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Peer-reviewed veterinary case report

Seizures in 17 cats: causes and outcomes from 1997-2002

By Barnes, Heidi L et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2004·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed

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Original publication title: Clinical signs, underlying cause, and outcome in cats with seizures: 17 cases (1997-2002).

Species:
cat
Brain & nervesCats

Plain-English summary

A group of 17 cats experienced seizures, which can be alarming for pet owners. The seizures were linked to various causes, including metabolic diseases like liver problems, brain tumors, and infections. Unfortunately, most cats with serious brain issues did not survive long after their diagnosis, while those with less severe conditions had a better chance of living for over a year. If your cat is having seizures, it's important to consult your veterinarian for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.

People also search for: cat seizures causes · cat liver disease symptoms · cat brain tumor treatment

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine clinical signs, results of diagnostic testing, underlying cause, and outcome in cats with seizures. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 17 cats with seizures. PROCEDURE: Only those cats in which an underlying metabolic abnormality causing the seizures had been identified, diagnostic imaging of the brain and CSF analysis had been done, or a necropsy had been performed were included. Seizures were classified as being a result of metabolic disease, symptomatic epilepsy (ie, epilepsy resulting from a structural lesion of the brain), or probably symptomatic epilepsy (ie, epilepsy without any extracranial or identifiable intracranial disease that is not suspected to be genetic in origin). RESULTS: 3 cats had seizures associated with an underlying metabolic disease (hepatic encephalopathy), 7 had symptomatic epilepsy (3 with neoplasia and 4 with meningoencephalitis), and 7 had probably symptomatic epilepsy. Six of the 7 cats with symptomatic epilepsy died or were euthanatized within 3 months after the diagnosis was made, whereas 6 of the 7 cats with probably symptomatic epilepsy survived for at least 12 months after the diagnosis was made. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that cats with probably symptomatic epilepsy may have a good long-term prognosis.

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Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15626223/