Learn The Treatment For Your Cat's Epilepsy

Learn The Treatment For Your Cat’s Epilepsy

Seizures are one of the most common symptoms of epilepsy.

Some causes of epilepsy have no known cure yet.

One of these is idiopathic epilepsy.

 

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A disease is tagged as idiopathic if the cause is unknown.

Some may be linked to genetics.

What is idiopathic epilepsy?

Cats may be diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy if he’ll have more than two epilepsy episodes at the onset of the disease.

It mostly occurs in more than a year old cat. Causes can be cranium or metabolic.

The vet might order a CT scan or MRI to get a clearer picture.

What are the available treatments for epilepsy?

There are no cures for epilepsy.

 

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The course of treatment only focuses on how to minimize epilepsy.

The medication is used to control the symptom alone.

Anticonvulsant medication is prescribed for recurrent seizures.

It’s a strong medication and should be prescribed by a professional.

The frequency of seizures determines the course of treatment.

If seizures happen once a month, anticonvulsants should not be the treatment.

Are there severe cases of seizures?

Seizures can vary from mild to severe.

 

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Very severe seizures may occur less than usual but may need treatment.

Cluster seizure is also a type of severe ones.

It can occur several times a day or none at all.

Treatment is crucial to prevent future seizures.

What are the medications used to treat seizures?

There are several types of medications to control seizures.

The most commonly used drug is phenobarbital: it is an anticonvulsant.

Benzodiazepine, on the other hand, is combined with phenobarbital for severe cases.

There is an alternative drug if your cat does not respond well to phenobarbital or diazepam.

Levetiracetam is the new anticonvulsant medication used by your vet.

 

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It has fewer side effects than other drugs. Veterinarians prefer to prescribe this drug more than the others.

Potassium bromide is used to treat seizures in dogs.

Cats are more at risk for side effects if administered.

Zonisamide or felbamate are drugs available in the market but haven’t been sufficiently tested on cats yet.

The overtime effects are still unknown. It is less prescribed.

How to manage the medication?

If your pet has seizures, you must understand that he will have treatment for the duration of his life.

It may be difficult for a pet owner to cope at first.

Medication is given to control the symptoms, but it is not a cure.

It is fatal to discontinue treatment or tweak the dosage without the veterinarian’s advice.

It could lead to severe problems. Medications have to be reduced gradually.

 

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Always consult with your veterinarian.

What do you need to remember as a pet owner?

Epilepsy in cats is hard to manage at first.

You will be lost, and that is guaranteed.

The most important thing you can do is to visit a veterinarian.

Seizures are still incurable, and you must manage it.

Medications are the only thing that can help you control the symptom.

Your veterinarian needs to run some tests to make the right diagnosis.

As a pet owner, your commitment to follow your cat’s course of treatment is crucial.

You have to be patient because seizures last a lifetime.

You can only manage it, but it won’t go away.

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