Hi - this is my first post on this forum.
My 4.5 year-old female tortie cat, Mabel, who has always been healthy, had a seizure a month ago. I immediately took her to the vet, who said it was likely idiopathic epilepsy as her physical exam and blood work were fine.
The following day I watched her closely and noticed odd behaviours in her: waking suddenly while dozing and twisting her body around to gaze at the ceiling (in the exact same motion at least once an hour), meowling loudly and looking scared. I figured these were smaller seizures, and on the advice of the vet, started Mabel on phenobarbital.
Since starting the pheno, I haven't seen any more seizures. However, she is now exhibiting other symptoms: she seems uninterested in her food and smacks her lips frequently, especially when she smells food, suggesting she might feel nauseated, but she is still playful and cuddly. She is also frequently shaking her head and scratching at her ears. She also licks other parts of her body (tail, genitals, paws) as if itchy.
I took her back to the vet two weeks after starting the pheno as she had vomited three times in a row. The vet said everything looked ok. Since then, however (three weeks later) she has not been vomiting.
A week ago I had her back at the vet to check her blood for pheno levels. I mentioned the lack of appetite and head shaking and lip smacking to the vet and she is stumped. She re-did a full blood work and all is perfect, Mabel's ears and mouth look fine, and her temp is normal. Her pheno levels are normal too. The vet gave her an appetite stimulant and she was eating well for a week but is now not eating again (she'll eat treats and take a couple of bites of food but that's it.)
The vet suggested that I put her on antibiotics for a possible inner-ear infection (no outward signs though) and Revolution in case of parasites.
I'm very concerned that Mabel could have a brain tumor, even though the vet says it's unlikely given she's young. A CT scan is hours driving away from me and financially out of reach. And I am wary of dishing out thousands for a fatal diagnosis anyway.
I'm wondering if anyone has advice or thoughts?
Thank you!!
My 4.5 year-old female tortie cat, Mabel, who has always been healthy, had a seizure a month ago. I immediately took her to the vet, who said it was likely idiopathic epilepsy as her physical exam and blood work were fine.
The following day I watched her closely and noticed odd behaviours in her: waking suddenly while dozing and twisting her body around to gaze at the ceiling (in the exact same motion at least once an hour), meowling loudly and looking scared. I figured these were smaller seizures, and on the advice of the vet, started Mabel on phenobarbital.
Since starting the pheno, I haven't seen any more seizures. However, she is now exhibiting other symptoms: she seems uninterested in her food and smacks her lips frequently, especially when she smells food, suggesting she might feel nauseated, but she is still playful and cuddly. She is also frequently shaking her head and scratching at her ears. She also licks other parts of her body (tail, genitals, paws) as if itchy.
I took her back to the vet two weeks after starting the pheno as she had vomited three times in a row. The vet said everything looked ok. Since then, however (three weeks later) she has not been vomiting.
A week ago I had her back at the vet to check her blood for pheno levels. I mentioned the lack of appetite and head shaking and lip smacking to the vet and she is stumped. She re-did a full blood work and all is perfect, Mabel's ears and mouth look fine, and her temp is normal. Her pheno levels are normal too. The vet gave her an appetite stimulant and she was eating well for a week but is now not eating again (she'll eat treats and take a couple of bites of food but that's it.)
The vet suggested that I put her on antibiotics for a possible inner-ear infection (no outward signs though) and Revolution in case of parasites.
I'm very concerned that Mabel could have a brain tumor, even though the vet says it's unlikely given she's young. A CT scan is hours driving away from me and financially out of reach. And I am wary of dishing out thousands for a fatal diagnosis anyway.
I'm wondering if anyone has advice or thoughts?
Thank you!!