partial seizures - HCM or Neurological?

[bittirsweet]

Hey everyone,

So I'm having a scary time with my eldest, Raz. Two days ago, he started having some kind of partial seizures which quickly escalated to being closer and closer together. We took him to the vet, who thought he'd ingested something, but his bloodwork and urinary tests came back clear. They gave him some valium because he was getting very agitated, and suggested I take him to a 24hr vet hospital for observation, which I did.

They said it was hard to get anything conclusive from their tests because of the valium, but that they would observe him overnight and refer him to a neurological specialist in the morning. So yesterday the specialist reviewed his file and had him put on anti-seizure meds, and he was again fine through the night. Today, she had a chance to examine him and said that she recommended an MRI because she suspects a brain tumor or swelling on a side of his brain. However, she has not seen the videos of him, only gotten a description of them.

However, my breeder, who I sent the videos to, suggested I have them do an ultrasound to check for HCM before the MRI, because his dad ended up having HCM and Raz has always scanned 'equivocal' for it (can't confirm or rule it out), so that is going to be conducted this evening, and we will proceed from there.

I have been scrolling the threads here to try to find some clarification and answers. Has anyone else gone through something like this and ended up with conclusive results? How was the prognosis for your cat? I don't have much trust in the vets in my city having a thorough enough knowledge of sphynxes, and I want to be armed with as much information as I can while dealing with all of this. Thanks for any info you can give <3

Here are the videos:
1 -
2 -

 

[Sheldon13]

Gosh that is hard to watch. You have my prayers in figuring this out. Blessings to your baby.


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[Condo commando]

Painful to watch. I could only see half of it. I would test for HCM. I lost a Siamese to HCM so it happens to more than just Sphynx and it's one of those diseases that you want to know if you're dealing with it, then you can look for other things. Best to you and Raz.

 

[admin]

Sorry to see you are having to go thru this, I've never herd of epilepsy being a symptom of HCM. have the anti-seizure meds helped? I had a dog when I was a child that had epilepsy and was on meds for the entirety of her life but lived a long life as well. However I just watched some cats with epilepsy on Youtube having seizures and they were much more violent looking then what your baby did in the video, the video you have there should be shown to your vet for sure. Hope it's nothing too concerning and easily treatable , keep us posted.

 

[Yoda mom]

@bittirsweet
((Hugs))) and head smooches

We do have kitties here that have been given anti seizure meds successfully

Search results for query: Epilepsy

Surely they will chime in

I know it was tough to share this video ((((hugs)))))

It did take my dog a few week for the amtiseixire meds to get regulated I'm his systems and he has been seized free ... My vet did not have me do all the MRai testing etc
She tried the medication course first and if thst didn't work we would follow up with MRI for brain makes etc

Tagging @Catzzzmeow

We are here for you amd sweet Raz

I know how stressful it was when my boy was having seizures - as many 6 prolonged seizures in a row

He is on meds now and no more incidents - his blood work came bsck find
No MRI needed to date

Following closely for updates

When my kitty had seizures that were heart related (thrombosis embolisms ) it presented much differently

,any kitites get diagnosed as " idioapthic epilepsy " - unknown origin

Please give sweet Raz a big Head smooch from me

Following closely

 

[NinaGato]

@bittirsweet
Have them do a heart scan. Check his heart especially since he has family history of HCM.
I thought my Merlin was having seizures and we found out he had an enlarged heart and was having mini heart attacks. He was falling and injuring himself.
I'm so sorry you and he are having to go through this tough time. Hugs sent.

 

[bittirsweet]

Hey folks,

Thanks for your input! Sorry for the painful videos. It was very difficult to film them, but I knew I wouldn't be able to explain what had been happening to him properly because I was already starting to panic. I have had history of watching cats have seizures before, as a rescue cat we brought in from the cold last winter was having cluster seizures for a whole weekend when we first got her, and I agree that they look quite different. Raz never fully lost consciousness, though he was quite disassociated at times, he was clearly still somewhat there because he proceeded to get more and more agitated by what was happening to him, which is why the first vet gave him valium.

So I had to push the neurologist to do an echocardiography, but they finally agreed to do one and said that he has "severe hypertrophy" but that it was in early stages, did not need medication because there was no "ventricle dialation" (p sure that's what she said) and that it was not a cause of his seizures, and pushed to go ahead with the MRI. My breeder, on the other hand, was outraged and said that didn't make any sense and that I should get a cardiologist's opinion, saying that to proceed with anesthesia while he has a known heart issue would be life-threatening for him.

So that scared me a bunch, and I have cancelled the MRI that was scheduled and taken him home tonight. He's been stable for two days, since the valium they gave him the first evening, and he's been on Levetracetam (keppra) since yesterday morning, and I am going to continue giving him that at home.

