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My cat and Phenobarbital side effects

11 replies

Rikalaily · 24/03/2012 22:30

She started having seizures yesterday morning which came from nowhere and a cause hasn't been found, her bloods were totally clear. Yesterday they were brought under control with Diazapam but this morning she had one which lasted for over 2 hours and the Diazapam did nothing, the vet gave her Phenobarbital through IV at 9am which stopped the main seizure but she continued to twitch etc through the day so gave another dose at 4.30pm before she came home, both doses were 18mg, she is 3.5kg. They said she was extremely anxious while there and hadn't eaten or drank anything or slept, they were only sending her home to see if she perked up and settled when more relaxed, but since being home from 6pm she still hasn't eaten or drank anything.

She's just sitting in one spot, occasionally taking a few steps then staying put for hours, I've put water in front of her which she sniffs but refuses and I've put a little on her nose which she isn't licking off either.

Is this normal behaviour after this drug? She's very spaced out, looks confused, is making no noise despite usually being a very vocal cat. I've got to take her back tomorrow for another dose before she moves onto the oral liquid from Monday for 4-6 weeks before we try weaning her off and seeing how she does. The lack of eating isn't bothering me right now but the lack of drinking is, I've heard that increased thirst and hunger are normal but not sure if thats something that happens over the longterm. She drank and ate alot last night after the Diazapam.

She's usually a live wire so this is freaking me out a bit, feel so sorry for her :(

OP posts:
RedwingWinter · 24/03/2012 23:55

Sorry to hear this. I don't have the answer to your question, but you could always call the out of hours vet for advice (since the phone call doesn't cost), if you don't feel like waiting til your appointment tomorrow. Not eating and drinking can quickly become a problem in small animals like cats. You could try her on a different food, preferably a wet one so that it has some moisture in it too. Mine like scrambled eggs, dunno if that would work? Or maybe some tinned tuna.

Rikalaily · 25/03/2012 10:21

The out of hours vet phone goes to voicemail and have had no call back. I opened a tin of tuna for her last night which she sniffed and refused. I don't think she's drank anything all night. I have another three cats and none of them have eaten or drank the amount they usually do either, I think they can sense there is something wrong, they are protecting the house too from other cats which they don't normally do, they usually just run away but are seeing them off atm.

She slowly came into the kitchen last night when she heard the food bag being taken out of the cupboard. She's still approaching the food and water and sniffing it but not touching it, it's like she wants it but doesn't know what to do with it. She covered her tail end in poo while seizing and stinks (I haven't washed her yet incase it scares her) and she's opening her legs to groom but then just sitting there on her back end, legs akimbo and staring into space, like she knows she should groom but doesn't know how to do it. So worried about her, I'm hoping the vet says this is just temporary while she's on the large doses. Think she might end up in on fluids today though :(

OP posts:
tabulahrasa · 25/03/2012 10:47

It has a sedative effect doesn't it?

yep google says it does, my cat has reacted a bit like that with some drugs used as a sedative - she spent a full day staring at a radiator like it was the most fascinating thing she'd ever seen Hmm

The seeming interested in food, but then not eating it is what mine does when her medication upsets her stomach.

Mine isn't epilectic and it's different medication - but it does sound like side effects from the drugs rather than anything more sinister.

You want food that she usually goes daft over, either wet food or the tuna or something (something with a strong smell) heated to body temperature and the to try sitting and coaxing her to eat a bit of it...I've found cat milk quite handy to get fluids in her when she's not been well.

Rikalaily · 25/03/2012 13:48

Took her back this monring and she has a high temp, the vet said this will stop her eating and drinking too so if it's a virus that sould have brought on the seizures, also said she's completely stoned off the drugs so couldn't give her the other shot. Have been trying to get hold of the oral version from Chemists but it's special order only so impossible at the weekend so I guess she might need to have it afterall at 3.20pm when we take her back because her whiskers and eye on te left side are twitching again.

She was given a shot of antibiotics and something to bring her temp down earlier and I've been syringing water into her, hopefully she'll start taking an interest in water soon.

OP posts:
RedwingWinter · 25/03/2012 21:13

It sounds like you are doing all the right things for her. I hope she gets better soon.

Rikalaily · 26/03/2012 08:38

The vet called yesterday afternoon to check on her, she was finally asleep so he said to leave her and bring her in at 6pm... She woke up at 4pm and went straight to the food bowl! I snatched the tuna and gave her that, she ate about 1/4 of a tin and then I left her to eat her dry food to see if it would get her thirsty, she had a big drink too. The vet was suprised by her improvement when we took her back, he said going from the state she was in that morning he thought we would have to put her down at 6pm, but he thinks she will recover now. :)

Have been sent home with antibiotics, the med to lower her temp and the anti seizure tabs (they found about a weeks worth so have given us that). I had to wash her back end last night because she was still covered in poo from her seizures, we'd left her alone incase any upset brought more fits on but the vet said it was ok to wash her after the seizure meds kicked in when she was calmer. This morning she seems alot better, she is still stoned and staring off into space now and then but she's had no more fits and she's eating and drinking. Hopefully after the meds are done with after this week she'll be totally recovered. We are a bit worried about brain damage because her morning siezure lasted for so long etc but we won't know how she is until after she's off the stuff thats doping her up. Fingers crossed :)

OP posts:
RedwingWinter · 26/03/2012 18:55

I'm so glad she is eating and drinking. It all sounds much more promising now. Hopefully she won't have any brain damage from the seizure and I'll keep my fingers crossed she is back to normal in a week :).

Rikalaily · 28/03/2012 10:42

Thank :) She's much improved, almost back to normal. her rear right leg seems a bit weak still but she has no problems jumping or walking on it. She's still on 15mg of pheno a day but nowhere near as sedated as she was because it's split over two doses.

OP posts:
RedwingWinter · 28/03/2012 16:52

That's great. Thanks for the update, and I hope she continues to do well.

tabulahrasa · 28/03/2012 19:09

I'm glad she's doing better :)

TanyaRzepa · 20/06/2014 13:56

I have created a support site for owner of epileptic cats.

There is my cats story, seizure management, coping tips, advice and a forum where you can chat, share your story and advice with other owners.

www.cat-epilepsy.weebly.com

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