Seizures

Seizures and epilepsy are less commonly encountered in cats than in dogs. They are, however, the most common sign of disease affecting the front part of the brain.

An involuntary disturbance of normal brain control which is usually seen as uncontrollable muscle activity. Seizures can be single and very occasional or may occur in clusters folowed by long periods (weeks to months) without fitting.

If your pet is having a seizure do not try and hold them or transprt them, instead clear the area around them, making sure there is nothing for them to hurt themselves on untill it has passed. If possible make a note of how long the fit lasts for as this may prove useful when passing on the information to the vet.

Carefully observing your pet particularly at the beginning of a fit can provide very valuable information to the vet about the types of disease that may be causing the problem.

1. Age at which fits begin, are they getting worse.

2. Chronicity - i.e are the seizures intermittent or did they develop suddenly.

3. Frequency, multiplicity of seizures

4. Association of seizures i.e. asleep, excitement, feeding.

5. Other signs of ill health e.g. poor appetite, excessive drinking,

    reduced excercise.

6. Information about your pet's lifestyle may also be important

7. Medication use- especially recent worming or use of flea control products.

8. Diet

9. Access to poisons

Both diseases which involve the brain directly (intracranial) and conditions which affect other body systems (extracranial) can cause fitting. With recent developments in treatment many diseases which have previously been untreatable may now be treated though this can require referral to a specialist centre.