CAT SEIZURE advice pls
TLDR Has anyone had a cat with cluster seizures or focal seizures? Vet is saying it’s extremely rare for cats to have idiopathic seizures. Did phenobarbital take a while to start working? Were you able to manage seizures without immediately getting an MRI?
Female, spayed, about 12 lbs, 5 years old, previously healthy, and had her first episode a couple of days ago. The episodes can include sudden running around like she’s scared or chasing something invisible, crouching low, drooling, face twitching, chewing at the air, staring, acting confused/paranoid, and sometimes making unusual vocalizations. Most episodes last around 5–20 seconds.
I brought her to the ER vet yesterday, They started her with one dose of Midazolam last night and ran a full blood panel, hydration level, and organ function, all perfect. (They sent me home with phenobarbital, front loading with 1.5 pills every 6 hours for 4 doses, then every 12 hours)
Followed up with her vet today when they opened and they tested FIV, FeLV, toxoplasmosis, Those results are still pending.
This is not from an outside toxin like essential oils, plants, medicine, personal care products, flea and tick meds, and the like
Since starting phenobarbital at home, she has had approximately 6 additional seizures/episodes, bringing us to 13 since Sunday night. Between episodes she is responsive to her name, will respond to treats, can walk around, use the litter box, etc., but she seems wobbly, tired, and less interested in interacting with me than normal, but has had moments of enjoying play and exhibiting her normal behavior. My other cat has also been hissing at her and seems afraid of her since this started, any tips there other than separating them for time being( already doing that)
The ER vet is already recommending an MRI, but I was quoted around $3,000 and I genuinely don’t know how I can afford that. I’m terrified that I’ll spend thousands on credit of money I don’t have only to be told she has a brain tumor and there’s nothing I can do.
Feeing lost and my only plan right now is to see tomorrow what the FIV and FELV says.
Has anyone had a cat with cluster seizures or focal seizures? Vet is saying it’s extremely rare for cats to have idiopathic seizures. Did phenobarbital take a while to start working? Were you able to manage seizures without immediately getting an MRI?
I’m obviously staying in contact with my vet and will be updating them about the continued seizures, but I’m looking for real-world experiences from people who have been through something similar because I’m feeling pretty scared right now.
Here is the timeline so far.
Sunday may 24
11:30 pm first - didn’t register to me that it was a seizure I thought she was following a random fly or something.
Sunday may 25
9:30 am - zoomie type behavior with twitching a drooling, under 15 seconds
11:30 am - short, running around acting like she’s seeing something not there, chewing air, drooling
3:06 pm spinning in a circle biting the air and drooling, 15 seconds
5 pm at the vet, face twitching and air chewing; drooling, 10 seconds
Peed
7:30 pm another one at the vet er, short under 10 second
Got seizure nose meds
9:13 pm first one at home after taking nose mist and first dose of siez meds. Had been staring not blinking. Gave additional sieze pill as vet instructed me to front load the dose
Re
May Tuesday 26th
12 am
Another seizure at home, very short, running in circles
12:36 am called and asked if can give gaba, think it won’t help but they said yes, I gave two
1:11am had another, about 7 second, running in circles, no drool. Laying down staring
4:20 am woke up to the end of one, she drank water and laid down, unsure of duration but short assuming
Up at 6:25 no seizure yet, went to use litter box and had diarrhea and it was all over her, she had to no regard didn’t seem to notice. Later on tried to clean herself
Drinking a lot
Beans upset and bullying when she escaped the room. He slapped her and she didn’t even really register it.
Acting more herself
10:30 pm vet follow up
12:30 another s lasted under 10 seconds, shot up and ran and drooled and then stopped. Post, laid down, is responsive still but dazed a little
Back to being dazed :(
1:50 pm gave her the last of the 1.5 regime
3 pm another seizure started with face twitching
Then running about 10 seconds maybe less
Dazey again, not hiding but not wanting contact. Responds to snapping and sounds. Still reacts when touched
Presently it’s 5 pm may 26th