During your cat's life, there are many illnesses that he or she may experience, including epilepsy. This condition can have a variety of causes, and if the seizures are recurrent, they should get your attention. What are the sources? Are there ways to prevent it? How is the condition diagnosed? And what treatment options are available?
What is an epileptic seizure?
Epilepsy manifests itself by epileptic seizures, resulting from a temporary and sudden dysfunction of the brain's electrical activity. It is therefore a neurological disease. Electrical discharges pass through the body of the affected individual, including your cat's.
Seizures in your cat are similar to those seen in humans. Your pet may experience convulsions and other symptoms that may seem overwhelming.
What are the manifestations of an epileptic seizure?
The classic epileptic seizure is divided into three well-defined stages.
First, there is the aura phase that precedes the seizure itself. During this stage, your cat may seem more anxious or agitated. This phase may persist for several days before the seizure occurs. However, you may never notice these signs because they can be interpreted as indicating other problems.
Afterwards, the ictus corresponds to the epileptic seizure itself. This stage usually lasts between 1 and 5 minutes. It is during this time that your cat will experience seizures, the intensity of which will vary depending on the cause of his epilepsy.
Finally, the post-ictal phase is the period following the seizure. After the seizure, your cat must recover and may be lethargic or weak. Her behavior may also change, manifesting itself as anxiety, aggression, etc. This last stage may last for a few minutes or several days.
It is important to note that not all epileptic seizures are the same. Epilepsy can take many forms, and seizures can also vary depending on the area of the brain cells affected. In fact, there are two categories of epileptic seizures.
Primary epilepsy :
The main cause of seizures in your cat is related to primary seizures, also known as idiopathic seizures.
In this case, your cat has no brain damage or clinical disorder. Despite an apparently normal brain, he will nevertheless suffer from recurrent seizures. While the genetic origin of epilepsy has been demonstrated in dogs, this has not yet been established in cats.
Secondary epilepsy :
Also called lesional epilepsy, this form of epilepsy involves damage to a part of the brain. The seizures result from factors such as a tumor, malformation, sequelae or other type of brain trauma.
What causes epilepsy?
The causes of epilepsy can be intracranial or extracranial.
Intracranial origins :
These include tumors, malformations, encephalitis or stroke. These causes are generally the most serious and present a higher life-threatening risk.
Extracranial origins :
In some cases, your cat may have convulsions that are not really seizures. These are more likely to be due to allergic reactions, poisoning from plants, certain foods or chemicals. However, there are also seizures resulting from organ dysfunctions such as the liver or pancreas, or related to low blood sugar.
Generally, in a cat under 5 years of age, seizures are often considered primary. However, as your cat gets older, the cause of the epilepsy may be intracranial, which could indicate the presence of a tumor or more serious brain disease.
Diagnosis
You may not notice your cat's first seizures. Also, your cat usually does not suffer during these rapid episodes. However, once you observe seizures, it's important to note the times and duration of the seizures, as well as any potential triggers, such as an expired food or a specific intolerance.
It is essential to consult a veterinarian, who will be the only one able to make an accurate diagnosis of epilepsy in your cat.
How do you do it? First of all, by taking a blood test. This blood test will verify the proper functioning of certain organs, such as the liver, kidneys and pancreas. Then, additional tests are needed to determine the cause of the epilepsy. A CT scan or an MRI may be prescribed, possibly accompanied by a cerebrospinal fluid puncture to look for secondary epilepsy.
The diagnosis also confirms that your cat is suffering from seizures. In fact, mild seizures could be due to other problems, such as a bad fall or other pathologies.
Treatment to follow
Treatment depends on the cause of the seizures.
For infrequent primary seizures, increased monitoring is usually sufficient without specific treatment. Treatment will be initiated only if the seizures become recurrent. Depending on the cause of the epilepsy, your cat may be treated. However, a seizure resulting from a brain injury greatly reduces the chances of recovery.
Anti-epileptic treatment aims to reduce seizures by decreasing the excitation of neurons. It is important to give the medication at fixed times, between one and three times a day, as recommended by the veterinarian. After one month of treatment, a follow-up visit to the veterinarian is necessary to adjust the dose, which can be increased if it was insufficient or reduced if necessary.
Your cat may continue to have some seizures. This is not necessarily a sign of treatment failure. Sometimes patience is required. It is important to note that anti-epileptic medications can have side effects on your cat's mood, appetite and thirst. These effects tend to diminish over time.
Do not confuse with other diseases
Other illnesses can cause seizures and do not necessarily mean that your cat has epilepsy.
Syncope is one example, often with a metabolic or cardiac cause. Your cat may also suffer from narcolepsy or catalepsy, which manifests as a sudden loss of muscle tone. Other conditions, such as herniated discs, may also account for some seizures that appear similar to epilepsy.
In summary :
Seizures in your cat can have a variety of causes. They can be benign, meaning no brain damage, or lesional (secondary), resulting from a tumor, a more serious neurological disorder, or a specific organ dysfunction. Seizures can also be related to indigestion or food poisoning, in which case they are not called epilepsy.
The diagnosis is based on blood work and medical imaging performed by your veterinarian. Only your veterinarian can determine the cause of your cat's epilepsy and institute appropriate treatment. This treatment must be administered in a rigorous manner, even if it does not necessarily prevent the appearance of new seizures.
