Cramps in a cat: causes, massage, drugs. Cat age

For any owner, his pet is not just a pet, but a real member of the family, whose problems and illnesses affect the soul, making you really worry and worry. What to do if you notice cramps in your beloved cat? How to respond, what to do and is it worth it to panic?

Cramps - what is it?

Convulsions are called involuntary muscle contractions, which are paroxysmal in nature. In other words, seizures are referred to as a temporary violation of the normal functioning of the brain, which is accompanied by muscle activity that is not amenable to control. Such attacks can be both single and multiple, both unpredictable and regular.

How to recognize an ailment

Cat spasms can usually be predicted by unusual animal behavior. Attacks are preceded by a loss of orientation of the animals and a fixed look, which usually lasts for 5-10 minutes. Often, these signs of an upcoming seizure go unnoticed by the owner.

Outwardly, convulsions are manifested in the form of twitching by individual parts of the animal’s body, their strains and contractions. Very often, when a cat spasms, a loss of consciousness is observed. In this case, it is very important that the animal is in a safe place, under the supervision of the owner.

Cramps in a cat: causes

A number of diseases can be the cause of seizures in felines. They can be caused by various pathologies, such as:

• Benign and malignant brain tumors.
• Metabolic disorders (increase in the body's potassium content, decrease in the level of calcium or glucose in the blood).
• Traumatic brain injuries in a pet.
• Hemorrhage.
• Helminthic invasion - the presence of intestinal or other parasites in a cat.
• Infectious diseases.

• Cardiovascular pathology.
• Poisoning.
• Diseases of the liver and kidneys.
• Epilepsy is a brain disorder accompanied by convulsions. In addition to convulsions, during an epileptic seizure , dilated pupils, profuse salivation, involuntary urination are observed. Perhaps lethargic numbness, blindness and disorientation for some time after the attack.

Thus, cramps in cats can occur for a wide variety of reasons. Even a single manifestation of them is a serious cause for concern and a good reason for contacting a veterinary clinic.

Examination to identify the cause

When contacting a veterinarian with a complaint of cramps in a cat, to determine the cause, you will need to pass tests and undergo a diagnosis, including:

• blood analysis;
• ultrasound procedure;
• X-ray examination of the skull;
• magnetic resonance imaging;
• computed tomography.

What can help with the diagnosis?

There are frequent cases when analyzes and tests do not give a detailed answer to the question of why the pet has bouts of seizures. In this case, the veterinarian is limited only by symptoms, and the owner’s duty is to closely monitor the cat to be ready to provide all the necessary information:

• How old is the cat, at what age attacks began. If the animal has been taken by the owner as an adult, it will be somewhat more difficult to determine its years. You can find out the feline age in this case by the teeth. For ease of perception, the data are listed in the table.

Using the table above, you can easily determine how old the cat is. On average, the life of tetrapods is 15-16 years, but there are also centenarians, whose age can reach up to 20-23 years. It is noteworthy that feline age can be transferred to human. So, 1 year of a pet’s life is equal to 15 years of a person’s life.

• How often seizures occur, are they regular.
• What is the duration of seizures.
• Is there any connection between the occurrence of a cramp in the pet and periods of sleep or feeding.
• Is there a violation of appetite in the pet, has the amount of water consumed per day not changed.
• Did the pet receive medications and supplements.
• Have there been any cases of poisoning?

The actions of the owner in the event of seizures in the animal

The main task of the owner is to timely notice the onset of an attack. It is best to fix the cat on a flat surface, for example on the floor. Attempts to give any medicine at this point can lead to asphyxiation. Massage for cats will help reduce the duration of the attack.

Massage technique for cramps

When an animal cramps, it is necessary to fix it on a smooth, soft surface as soon as possible, for example, on a litter on the floor or carpet. The cramped limb muscle should be massaged immediately. Be careful! There is no need to be zealous, as even light stroking is enough to reduce the attack. After the massage, it is recommended to apply a heating pad or a warm bottle of water to the limb. Additionally relax the muscles and warming the cat's lower back.

How to treat

So, you notice frequent cramps in the cat. What to do? With regular attacks, treatment is required. If the cause is not identified, then, in order to avoid brain damage and the development of epilepsy, the cat should receive anticonvulsants. It is worthwhile to be prepared for the fact that it will not be possible to completely cure the pet of convulsions, it will only be possible to slightly alleviate the suffering of the animal and give the cat a more or less normal life.

Anticonvulsants used in veterinary medicine are:

• Phenobarbital is an anticonvulsant and sleeping pill. This drug perfectly relieves seizures in feline, if you correctly calculate the dosage and periodically take an analysis from the animal to monitor the presence of a substance in the blood. The dosage and regimen, as well as the prescription, are given by the veterinarian (taking into account the weight of the pet and the severity of the disease), it is impossible to purchase the drug without permission.
• "Paglüferal" is an anticonvulsant based on phenobarbital. Over-the-counter drug delivery is prohibited. A doctor’s consultation and good reason for prescribing are necessary.
• Primidon is another drug used to treat epilepsy in both humans and animals. It has a powerful anticonvulsant effect. It is used only as directed by a doctor.

Rules for taking anticonvulsants in veterinary medicine

When prescribing anticonvulsants by a veterinarian, it is necessary to adhere to the established rules:

• The dose and schedule of taking the medicine should be strictly established, chaotic use is not allowed.
• It is impossible to spontaneously stop treatment of a cat - this can lead to convulsions of greater strength.

• If the drug runs out, you need to worry in advance about buying a new package. If a prescription is given, a veterinarian must be notified.
• Storage of the product should be carried out in a safe place not accessible to the animal or child.
• You need to consult a veterinarian about compatibility with other drugs, if there is a need for additives.

Feasible side effects

At the beginning of taking anticonvulsants, the animal may experience lethargy, apathy, and refusal to eat. All these phenomena are temporary and soon pass. If the side effects persist for a long time, it is worth notifying the veterinarian about this - the medicine may not be suitable for your pet, and you need to replace it with another one.

How quickly is the treatment effect achieved?

In the case of an incorrect dosage of the drug, treatment is ineffective, attacks do not go away and plague the pet with the same strength and frequency. In this case, the doctor must take an animal blood test to adjust the dosage. If this does not help, then we can say with great certainty about the progression of the disease, which forces us to make new decisions.

It is worth considering that in some cases it is impossible to control seizures even with the use of drugs. Take care of your pets, give them as much attention, care and love as possible and in no case leave them alone with the disease!