Conference misery::feline_v1

    My inlaws have a dachsund who is epileptic.  The dog takes his
    medicine every day and he's just fine.  Oddly enough, their last
    dog was diabetic!  They must have a knack for dogs with chronic
    medical conditions.  Mary is an x-nurse, tho so she takes it
    all in stride.
      Anyway - don't fret, but GET HIM TO THE VET right away so you
    can start controling the seizures.
      And let us know how you make out.
        Nancy DC
    

    I have had experience with seizures in cats.  It was not pleasant.
    If you would like to hear about it, send me mail.  But, I have to
    warn you that my story will not make you feel better about what
    is happening with Frito.
    
    I am very sorry that Frito is ill, I will say a prayer for him and
    for you and your family.
    
    Jo

    Epileptic seizures are usually controllable with medication.  My
    brother's dog lived for many years with epilepsy.  It probably
    will take a little time at first for you and the vet to find the
    correct level of medication to control the seizures.  If what is
    wrong is epilepsy, I would not panic.
    

    P.S.  please let us know what is happening.
    

    
    
    We got to take Frito home last nite.  He's doing pretty good.  He's
    eating and playing and following me around like normal.  I don't 
    know yet if it is Epilepsy or not because the blood work has not
    come back yet.  I'll probably know by this afternoon.  They say
    that animals are not in pain when they are going through the
    attack but seeing an animal go through a seizure, I just find that
    hard to believe.  The vet told me that he will be having more of them
    and that I have to keep a diary on Frito when he has these attacks.
    The vet also said that this isn't the first time that he's had one.
    We don't know that for sure but there are signs that lead to him
    having some.  I have been reading about seizures in animals and i've
    learned that cats and dogs will sense that something bad is going 
    to happen to them and they will go to a person that they trust.
    Dogs will go over to someone and cry and make noises and pace.  Cats
    will stand next to you and want affection.  Animals do not like being
    along when they are having a seizure.  I was told that they like to
    be comforted and assured that everything is going to be all right
    and don't touch him while he's going through it.  The other morning
    I woke up and Frito was laying on my bed with me and he was kneading
    the covers and lying down.  I thought that he was just hungry but
    it was 5:30 am and he doesn't eat until 7:00am.  I fell back asleep
    and woke up later to find a mess on the living room carpet.  The vet
    said that he probably went to me for comfort because he knew that he
    was going to have a seizure and went down stairs and had one.  
    As soon as the vets call me or I call them i'll let everyone know
    the results.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed!
    
    Chris and Frito

    Boy, Chris, you and Frito have been through so much.  Call me if
    you need to talk, you have my home and work numbers.
    
    I'm saying my prayers.
    
    cin

    Me too!  I hope it is something controllable like epilepsy!
      Nancy DC
    

    Chris,
    
    Any news on Frito's condition?  How did the bloodwork come out?
    Is he doing okay now?
    
    Here's hoping that things are much improved now!
    
    Jo

    
    
    I called  the vet yesterday and asked if the results of the blood
    work has come in yet.  She said for me to call her on Thursday
    (which is tomorrow) and the results should be in.  So I guess
    it takes a week for blood work to be done.  The waiting is the
    hardest part.  He seems to being doing o.k. though.  He wanted
    to play this morning and he's acting like a regular cat.  Last
    weekend we think he had another seizure during the nite.  I am
    writing everything down.  What is weird is that the dog will not
    go near the cat now.  Dusty (my Norweigan Elkhound) will not
    go 10 ft. near Frito.  My father thinks that Dusty may have seen
    Frito having a seizure and now the dog is afraid of him.
    I will be calling the vet bright and early tomorrow and as soon
    as I know the results i'll let everyone know.
    Thanks for all your prayers!  You guys are great!
    
    :-)
    Chris_who_has_high_hopes_for_Frito!

