Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK

Cat Health & Behaviour => Health & Behaviour General => Topic started by: Hippykitty on March 16, 2009, 07:48:26 AM

Title: Polly had seizures on friday
Post by: Hippykitty on March 16, 2009, 07:48:26 AM
I was in the kitchen late on friday night, heating a tin of curry, when I heard a commotion behind me. Polly was fitting on the floor. In a blind panic, I grabbed the phone, rang a friend and arranged to take her to an emergency vet centre (not vetsnow!). On the way she had more seizures and wasn't herself in between them - twitching her legs and head. The vet gave her an injection of diazepam, giving me some in pill form to give her if necessary through the night. She relaxed into a deep sleep and stopped fitting.

In the morning I took her to my own vet clinic, unfortunately my fave vet wasn't working. The guy she did see was very negative about the "at her age" thing, which really annoys me. Polly has as much right to treatment as a young cat: I love her SO much!

Ironically, I already had an appointment with the really good vet booked for later today in order to collect the results of the bloods Sam had done last week - I've been concerned she might be hyper-T. I rebooked for a double appointment.

Polly SEEMS slightly better. Initially, she couldn't control her limbs and wasn't walking on her paw pads but on the bent lower upper side of  her feet - they were sort of hooked under. Now she seems to be standing properly. It's hard to tell really, because I have her in a nursing/kitten pen. She's eating well, but spends lots of time sleeping, which I'm encouraging. Fred's being great, sitting beside the pen and protecting her :Luv2:

A few years ago she had vestibular disease. I'm wondering whether this could be a repeat episode, but I'm not sure whether it causes seizures. I know that once they've had vestib disease, they're likely to have it again, and worse. Does anyone know if it's seizure causing?

Despite the fact that the vets I've seen so far have counselled PTS, Polly isn't ready to go: her spirit is strong and she's fighting.
Title: Re: Polly had seizures on friday
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on March 16, 2009, 07:53:36 AM
Fingers crossed your normal vet can be more promising about her HK.
Title: Re: Polly had seizures on friday
Post by: Liz on March 16, 2009, 08:46:46 AM
All fingers and paws crossed here for Polly and if the body and spirit are willing then do all you can for her :hug:
Title: Re: Polly had seizures on friday
Post by: clarenmax on March 16, 2009, 09:15:19 AM
Sending oodles of positive vibes to Polly  :hug: :hug: :hug:
Title: Re: Polly had seizures on friday
Post by: Janeyk on March 16, 2009, 09:16:09 AM
Best of luck for Polly xx
Title: Re: Polly had seizures on friday
Post by: MrsR on March 16, 2009, 09:48:14 AM
Yes sending tons of vibes your way hunnie x
Title: Re: Polly had seizures on friday
Post by: JackSpratt on March 16, 2009, 10:02:52 AM
Sending get well vibes to Polly, HK.  :hug:
Title: Re: Polly had seizures on friday
Post by: swampmaxmum on March 16, 2009, 10:35:29 AM
I think I was told vestibular disease is brought on - or can be - by seizures or a little stroke, not the other way around. I get so fed up with vets and negativity around any brain issues or "old" cats. I hope so much for you and Polly that the diazepam does the trick (it stops fitting: did they give you a 1ml syringe to use up her bum if necessary?). There is a very good and supportive yahoo group on seizure prone cats and living with them, meds to give etc. If you can't find it, pm me and I will look up the name of the guy who runs it for you as he once emailed me.
the very best of luck for Polly, may she be right as rain in no time.  :hug:
Title: Re: Polly had seizures on friday
Post by: Teresa Pawcats on March 16, 2009, 10:37:51 AM
Hoping things soon improve for Polly  :hug:
Title: Re: Polly had seizures on friday
Post by: swampmaxmum on March 16, 2009, 10:39:30 AM
quick search: I found epi-felines@yahoogroups.com so assume it is the epi felines group. The guy who runs it is australian and seems v nice- if you want his email let me know  :hug:
Title: Re: Polly had seizures on friday
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on March 16, 2009, 12:44:41 PM
I am so sorry to hear about Pollys seizures and do hope that your nice vet is more positive  :hug:

The description of the seizure that Polly had sounds very different to what Franta had and I know one of the problems that vets have is diagnosing the reason as it could be one of so many things.

You dont say how old Polly is?

As mentioned it could be a stroke and this being the case dependinng what damage it caused she may improve in time but the real problem is what caused it. She could be epileptic and medicated for that, dont know how they tell, she may have high blood pressure and they can do bp tests. Or there maybe something else going on in the brain that only an MRI scan could tell but all treatment needs to take into account her age and health.

