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#1
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Little fits
My ten-year-old, very overweight female spayed cat began having little fits
last August. She had recently been diagnosed with hyperthyroid and put on Tapazole, for what that is worth. (Yes, that's right, hyPER, and she is fat. They said it happens sometimes.) At the time she was put on the Tapazole her heart rate was in excess of 300 bpm--the first sign we had of her hyperthyroid. The fits are strange--she usually kind of leans to one side and feels around with her front paws, with her head down and her eyes closed. This morning she lifted one paw and waved it around, but she was out of it, e.g. does not respond to us. The vet back in August said the high heart rate had probably caused arrythmia and put her on a beta blocker. I bought a stethoscope and began taking her heart rate twice a day. It has been between 180-210 for months, and she did not have any fits that--we saw, anyway. At her last vet visit he said we could take her off the beta blockers so I did--three days ago. This morning she had a fit. Does this mean she needs to be back on them? (I did give her one this morning, as it seems logical to me.) Did he mean I should taper her off of them? The fit passed in maybe 20 seconds and as usual she was fine. When I took he heart rate it was 210. She ate a good breakfast. (Needless to say I have a call in to the vet but he has not called back yet.) Thanks for any advice. |
#2
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"Phil P." wrote Thyroid hormones have a direct effect upon the nervous system. You might want to have her T4 checked again. Phil, she is due to have bloodwork in January--I'll see if I can get her in earlier. I forgot to say that when I took her pulse I could actually HEAR her heart skipping beats. It sped up and slowed down twice. Recall that her August ultrasound at least indicated no structural abnormalities, for what that's worth. The vet still has not called. Hope she's ok. Thanks. She seems perfectly fine, just the way they often do right after scaring the crap out of you. |
#3
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"Nicole H" wrote in message ... could it be a seizure? The vet did not think so--there is nothing jerky about them. But then the vet has never seen one. |
#4
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"Mary" wrote in message m... "Phil P." wrote Thyroid hormones have a direct effect upon the nervous system. You might want to have her T4 checked again. Phil, she is due to have bloodwork in January--I'll see if I can get her in earlier. I forgot to say that when I took her pulse I could actually HEAR her heart skipping beats. It sped up and slowed down twice. Recall that her August ultrasound at least indicated no structural abnormalities, for what that's worth. The vet still has not called. Hope she's ok. Thanks. She seems perfectly fine, just the way they often do right after scaring the crap out of you. Mary, is taking Atenolol by any chance? Phil |
#5
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Mary said in alt.med.veterinary:
could it be a seizure? The vet did not think so--there is nothing jerky about them. But then the vet has never seen one. There's a huge variety in seizure severity. While I've seen plenty of dog epileptic seizures, I've never observed a cat's - it sounds possible in your girl's case, though. http://www.canine-epilepsy.com/felineepi.html -- --Matt. Rocky's a Dog. |
#6
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"Phil P." wrote Mary, is taking Atenolol by any chance? No, she is on 5 mgs of Propranolol twice a day, every 12 hours. The vet said I should have tapered her off of it. I swear he says he tells me things that I don't hear. I need to slow down enough to make sure I hear everything he says from now on. He said to put her back on it and leave her on it until he sees her in January. But if it was the fast heart rate that gave her arrythmia, now that it has not been fast for months, I would think she could come off of the beta blocker. |
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"bluemaxx" wrote in message ... I know that when *humans take Beta blockers (I did migraine control), that you need to "wean" yourself off of them, although it is a quick wean. I was told to reduce the amount I was used to taking by 1/2 for one week, and then to stop taking them altogether. And three days would be just about the time frame that you would start feeling the effects of taking no Beta blockers whatsoever, as they do stay in your system. I also remember doc telling husband not to go any longer than 4 days without taking his Beta blocker (for hypertension) or he could possibly have a heart attack. Perhaps that's something to think of? Hope your puddingtat comes out ok! Linda Linda, thanks for this information, you're right about cats, too--they need to be tapered off. My mistake, and a stupid one. She seems fine now, and thank goodness a Sept. ultrasound showed no heart abnormalities structure-wise. We got her when she was already fat, and I was worried she had heart disease. |
#8
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"Rocky" wrote in message ... Mary said in alt.med.veterinary: could it be a seizure? The vet did not think so--there is nothing jerky about them. But then the vet has never seen one. There's a huge variety in seizure severity. While I've seen plenty of dog epileptic seizures, I've never observed a cat's - it sounds possible in your girl's case, though. http://www.canine-epilepsy.com/felineepi.html -- Matt--thanks for this. She does indeed go into an "altered state of consciousness" but she does not twitch at all or salivate. And afterward it is as though nothing happened. I read the first article you sent above, but have not gotten to the others it links to. I will before I take her back in. She has not had another episode, ate normally, has been alert and aware in between naps, of course! She has had no episodes at all since being on the beta blocker until now, three days after I stopped it, so it seems that must help. |
#9
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"Rocky" wrote in message
... There's a huge variety in seizure severity. While I've seen plenty of dog epileptic seizures, I've never observed a cat's - it sounds possible in your girl's case, though. ...........Matt, I can tell you from first hand experience that while dogs tend to paddle, cats will arch their backs to the extreme and go completely rigid and scream, Ain't pretty to watch. To the OP - cats with longterm hyperthyroidism tend to get cardiomyopathy. Even though she was just diagnosed, it's hard to tell how long she might have had it. Tapazole can have negative side effects too sometimes. Has the vet checked the BP recently? I'm wondering if she isn't blowing blood vessels in her head. Does it seem like she can see OK? And try to get the blood draw done as the same time you did last time. There's a study that shows T4 can be all over the map during the day. If there's any kind of diurnal rhythm to it, at least you can knock off one variable. Personally I'd keep her on the beta blocker until you consult with a vet. I dont' know the long term side effects of that drug, but you might check that out in the meantime. Better than having strokes and going blind though........ buglady take out the dog before replying |
#10
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Neighbor's dog doesn't jerk when he seizes. His face goes blank, he's stiff
and is generally not aware of anything. Seizures aren't standard issue. I hope you find an answer soon. Nicole "Mary" wrote in message m... "Nicole H" wrote in message ... could it be a seizure? The vet did not think so--there is nothing jerky about them. But then the vet has never seen one. |
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