Adopting a cat: Is a past anesthesia seizure a long-term risk?

I am sorry to hear about your kitty! We do routinely do surgery in many pets that have seizures, and as long as we are aware ahead of time we can prepare for this concern by doing things such as selecting certain drugs for anesthesia and having an IV catheter in place in case a seizure occurs so we have quick access to a vein to administer medication. I would say that the risk of not being spayed is a greater health risk than the risk of being spayed. I would, however, recommend having your cat examined/have work-up done which may involve bloodwork and ultrasound to ensure there isn't a cause for seizures such as a liver shunt that needs to be addressed if your cat hasn't already been examined for the seizures. I would also recommend you have your cat spayed at a full service vet clinic and not a spay/neuter low cost clinic because of her issues she is going to need more intensive monitoring than they can offer. The risks involved in spaying are the same for any surgical procedure and include adverse reaction to the anesthetic drugs, bleeding during surgery, and infection of the surgical site. These complications are extremely rare.

Sedation/anesthesia can cause seizures but only in animals that would have been prone to seizures anyway. There would have been no way for your vet to know that before giving it to her. Seizures for three days now post-op is not normal or a good sign. You need to consult more with your vet and if they don't seem to be helping get a second opinion elsewhere. Unfortunately, seizures in cats, especially starting at her age, does not carry a good prognosis. I suggest you refer to this link about seizures in cats to educate yourself and then speak to your vet about how to proceed. ( https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/seizures-and-epilepsy-in-cats )

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If Sakura has not had another seizure in the last 2 years, she should be fine during pregnancy. Pregnancy is not considered a factor that can predispose to seizures. Epilepsy in the mum is not a risk for the kittens either.

If she is having seizures she needs to be rechecked to see what is causing them. It is good that she is eating and drinking again. I would worry about a toxin or neurological problem from her past that is affecting her health

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Seizures can occur due to many reasons that go from a toxicity, metabolic diseases, inflammatory diseases and even tumors. I highly recommend that you have him evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible for further assessment and treatment. Diagnostics that will be recommended will include bloodwork and advanced imaging such as an MRI. They would also be able to start him on anti-seizure medications to try to avoid the onset of more seizures. Good luck and have a good day! Hoping for a speedy recovery!

If she seems perfectly fine now...eating, drinking, peeing, pooping and walking normally with a normal activity level (not lethargic)... and this was her first episode, there is nothing that your vet could do other than routine screening bloodwork to rule out a liver/kidney issue or low blood sugar as the cause of the seizures. Your vet may also prescribe rectal valium suppositories to have on hand to treat any future seizures. Cats and dogs are usually not started on seizure medications unless they have several seizures a month or a prolonged seizure. Hopefully Rey won’t have any more episodes, but if she does, a short video clip may be helpful to bring to your vet. Good luck!

Hello. The presence of only 1 kidney is a birth defect that can occur. If that kidney is fully functioning, as demonstrated by normal blood kidney values, & a normal urinalysis, then there is no reason that anesthesia will be any more of a concern then for a cat with 2 kidneys. I am not sure what you mean by an indifferent colon, other than if there is one congenital birth defect, other defects are possible. We had a case of a puppy born with a deformed hind leg, & when he was old enough for neutering, also found a completely abnormal reproductive tract as well as a deformed kidney. This dog is now 13 years old & going strong. Your kitty may require periodic blood work to make sure the kidney stays healthy, & possibly some type of special diet depending on how the colon actually affects the kitten's overall well being. But, accidents in nature happen. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.