Feline Seizure

Saturday, February 20th, 2010 at 7:54 am

Keep your four legged family members safe and healthy during the holiday season

There are many new things happening around the house during the holiday season, visitors coming and going, new scents from holiday decorations, yummy edibles around the house and road trips to grandma. As pet parents, getting ready for the holiday season, you need to be aware of potential hazards the holidays may present to your furry family members so you can keep them safe.

Much like what we know about proper nutrition for ourselves, what we should and should not feed our pets during the holiday season is usually a matter of common sense. Chocolate is a big No No. The ASPCA notes that as little as ¼ ounce of baking chocolate can cause vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, hyperactivity and increased heart rate with a dog weighing 10 pounds. Dogs should never eat chocolate, period. Less sweet chocolate is more toxic than milk chocolate as it contains seven times more theobromine, a substance similar to caffeine. In general, all snacks and deserts intended for humans should be kept away from your pets.

Any change in diet can give your pet an upset stomach so don’t feed your pooch table scraps, left over food or allow them access to a particularly smelly garbage bin for those known to roam kitchen counters or trash areas. Be especially careful with turkey bones which can choke your dog or lodge in their intestines.

Holiday decorations, such as Christmas trees, Lilies, Holly Berries and Mistletoe, can also be dangerous to pets if ingested. In fact, even allowing your pet access to the Christmas tree water can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Christmas tree water bowls can contain tree fertilizers and the water, if left stagnant, can hold bacteria.

Also, remember that over the holiday season the family environment changes. We become hyperactive super heroes rushing from shopping to school play to home, achieving 27 hours of work in 24. Our living space becomes stuffed with strange objects, flashing lights, noisy toys and lots of stress. Try as best you can to maintain your pet’s normal schedule, keep feeding times the same and commit to their daily exercise routine. Also, be realistic about your animal’s normal behavior. If Fido is a chewer, you may have provided an irresistible chew toy for them by leaving large bright items under your tree. Or, if your feline friend is likes to climb furniture, your Christmas tree may serve as a tempting launching pad for a full frontal attack on your child’s new remote control helicopter hovering nearby.

Make time for your pet, remember they are family members too and this can be a great time of year for them with a little care and planning.

About the Author

Niki Tudge is the owner and founder of The DogSmith, America’s Dog Training, Dog Walking and Pet Care Franchise. To learn more about joining the DogSmith visit http://www.888dogsmith.com/franchise.html

Niki achieved her Canine Behaviorist Diploma in England and Dog Obedience Training Diploma in the US. Niki is an Endorsed member of the National Association of Dog Obedience Trainers and a professional member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and The Association of Animal Behavior Professionals. Niki is also certified by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. You can reach Niki via email at NTudge@888dogsmith.com or www.888DogSmith.com

My 4-year old female cat is shaking, making spastic movements after peeing on floor. What might be the problem?

I took her to a vet. He had run some blood tests and he said her liver and kidney functions are OK, but she is tested positive for feline leukemia. (Which I knew already but we had not have any problems about it) Now she started to have the seizures more often. (like once or twice a week) What might be the problem? Can it be epilepsy? Is there anything I can do?

You said it - seizures. She needs to be medicated NOW. Yes,it could be eilesy, which is fine if they are medicated.

Epilepsy
Seizures (or epilepsy) in cats, are more of a symptom of an underlying condition than a medical condition. Seizures fall into two basic categories:
Secondary, related to another underlying condition.
Feline Hypertension
Brain Tumors
Inflammatory diseases, including FIV, FeLV, or FIP
Parasitical invasion, such as toxoplasmosis
Idiopathic (primary) epilepsy, with an undetermined cause. Primary epilepsy is relatively rare in cats, but can be congenital.
Epilepsy affects less than 3 percent of the cat population. Unfortunately, there are very few drugs that can help treat it, either. The seizures are caused by a brain disorder. Epilepsy is hard to diagnose as the cat appears normal in every other way. The diagnosis of epilepsy is usually made after the other causes have been eliminated.
Feline Infectious Peritonitis
Feline infectious peritonitis is a viral disease caused by the feline coronavirus. The cat will not show any symptoms during the early feline coronavirus stages of the disease but from 5 to 10 percent of the infected cats will progress to feline infectious peritonitis virus, which attacks the abdomen, kidneys or brain. At this stage, the disease is almost always fatal.
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus
Feline immunodeficiency virus is found in 1 1/2 to 3 percent of cats that are otherwise healthy and in at least 15 percent of cats who are sickly. It is spread by one cat biting another, and therefore, outdoor cats are more likely to become infected than indoor cats. It can take years for symptoms to appear, but the cat will develop immune deficiency. There are vaccines available, but they are not effective in all cats.
Feline Leukemia Virus
Feline leukemia virus is a retrovirus, which means it puts copies of its genetic material into the cells of the infected animal. About 2 to 3 percent of all cats in the U.S. are infected with feline leukemia virus. In the population that is already sick or very young, 13 percent are considered to be highly susceptible. Feline leukemia virus is easily spread from one cat to another. Feline leukemia virus is the most common cause of cancer in cats.
Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis is caused by a parasite named Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii). It is very common and is found in all warm-blooded animals, including humans. While it is common, it only causes significant problems in rare cases. While it is common in all animals, the parasite will only reproduce in cats. In the rare case when disease does occur, it is usually when the cat has an impaired immune system. If it gets into the central nervous system, it can cause seizures.

Phil Larson seizures