I hope your vet is proactive as mine was with Franta and they can call for clinical advice from Bristol University, although they do not have an MRI scanner.

I hope everything goes well for Polly  :hug: :hug: :hug:

Please feel free to pm me if I can be of any help.

Title: Re: Polly had seizures on friday
Post by: Maddiesmum on March 16, 2009, 14:03:09 PM
So sorry to hear about your little Polly.  Can't offer you any advice I'm afraid but hope you can get to the  bottom of it and she is soon feeling much better  :hug:
Title: Re: Polly had seizures on friday
Post by: Bazsmum on March 17, 2009, 02:17:15 AM
So sorry to hear about your little Polly.  Can't offer you any advice I'm afraid but hope you can get to the  bottom of it and she is soon feeling much better  :hug:

Ditto!  :hug:
Title: Re: Polly had seizures on friday
Post by: swampmaxmum on March 17, 2009, 09:08:15 AM
How is Polly doing?  :hug:
Title: Re: Polly had seizures on friday
Post by: MrsR on March 17, 2009, 09:27:46 AM
Yes hope she is doing better
Title: Re: Polly had seizures on friday
Post by: Michelle (furbabystar) on March 17, 2009, 10:48:38 AM
How is Polly doing ?

Big hugs to both of you  :hug:
Title: Re: Polly had seizures on friday
Post by: Maddiesmum on March 17, 2009, 11:16:43 AM
Hope she is much better :hug:
Title: Re: Polly had seizures on friday
Post by: Janeyk on March 17, 2009, 13:36:43 PM
Hope she is much better :hug:

same here  :hug:
Title: Re: Polly had seizures on friday
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on March 18, 2009, 01:52:37 AM
Hope Polly is Ok  :hug:
Title: Re: Polly had seizures on friday
Post by: Hippykitty on March 26, 2009, 15:25:23 PM
I'm sorry I haven't been on Purrs much lately but have been busy with Polly. Despite all of the head shaking and "at her age" (she's about 21ish or older), she's recovering nicely - touch wood. She hasn't had another seizure. The vet thought she may have a brain tumour or kidney or liver failure so ran bloods for the latter. The results were fine. She isn't on any anticonvulsants but I have been given, at great cost, tubes to squirt up her bum if it happens again, rather than rushing off to the vet in the middle of the night.

She has had diarrohea (sp?) since, so is now on Synulox and Hill's i/d. She's eating like a pig and seems happy. She still spends most of her time in the pen as I want to keep her close to a litter tray: she was pooing brown liquid!!! but since seeing the vet again this has improved.

So far, she's certainly telling those PTS vets where to go.

I'm now trying to save money as I spent around £500 on vet bills. I'm sure they keep suggesting tests and stuff to make more money  8)

Thanks for all your good wishes. I'll let you know how she progresses though I have to accept that she isn't immortal. (No one told her that  ;D )
Title: Re: Polly had seizures on friday
Post by: Dawn F on March 26, 2009, 15:28:16 PM
glad things are looking up I have been wondering about her!
Title: Re: Polly had seizures on friday
Post by: Maddiesmum on March 26, 2009, 18:51:58 PM
I am so pleased to hear Polly is doing well, hope she is soon putting the kettle on for you,.  Seriously though she sounds like a little fighter and I am sending loads of pos vibes for her  :hug:
Title: Re: Polly had seizures on friday
Post by: swampmaxmum on March 26, 2009, 20:11:44 PM
lovely news and give the brave little old girl a big cuddle  :hug:
Title: Re: Polly had seizures on friday
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on March 26, 2009, 20:12:54 PM
Glad that things are looking promising, i was getting a bit worried
Title: Re: Polly had seizures on friday
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on March 28, 2009, 00:28:51 AM
So pleased that Polly is doing well and telling thoise vets where to go  :hug: :hug: :hug:

Please give her some strokes from me  ;D
Title: Re: Polly had seizures on friday
Post by: Bazsmum on March 28, 2009, 02:06:12 AM
Fab news HK.....Keep up the good work Polly!  :hug: :hug: :hug:
Title: Re: Polly had seizures on friday
Post by: MrsR on March 28, 2009, 10:56:28 AM
Good news hunnie  :hug:
Title: Re: Polly had seizures on friday
Post by: JackSpratt on March 28, 2009, 13:55:08 PM
I'll let you know how she progresses though I have to accept that she isn't immortal. (No one told her that  ;D )

Think most of us have trouble with that. Glad there's an improvement.