Cat with epilepsy/heart murmur suddenly grumpy. Is it medical?

Hello. Kovu probably is going to need a more extensive workup than just the blood work he received at the ER. I am concerned about the heart murmur because a cardiac abnormality can cause a condition caused syncope, which might be mistaken for a seizure. If you were my client, I would highly recommend a cardiac consultation prior to placing Kovu on anti-seizure medication. Only after I was sure the episodes are not heart related would I think about starting a daily anti-seizure medication. Good luck & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Okie is gorgeous! Having a physical exam and screening bloodwork and a fecal exam and urinalysis to rule out a medical cause for his crankiness such as an ear infection, diabetes, kidney/liver issues, hyperthyroidism etc. would he best. Using a Feliway mulicat calming pheromone plug -in several rooms in your home along with daily VetriScience Composure chews or oral liquid may help significantly with stress related aggression /inappetance. Both of these products are available without a prescription on chewy.com and PetCo.com. Good luck!

Since it sounds like this is a recent behavior change for Zora, I would be very suspicious that she may have an underlying medical problem causing her aggressive behavior. There are a number of common problems in older cats that can cause behavior changes like this, including hyperthyroidism, chronic kidney disease, or even pain from arthritis. I would recommend taking Zora to the vet for an exam when you are able to - he/she can do blood work if needed to check for these issues. If a problem is found, it's likely that it can be treated with medication to make her more comfortable and hopefully improve her mood as well :)

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Kovu. Oh no, poor boy! That sounds awful. It could be an idiopathic seizure, meaning there is no known cause. There is a potential it could happen again, so I do think he should see a vet as soon as possible to get checked out, taking him into an ER vet tonight if you can. Best of luck.

I would try to restrict the exercise if possible, in cats it may be difficult to achieve though. Kovu will know how he can do so probably will be more cautious and adapt his exercise automatically if feeling unwell/not so strong and active.

Hey there, Sorry to see about Kovu licking himself obsessively. I can see that he has really made his skin very inflamed. A somewhat common problem in cats called Eosinophilic Granuloma Complex (EGC) comes to mind when I see this photo, specifically because the middles and backs of his hind legs are affected. If this is the cause, it likely has nothing to do with his seizure disorder or phenobarbital. These lesions can easily develop secondary bacterial infections though, which may require antibiotics. Tackling EGC often involves a bit of trial and error to figure out what works best for each cat. Some cats only ever break out once or twice in their lives, and some cats need to have a special hypoallergenic diet, consistent flea control, and allergy medications throughout their whole lives. It is generally something that can be managed well once it is under control. Here is a link for more information about EGC: https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951528 I'd recommend getting Kovu into his veterinarian in the next 48 hours to have him examined and his itchiness addressed. They can talk to you more about their clinical findings with Kovu and what diagnostics are needed and what treatment is best for him. I hope this helps. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. Animals can develop many different symptoms after having a seizure. This is because of the effects on the brain during a seizure. Some animals will become very lethargic and disoriented While others may become more affectionate and more energetic. If the seizures have not been addressed by a veterinarian, I would certainly recommend having a veterinarian examine her so that the most appropriate Diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. If the seizures are becoming more frequent and longer in duration, she likely needs an anti-seizure medication to prevent these from happening. If the seizures are becoming longer in duration or more frequent, brain damage could develop. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please feel free to contact me if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further