able to identify two drugs which she did not get along with (they lowered her appetite) so we eliminated those from her treatment.

RacyRed

Charlie1986 wrote: »

My dog has epilepsy and we had to try and find anything that may be causing them. I keep a diary each day of the weather, what he has eaten and at what times etc.
His medication keeps his fits under control most of the time now we have the right dose but the odd fit he does have we have found it is normally a windy day and if he has been sat too close to a radiator and got hot. Also strong smells seem to affect him.
A few days before he has a fit he normally stands on the back of the chair in the lounge and barks all the time.

Another great idea! I've started the diary with what I can remember from her earlier fits.

It is interesting what you say about your dog getting too hot, unusually for a cat, mine seeks out the coolest places she can, even in this weather.

CiciBaltimore

yes, put her to sleep and allow her to rest with dignity. poor thing fitting and being dragged out to be prodded and poked by vets. you must have been very upset about her. she is better to be with pu$$y angels.

Charlie1986

CiciBaltimore wrote: »

yes, put her to sleep and allow her to rest with dignity. poor thing fitting and being dragged out to be prodded and poked by vets. you must have been very upset about her. she is better to be with pu$$y angels.

This is absolutly ridiculous advice! Would you put a human will epilepsy to sleep, I think not! Once under control animals with epilepsy lead a perfectly normal life, i think you need to do some research!

geordie_lass_2

Poor kitty, I hope you get to the bottom of her seizures soon.
It sounds as if you are doing all the right things, keeping a detailed diary is a great idea.
Epileptic fits can be caused by many things, it could be a symptom of another underlying illness and I'm sure your vet will be checking for these.

Just one thought, is she photosensitive? Rapidly flickering light could trigger a fit if she is. Things like a flickering fluorescent light, the tv if she's staring at it or even the sun shining through waving branches on a tree outside a window can all be triggers.

CiciBaltimore

Charlie1986 wrote: »

This is absolutly ridiculous advice! Would you put a human will epilepsy to sleep, I think not! Once under control animals with epilepsy lead a perfectly normal life, i think you need to do some research!

not good point for argument "would you put a human to sleep". no. i would not put human to sleep ever. not when human is old. not when human is in a very bad state. not when human is unable to feed itself or dress itself. human is not the same as cat or dog because we can do the right thing for cats and dogs. a poor animal dosen't have to live in that way where it is sad and may have pain. the people in charge of our countries dont let us make that choice for our humans.

RacyRed

I am not having her put to sleep unless things get much, much worse.

At the moment she has a fit for a few minutes once a fortnight, she is a little wobbly for an hour or so afterwards but I'm already learning about the things that help her recover faster.

She has no pain that I can see as she looses conciousness when the fits start and her only real distress is when she comes round and cannot work out why she is on her back in a funny position and has made a mess (she hates that and isn't to know that she cannot help it). The fits tend to happen in one of two places, so I've sorted them so that they are comfortable and safe and any mess can be quickly dealt with without causing her any additional stress.

Being re-assured that everything is alright as soon as she comes round appears to matter to her, so that is what I do, quietly and very, very carefully - mostly it's just letting her see that I'm with her and it doesn't matter to me that she has been unwell for a bit.

After a feed, a wash and a good sleep she appears from her basket and carries on playing, eating, investigating anything and everything as if nothing had happened and is absolutely fine until the next fit kicks in.

This may be the pattern for her life, I don't have a problem with that at all. She is a wonderful little girl and a blessing in my life. She has health issues, so do I, we will get through them together.

Charlie1986

CiciBaltimore wrote: »

not good point for argument "would you put a human to sleep". no. i would not put human to sleep ever. not when human is old. not when human is in a very bad state. not when human is unable to feed itself or dress itself. human is not the same as cat or dog because we can do the right thing for cats and dogs. a poor animal dosen't have to live in that way where it is sad and may have pain. the people in charge of our countries dont let us make that choice for our humans.

My dog has epilespy, he is not sad, or in pain. Infact he's running around the garden right now playing in the snow. Should I put him to sleep because he has 2 or 3 fits a year? Not a chance.

Charlie1986

RacyRed, at the start you may find things abit up and down until you get the right dose of medication. I remember 2 years ago when my dog was first diagnosed we were at the vet at lease 3 times a week :eek: and the number of days i've taken off work to look after him :rolleyes:
Now he just has check up's every 3 months unless something else happens. Touch wood he hasn't had a fit since last summer.
Well done on not giving up on your cat, i'm amazed at the amount of people who have told me to have my dog put to sleep because he has epilepsy :A

RacyRed

Charlie1986 wrote: »

RacyRed, at the start you may find things abit up and down until you get the right dose of medication. I remember 2 years ago when my dog was first diagnosed we were at the vet at lease 3 times a week :eek: and the number of days i've taken off work to look after him :rolleyes:
Now he just has check up's every 3 months unless something else happens. Touch wood he hasn't had a fit since last summer.
Well done on not giving up on your cat, i'm amazed at the amount of people who have told me to have my dog put to sleep because he has epilepsy :A

Thanks Charlie, the vet and me are still at the beginning with all this and it's great to hear that your dog's epilepsy has responded well to the medication, that is so encouraging!

I've noticed a big difference since Daisy has been on phenobarbitol so hopefully we can tweak things and get some good improvements. I too have been shocked at the number of people who assumed that because Daisy has fits I would have her put to sleep. I was terrified that I might have to give her up to a safer home, but having her PTS? No!