    Frito will be in my prayers.  Lets hope for the best.
     Nancy DC
    

    
    
    Well, I talked to the doctor yesterday afternoon.  She said that
    Frito has some sort of Kidney problem.  Something to do with his
    Potassium and something else..The kidneys themselves are fine 
    she said.  She is sending the tests over to my regular vet.
    I asked her if Frito needed any type of medicine and she said
    not at this time.  I asked if Frito had Epilepsy and she said
    that that was a possiblity.  She told me to keep writing down
    every time he has a seizure and if he has more than 6 per year
    then they will give him medicine for it.
    I'm going to talk to my vet as soon as he receives Frito's blood
    work and ask him what's going on.  I really didn't understand
    what she was saying.  As soon as she said "Kidney problem" I think
    I just blanked out everything she was saying.  But I have high
    hopes for Frito.  I think he senses that too.  He's been very good
    these past couple of days.  He's playing and being affectionate so
    hopefully he'll stay that way.
    
    thanks everyone
    Chris and Frito

    My impression is that cats with kidney problems drink huge
    amounts of water.  Is Frito doing this?  Sure sounds like the info
    you got was incomprehensible.  My fingers are crossed for Frito.
    Please let us know what your regular vet says.
    

    Any news on Frito?  I have been away for a week and was wondering
    how he is doing now...
    
    Jo

    
    I don't know if people are still reading this note since it's kinda old
    but I thought i'd just keep adding on things about Frito right in here.
    
    Frito had another BIG seizure last nite.  He was making noises this
    time.  This is his second "Grand Mal" seizure.  The first time he
    had it, he didn't make any noises and just jerked around, etc.  But,
    last nite, he was making these growling, meowing noises.  The dr.
    said that when a person or animal goes into a seizure they do not
    experience pain.  I talked to my Vet last nite and asked if he got
    back the results from the other vet (we had to take Frito to another
    vet because my vet was out of the office).  He said that he only got
    part of it and will get back to me today and explain what the results
    are.  I told him that the other vet explained the results to me but
    I didn't understand what she was saying.  My vet said that he wouldn't
    be surprised if Frito has some type of "brain irregularity".  
    I also told my vet that Frito has been very depressed this past week
    and has been having "mini seizures".  "Mini seizures" is when he
    doesn't get on the floor and jerk around, etc., but it's when he has
    a hard time breathing and drools really bad and doesn't want anyone
    around him.  He's become very distant and hides in a corner and lays
    down.  What's weird is that he'll sleep in his litter box all day long
    and if you take him out of the box he'll go back in it.  He still has
    an appetite and boy did he have one this morning!  The seizure last
    nite must have taken a lot out of him.
    
    I wish I could have a cat that wasn't sick all the time, it's getting
    frustrating.  I know that's not nice to say and I feel really bad for
    Frito because he's going through a lot too.
    
    The breeder never called me back to let me know that her kittens were
    born yet.  She told me in March that her female was pregnant and should
    have them in June.  She was kind of ticked off that we called her
    and implied that we shouldn't call her but she'll call us.  I feel like
    slapping a law suit on her right now for all the bills that my family
    has paid.  I'd say that we've spent about $300.00 since the end of Jan.
    on the cat.  I'm actaully acting very calm about this compared to my
    mother.  Sigh.... 
    
    Well, i've still got hopes for Frito, not as high as they used to be
    though.
    
    
    Chris and Frito

    I think you should see another vet now.  It's unconscionable that your
    vet hasn't exerted himself to pin down this problem by now.
    It's quite possible that it could be controlled with medication, and
    for Frito to be going thru what must be frightening to him is not
    acceptable.  Where are you located?  Can someone in that area
    point you at a good vet hospital?
    

    Thanks for the update. I was wondering how Frito was doing.  I
    don't think you're mean for saying you're tired of Frito always
    being sick.  Every time he gets sick you feel bad for the little
    guy and feel helpless and frustrated.  That's because you care
    so much!  Of course you're tired of it.  You want to see him well!
    
    I think, at the very least your breeder deserves all the bad publicity
    you can give her with a law suit.  The bad publicity will take its
    toll even if the law suit doesn't.  Maybe it will even smarten her
    up.  Good luck with it.  I'll be thinking of Frito.
      Nancy DC
    

    Please see note 2660.
    
    
    chris

    Chris,
    
    I had a puppy once that did this and had high potassium levels.
    But also the Calcium levels were low.  The vet gave him a shot of
    calcium and I told her new owner to change her food.   She was on
    Science Diet.  The food was changed and the seizures stopped.
    
    Call me if you want to talk.
    
    Nancy
    264-4843