I have sent a lengthy email to the cardiologist who has been doing his heart scans to see what I should do next. Neither of the vets did any other tests besides bloodwork and the echo that I pushed for, and tried to push for the MRI. My breeder thinks they were trying to get $$ out of me. I am a little alarmed that they didn't even ask to do any other testing despite the history of HCM in his family. Anyway, he's home with me and stable for now. Would appreciate any other feedback anyone has, and I will keep you all updated.

 

[NinaGato]

Hugs
I would talk to the cardiologist and get more information on his kind of heart issue. I'm surprised they do not reccomend medication. Please keep us updated. I think you did the right thing by bring him home.

 

[Toa and Ross]

Sending positive vibes and hugs to you.

 

[Yoda mom]

@bittirsweet Positive vibes sent
I am familiar with Keppra in humans and it has worked wonders . Prayers it works just as well for your baby ! Just be sure not to miss any doses or stop it if it is working for him .
My understanding coming off seizure meds suddenly can mean if needed again it may not be as effective

My boy has grade 3 heart murmur and vet monitoring, did not put him on medications .
I am terrified to put him under anesthesia too. following my vets advice and livmg each day to the fullest

Following closely for updates ((((hugs))))

Love your avatar pic as well as his snuggly blankie pic !

 

[Xandria]

Just wanted to add my positive vibes for you. Please keep us updated. And my heart goes out to you. I'm so sorry.

 

[bittirsweet]

Thank you. Yes I'm very happy he's home. My breeder spoke to her cardiologist today and showed her the videos and told her the situation and she was apparently appalled about the experience we had at the vet hospital here. So I feel pretty good about pulling him out of there. He has an appointment with his normal vet to be tested for toxoplasmosis on the 26th, and hopefully we can get ahold of the cardiologist by then to set up an appointment.

Still on keppra, seems to be fine, tho I'm not convinced what he was having were seizures, better safe than sorry. He HATES getting the meds tho. The pills have to be quartered and I've never had to fight so much with him to get him to swallow a pill! It's very unpleasant for both of us, so I hope he doesn't have to stay on them forever, or else that we figure out a better system.

My breeder recommended putting 60 mg of CoQ10 in his food daily to help with his heart. Anyone have experience with this? She said it's what she's done with some of her HCM positive cats and the results have been really good. I'm just worried about putting anything in his food that will make him less likely to eat, because he's still so skinny.

Otherwise we're pretty stable, and Raz is doing well. Thanks for everyone's input so far & happy solstice!

Hugs
I would talk to the cardiologist and get more information on his kind of heart issue. I'm surprised they do not reccomend medication. Please keep us updated. I think you did the right thing by bring him home.

 

[Catzzzmeow]

Glad you have a plan in place and he’s been better. Have you thought about getting pill pockets? It’s a treat you put the pill in and most like it.

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[NinaGato]

I am also glad you have a plan to see a cardiologist. We use pill pockets for pills also. It works very well as Anna is VERY difficult to pill. There is also a review of a very good pillcutter I found online here in sphynxlair.
@Catzzzmeow can you post a link to the pillcutter post, please? I am dreadfully bad at embedding links on tapatalk.

 

[Catzzzmeow]

Here you go. It’s called Equadose

equadose pill splitter - Google Search


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[Yoda mom]

@bittirsweet awhhhh what an adorable pic of you and Raz

Positive vibes and a great big head smooch sent

Following closely for updates

I asked my vet for a pill popper because my boy had to take several pills a day .
They will also show you have to use it - very easy ! Saved my fingers and made pilling very easy and non traumatic .

Here is a step by step video


I straddled him between my legs the first few times , used the pill popper .
After a few days he would calmly lay on the bed for the the two second pill popping
I asked the vet for a little plunger syringe too to follow up with a little water to wash down pill.

Highly recommend asking your vet for the pill popper and Liquid plunger
I got a spare on line and the spare oral medication syringe at a local store

Hugs and head smooches to Raz
Prayers sent he remains stable and you get answers from his follow up visits
Following closely with lair prayers

 

[Marvins Mom]

Good morning. Your videos brought tears .. and memories of our Marvin's little episodes we mistook for seizures. I am not 100% sure they are the same - but I see similarities. He would reach out with his paws similar to your kitty, and his back legs were acting odd - like they were stiff or not working. These little episodes didn't last for long but Marvin had a number over a few days - and then they stopped. But Marvin's real concerns were when he actually passed out and panted and he got cold. This was because the heart couldn't pump because of a blockage - he panted to try to get air. In the end, it was his heart that failed him.

I wish you and your little Raz all the best. I am very sad that these little animals are prone to health concerns because they are so very loving. Do whatever you feel is best as you know your kitty better than anyone!

Marvin's Mom

 

[Yoda mom]

@Marvins Mom (((((comforting hugs))))

 

[bittirsweet]

haha I have those, but he's too clever for them! I've never been able to "hide" pills in his food or use these. Usually he's pretty good about taking his meds, I can just drop em down his throat, but these ones he actively fights me.

Glad you have a plan in place and he’s been better. Have you thought about getting pill pockets? It’s a treat you put the pill in and most like it.

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