Head jerking to one side

cinqchats I'm so sorry about Mr Squiggles!

We did an MRI/spinal tap, ultrasound, and x-rays at UW Madison 1.5 months ago when this all started but everything came back negative.

They want to do another MRI and we just decided to go ahead and do it even though we really can't afford it. They are also going to do an ultrasound of his heart in case he is having strokes.

Cooper's only 6, so hopefully he will pull through and have a long healthy life!!!

I hope so too! I know they offer Care Credit there and a special 6 month no-interest deal. Maybe ask about that if you haven't already?

We couldn't do sedation because of the heart murmur, so after the xrays and ultrasound there was little other testing available. :/

Ahhhh, poor baby. Cooper's heart has been fine so far.

We aren't at UW anymore - we actually had a really bad experience there plus it's a long drive. We live in the Chicago suburbs so we brought him to an ER close by that also has a neurologist.

I'm actually borrowing money from my family, but thanks for the tip!

alibali said:

Well they kept him in the hospital overnight, tried upping his Keppra and giving him steroids and midazolam but he isn't any better. They are going to start him on an antibiotic in case he has toxoplasmosis and they are putting him back on phenobarbital too. They pretty much are taking shots in the dark at this point.

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I'm so sorry your kitty is going through this!  It does look like partial seizures.  Does kitty ever go outside?  I hope he gets better.  I have a kitty who has seizures too, but they've been under control with only phenobarb for over a year now.  His vets wanted to do an MRI and lumbar puncture as well but told me if might show nothing, so I didn't have it done.  The last thing they talked about doing was a bile acids test (IIRC) but it was so expensive and I was almost out of money at that point.  

There was another member recently who went through something like this only much more severe with a rapid progression.  This kitty went missing for 5 days though.  No telling what the kitty got into during that 5 days.  

I hope these new meds help your kitty!  

He only occasionally goes outside and only on a harness because he would run off. He loves being outside tho!!

I'm at the hospital now to see him and he is improving! He is only having about 1 episode an hour now so hopefully that means he will keep getting better!!

He looks great today

Good luck I hope he keeps getting better! Keep us posted on his progress. I'll be praying for his recovery! he's precious, looks just like one of mine.

The ER vet just called to let me know that Cooper isn't doing well. He had about 35 episodes during the night and he's become really anxious and agitated. He's pawing trying to get out of the cage and howling.

They are out of ideas. He either has something super rare they haven't thought of, or it is one of the things they thought of but he has such a severe case that it isn't responding to treatment.

Not sure what to do now

He might be agitated just because he's away from home. I know when I had to leave my cat overnight at the vet, they told me he cried loudly all night long. I'm so sorry it's hard especially when you don't know what's wrong. Were His eating and bathroom habits normal before going to the vet? Does he have a fever or is he vomiting?I hope the treatment starts to work. I'll keep you and him in my prayers.

I'm so sorry!! (

I'm hoping things turn around for your kitty. Did you ask about the bile acids test?

When I get home I look up the name of the lady whose cat had a similar much worse case. She had to have her kitty PTS I'm wondering if the vet did a necropsy to find out the cause. I didn't ask her.

Fingers crossed and hoping for better news!

ginny I did ask but they said they already tested liver enzymes and did an ultrasound and his liver looked perfect so they didn't think there was a reason to do it.

parisinthe30sx He has been eating, using litter box fine. No fever. He actually seemed way more healthy than he had been - more energy and playing. He just has these weird spasms.

I'm going to pick him up now, they don't have anything else they can do until the neurologist is in on Monday.

Thanks for all the kind words!!!

((hugs))    again, 

it never hurts to tell people, that we care about them....((hugs))

Please let us know if they find anything, this is very odd and I'm curious to see what happens! Thinking about you!

cinqchats I will definitely update after his appointment tomorrow!!

The good news tho is that it's happening much less frequently now and when it does, it's much less severe! One of the medicines must be helping!

This is good news!  

I'm glad Cooper is able to get a moments peace from jerking.  Poor guy can finally catch his breath and enjoy himself.

Best to you and Cooper.  I hope this journey continues on a positive path.  

I figured I'd iodate if anyone is interested. The vet visit was uneventful... Since he had gotten a bit better we're just continuing the meds (phenobarbital, keppra, pednisolone, and an antibiotic in case it's toxoplasmosis). The jerking is less severe, but still happening (about 20x per day the last couple days).

alibali said:

I figured I'd iodate if anyone is interested. The vet visit was uneventful... Since he had gotten a bit better we're just continuing the meds (phenobarbital, keppra, pednisolone, and an antibiotic in case it's toxoplasmosis). The jerking is less severe, but still happening (about 20x per day the last couple days).

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I know this isn't the news you wanted to come back and report.  I'm so sorry the vet didn't have any answers for you.  It's good the jerking is less severe but still, it must be unnerving for the little fellow and you.  Perhaps its a reaction to med's or just something that can't be explained at this moment in time.  I hope answers come eventually.

Best to you and your wee one.

Gosh, I had hoped the neurologist would have something to say! How's the kitty doing today?

Well we got the infectious disease tests back (testing for toxoplasmosis and some other things) and it was negative. It's both good and bad that all of his tests have been negative. It's great that he doesn't have some deadly illness, but it would be nice to just know what it is.

Basically both the neurologists are stumped! Apparently his case is very "atypical!"

The jerking is still the same tho - it got a bit better but he's just sort of plateaued. He's going in Saturday for another blood test but it's just to test his phenobarbital levels and re-check his anemia (the anemia had gotten a bit better when he was off the phenobarbital so they are worried it might get worse again being back on it.)

I appreciate you both asking about little Cooper - he seems happy, very playful (driving my older cat crazy trying to play with him!!) So at least he isn't too bothered by it!