Why is my cat having seizures and heart issues after normal tests?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm sorry to hear that Clunker has been having seizures. It is important to see exactly what is going on, to determine that he is having a true seizure, as opposed to a collapse or localized tremors for a different reason. A video would be very helpful and I would be happy to provide a consultation. If this is a true seizure, they are usually the result of abnormal brain activity. This can be due to a large number of diseases including brain cancer, infection, or epilepsy (the cause of which is not currently known in cats). With brain cancer or epilepsy, blood work can be normal, however, x-rays or a CT scan would determine if there is something else causing the seizures. It may be helpful to know that seizures themselves are not thought to be painful, and it is normal for animals to urinate/defecate while they are having a seizure. This frequency of seizures is definitely confusing and distressful for Clunker, and a veterinarian can prescribe an anti-seizure medication to keep him comfortable. It is important to have Clunker evaluated by a vet to ensure that there is nothing else that can be causing collapse or tremors, such as a hormonal issue or viral infection, and to have him treated appropriately.

He could have this behavior from an ear infection, head injury, low blood sugar or epilepsy. If Sherlock is back to normal then it was a seizure, if he's still having these problems and the blood work was normal I'm concerned about a serious neurological problem. I would take him back for a recheck if he's not much by tomorrow. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Sherlock.

I'm sorry to hear that Maci is having this problem! Idiopathic epilepsy, which refers to seizures without any underlying cause, is rare in cats but can occur. Other possible causes would include a brain tumor or neurologic disease of some kind, as there would not be any evidence of these issues on normal bloodwork. If you are concerned and want to try and get a definitive diagnosis, you can request referral to a veterinary neurologist for further testing, which would likely include an MRI or CT scan of the brain as well as a CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) tap. If going to see a specialist is not an option for you, your veterinarian should still be able to prescribe medication to control Maci's seizures even without knowing what the underlying cause might be - I would definitely recommend this at this point, if she is having seizures every other day.

Poor kitty. If her bloodwork is normal then that is unfortunately not a good indicator and in such a young kitty we have to consider the high possibility that this indicates a brain or spinal cord lesion. Some kind of trauma could have also occured to cause these seizures. IT is best to put Capser on anti-seizure medication right away to hopefully manage these better. If the seizures continue to happen at this frequency, then permanent brain damage is likely to occur. A referral to a neurologist should also be considered. An MRI or CT scan will likely be recmomended to get to the bottom of the cause of these seizures. Poor kitty. I wish you all the best with Casper moving forward. Take care.

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.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. The symptoms do suggest short seizures or mini strokes. You should take Cheshire to your local vets for full clinical examination and a blood test to check his blood sugar level, red cell count, kidney and liver function. If the blood results come back normal and he keeps having the episodes, he may need further investigation, like MRI scan of the brain. Alternatively, your vet may recommend treatment with anti-epileptic medication asa trial.

Hi there. Thank you for using PetCoach. So sorry that Brea is having this issue. Seizures in cats can be very serious. A seizure from an inner ear infection is possible but I don't feel it is likely to be the underlying cause. Usually blood testing is done as a first line test to check organ function (mainly the liver and kidneys). If these organs are not working properly seizures may be the result. I would be a bit concerned since she only has one kidney. An x-ray of the skull may also be helpful in determining if the ear infection has gone behind the ear drum in which case that may need to be opened and flushed. Here is a link to an article about seizures in cats that may give you more information. I hope this helps. Best wishes. http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=1+2118&aid=224