holistic/alternative treatment for seizures?

da hoomin

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Malý is 2.5yo and was diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy about 4.5 months ago. She'd been having very mild petit mal/focal seizures for months, but when she began having them multiple times a week, she was put on phenobarbital. [16.2mg 2x day] This stopped the seizures completely for 3 months.

Six weeks ago, she began having seizures again on a frequent basis and her dose was increased. [1 dose of 32.4mg + then 1 of 16.2 mg a day]

That stopped the seizures completely, but only for two weeks. She's had 5 episodes in the last 8 days. Each with increasing severity.

*** An 'episode' is multiple seizures, one right after the other with brief breaks in between. Sometimes as short as a split second - sometimes 2-3 seconds.

Actual seizures last from 2-3 seconds up to 17 seconds. 17 is the record high and these longer ones are becoming more frequent. Episodes are now over 90 seconds. This is also a new high, up from 45 seconds. ***

I've started keeping a very detailed journal to see if I can find any triggers. Hunger and/or stress are highly suspect.

We love her vet, but this is out of his range of experience. I don't want to just keep upping her dose. Want to look into holistic treatments as an addition to [or preferably in replacement of the pheno.]

YES, I will discuss this with her vet before even thinking about making any changes to her medication! :) But I'd appreciate input, points to a source of info, etc, so that I have something to share with him.
 
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mingsmongols

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I'm sorry your going through this. I imagine it's quite rough and your heart stops every time she has a seizure. I don't know enough to offer any advice other then going to a specialist with a broader knowledge base then your vet. I'm sure others will come along that have had similar experiences and can help.
 
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da hoomin

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Thank you MingsMongols!

Unfortunately, we don't have access to a specialist and from my understanding, not as much is known about seizures in cats as opposed to seizures in dogs.

:(

To clarify and add to my 1st post a bit - her seizures are not the grand mal - shaking - loss of consciousness type. [Thank goodness!]

It actually took me months to realize that she wasn't just being silly every once in a while - that she couldn't control it. It's very subtle. She leans her head slightly to her left, stares blankly and makes a kind of chewing motion and kind of a lip-smacking sound. But yes, it is heart-wrenching to see it happening more often and for longer periods of time. :(

It's a scary experience for her. I stay calm to help calm her. She used to look very worried when it ended, like she thought she did something wrong [NEVER!] and she used to hide. Now she seeks me out before she seizes, so she does have a bit of a warning. I put my hand on her back and I count out-loud so she knows I'm there with her.

The phenobarbital has really helped her. Before realizing what was going on, her entire personality changed. Now, she's back to her self:  active, awake and eating more than her brother, napping next to me during the day when I'm on the computer, bringing her toy to tell me she wants to play 'fetch' and sleeping next to me - self.

But the pheno's just not stopping the seizures. 
 

Geoffrey

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Malý is 2.5yo and was diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy about 4.5 months ago. She'd been having very mild petit mal/focal seizures for months, but when she began having them multiple times a week, she was put on phenobarbital. [16.2mg 2x day] This stopped the seizures completely for 3 months.

Six weeks ago, she began having seizures again on a frequent basis and her dose was increased. [1 dose of 32.4mg + then 1 of 16.2 mg a day]

That stopped the seizures completely, but only for two weeks. She's had 5 episodes in the last 8 days. Each with increasing severity.

*** An 'episode' is multiple seizures, one right after the other with brief breaks in between. Sometimes as short as a split second - sometimes 2-3 seconds.

Actual seizures last from 2-3 seconds up to 17 seconds. 17 is the record high and these longer ones are becoming more frequent. Episodes are now over 90 seconds. This is also a new high, up from 45 seconds. ***

I've started keeping a VERY detailed journal to see if I can find any triggers. Hunger and/or stress are highly suspect.

We love her vet, but this is out of his range of experience. I don't want to just keep upping her dose. Want to look into holistic treatments as an addition to [or preferably in replacement of the pheno.]

YES, I will discuss this with her vet before even thinking about making any changes to her medication! :) But I'd appreciate input, points to a source of info, etc, so that I have something to share with him.
I am a human doctor, not a vet.  However I cannot see how holistic treatments can ever help your poor cat.  If your vet cannot help, then he can refer your cat to a specialist veterinary physician.  There are many other medications for epilepsy besides phenobarbitone, if one fails, then others can be prescribed.

Don't waste your money on such useless things as holistic quack remedies.  Double blind trials have confirmed that they are not of any value, compared to medications prescribed by vets.

With all best wishes,

Geoffrey
 
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da hoomin

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Originally Posted by Geoffrey  
 
I am a human doctor, not a vet.  However I cannot see how holistic treatments can ever help your poor cat.  If your vet cannot help, then he can refer your cat to a specialist veterinary physician.  There are many other medications for epilepsy besides phenobarbitone, if one fails, then others can be prescribed.

Don't waste your money on such useless things as holistic quack remedies.  Double blind trials have confirmed that they are not of any value, compared to medications prescribed by vets.

With all best wishes,

Geoffrey
 
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