Prevalence of seizures in cats after head trauma.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of seizures in cats after head trauma. DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional study. ANIMALS: 52 cats with head trauma. PROCEDURES: Information was obtained from medical records of cats with head trauma and via telephone interviews of owners at least 2 years after cats had head trauma. Severity of head trauma in cats was classified with the modified Glasgow coma scale (mGCS), and the association between scores and development of seizures was determined. RESULTS: 9 cats had moderate head trauma (mGCS score, 9 to 14), and 43 cats had mild head trauma (mGCS score, 15 to 18). None of the cats developed seizures during the follow-up period (≥ 2 years after head injury). The calculated 95% confidence interval for prevalence of seizures in cats after head injury was 0% to 5.6%. There was no significant relationship between severity of head trauma and the risk of seizures in cats. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicated the probability that cats with mild to moderate head trauma would develop posttraumatic seizures was low. However, clinicians should monitor cats with a history of head trauma for development of secondary epilepsy.