Running Seizure

Sleepykittiesmom

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running seizure. That is what I call the type of seizure my cat has been having. She uns around smashing into everything while having her horrible seizure. Have any of you seen this kind before? I have been researching it,but I can’t find out anything on this kind of sizure. The vet has put her on phenobarbital.
 

mrsgreenjeens

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What did the Vet call it? Is the phenobarbital helping? (mainly I'm bumping this thread up for you since I don't have any experience on this topic)

I did, however, find this thread that is quite interesting. In it someone discussed DIET changes and how they helped stop seizures in their cat! Fascinating! Cat With Seizures And Allergies
 
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Sleepykittiesmom

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Hi Mrsgreenjeens,
The did blood tests on her and couldn’t find anything from that. Now they have her on the phenobarbital an prednisolone combo.
 
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Sleepykittiesmom

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The pheno alone didn’t seem to do too much but now that she is on the combo of pheno and pred she seems to be doing better. Definitely less seizures but is still having about 2-3 per day.
 

mrsgreenjeens

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I'm glad there is at least some improvement on the combination of drugs, but still...

Did you get a chance to read that thread I posted above? Was there anything in there you found helpful?

:vibes::vibes::vibes:
 

mservant

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I did live for a while with a young cat who was having seizures: there were some behaviour changes but we didn't realize what was happening until we saw the actual seizure happen one day.

Is the running and bumping in to things being described as the seizure or is this what your cat does before / after them? In my experience a cat will usually fall over, and possibly lose consciousness for a moment (and maybe longer which can need emergency treatment) when the seizure is actually happening but they might show some behaviour change before, and also afterwards and the after effects can last for more than 24 hours in some cats. Our cat would be hyper-active then start to walk or run in circles before collapsing, and his eyes and head would move from side to side. Then afterwards he would get up but be confused and wobbly for a while and often poop on the floor where ever he was (which was very out of character for him).

I hope the medication helps and your vet is able to stabilize her condition some more. What age is she? A friend of mine had an older cat who developed epilepsy and he remained happy and active for several years once on the right medication.
 
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Sleepykittiesmom

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My cat is only 2 years old. The meds don’t seem to be working.
She has about a dozen seizures a day. She is tearing herself up in the process. She barely seems to move very much anymore.
 

neely

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I am familiar with seizures in dogs but none of our cats ever had a seizure. However, it can be disturbing and I'm very sorry your cat is experiencing approx. a dozen seizures p/day. Here is some additional info. regarding the different medications available to treat seizures and their side effects: Epilepsy In Your Pet - Seizures In Dogs And Cats
Please check back to let us know how she is doing. :alright:
 

ginny

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If she's having a dozen seizures a day she needs to see the ER vet. That's too many. Seizures are not benign events. The brain becomes oxygen starved during big seizures. At the ER they will get her stabilized with meds (usually Valium and phenobarb) and watch her closely until they reach the dose that prevents her from having any seizures. Then she will need to stay on that dose, and have phenobarb/liver enzyme levels drawn periodically. My Nat has been on pheno alone for the past 3 yrs and controlled so far.
 
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Sleepykittiesmom

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I have taken her to the vets several times already. She is on combination of meds. She has had test that come back negative.
 

Shar371

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Part of my comment is to get the "bump"... Part of it is because these were the types of seizures my Midnight was having on her last day. She, too, was "running", though I couldn't tell if the running was the tail end of the seizure or her reacting to coming out of the seizure and trying to escape it. The initial bout was always a general straightening and stiffening of her body, following by yowling and contorting. The final bit was the "running", though she would do it while she was on her side without trying to stand, too, so I think it follows what 2ndChance (Linked by Neely, above) calls "paddling".

I wish I could refer you to something I knew would help. Have you tried getting a second opinion from another vet, or contacting a local vet school to see if they can get you a second opinion? If you can, keep a log of the medications, food intake, habits, and the seizures (time of day, duration, how she acts during them), and any changes over time. Bring that with you to make darn sure they understand the situation. It might also help to write out anything else you want to bring up and run through the list with your vet to make sure everything is covered while you're there (tests to run, lab values you want explained, treatments you might want to try for her).
 

mservant

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The suggestion of seeing if there is a local vet school or somewhere to get a second opinion sounds good. That is a whole load of seizures: it must be awful and scary to watch, and your cat must be exhausted. I think often a cause for seizures in cats is said to be idiopathic and in others there is an underlying illness or imbalance, but either way the medication / treatment should be checked out further to try and improve things.
 
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