Cramps in a cat: causes, massage, drugs. Age of the cat

For any owner, his pet is not just a pet, but a real member of the family whose problems and illnesses affect the soul, forcing to truly experience and worry. What if you notice cramps in your beloved cat? How to react, what to do and whether to panic?

Cramps - what is it?

Seizures are usually called involuntary muscle contractions, which are paroxysmal. In other words, convulsions are attributed to a temporary disruption of the normal functioning of the brain, which is accompanied by muscle activity that can not be controlled. Such attacks can be either single or multiple, both unpredictable and regular.

How to recognize the ailment

Cramps in a cat, as a rule, can be predicted by the unusual behavior of an animal. Attacks are preceded by a loss of animal orientation and a fixed look, lasting usually for 5-10 minutes. Often, these signs of an attack occur unnoticed by the host.

Externally, convulsions are manifested in the form of twitching of individual parts of the animal's body, their strains and contractions. Very often, when cramping occurs, the cat experiences a loss of consciousness. 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

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

• Benign and malignant brain tumors.
• Metabolic disorders (increase in the body of potassium, a decrease in the level of calcium or glucose in the blood).
• Craniocerebral injury in the pet.
• Hemorrhages.
• Glistular invasion - the presence in the cat of intestinal or other parasites.
• Infectious diseases.

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

Thus, cramps in cats can be observed for a wide variety of reasons. Even their single manifestation is a serious cause for concern and a good reason to contact a veterinary clinic.

Examination to identify the cause

When you contact a veterinarian with a complaint about cramps in a cat to identify the cause, you will need to take tests and get a diagnosis, including:

• blood test;
• ultrasonography;
• Radiographic examination of the skull;
• Magnetic resonance imaging;
• Computed tomography.

What can help in diagnosing?

There are often cases when tests and tests do not give a detailed answer to the question of why a pet has seizures. In this case, the veterinarian is limited only to symptoms, and the host's responsibility is to closely monitor the cat in order to be ready to provide all the necessary information:

• How old is the cat, at what age did the seizures begin. If the animal has got to the owner already an adult, it will be somewhat more difficult to determine its years. Learn the cat's age in this case can be in the teeth. For convenience of perception, the data is included in the table.

Using the table above, you can easily determine how old the cat is. The average life expectancy of quadrupeds is 15-16 years, but there are also long-livers, whose age can reach up to 20-23 years. It is noteworthy that the cat's age can be translated into human. So, 1 year of life of a pet is equal to 15 years of a person's life.

• How often do seizures occur, are they regular?
• What is the duration of the seizures.
• Whether there is any connection of occurrence at the pet of a cramp with the periods of a dream or feeding.
• Is there a violation of appetite in the pet, has the amount of water consumed per day changed?
• Whether the pet received medicines and supplements.
• Whether there were cases of poisoning.

The actions of the host in the occurrence of seizures in an animal

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

Technique of massage with cramps

When an animal has cramps, it is necessary to fix it as soon as possible on an even soft surface, for example on a litter on the floor or carpet. The cramped muscle of the limb should be immediately massaged. Be careful! There is no need to be cautious, since even slight strokes will suffice to reduce the attack. After the massage, it is recommended to attach a warmer or a warm bottle of water to the extremity. Additionally, relax the muscles and warm the lower back of the cat.

How to treat

So, you noticed frequent cramps in the cat. What to do? With regular attacks, treatment is compulsory. 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 worth to be ready to fully cure the pet from seizures will not succeed, it will only help alleviate the suffering of the animal and give the cat a more or less normal life.

The anticonvulsants used in veterinary medicine are:

• "Phenobarbital" is an anticonvulsant and hypnotic. This drug perfectly cures seizures in felines, if you correctly calculate the dosage and periodically take an analysis in the animal to control the presence of the substance in the blood. Dosage and the regimen, as well as the prescription, is given by a veterinarian (taking into account the weight of the pet and the severity of the disease), it is impossible to acquire the drug without permission.
• "Paglyuferal" is an anticonvulsant based on phenobarbital. Over-the-counter release of the drug is prohibited. It is necessary to consult a doctor and a good reason for the appointment of a remedy.
• "Primidone" is another drug used to treat epilepsy in humans and animals. Has a powerful anticonvulsant effect. It is only used as directed by a doctor.

The rules for taking anticonvulsants in veterinary medicine

When appointing veterinarian anticonvulsant drugs, you must adhere to the established rules:

• The dose and schedule of taking the medicine should be strictly established, chaotic consumption is not allowed.
• You can not stop spontaneously curing a cat - this can lead to seizures of greater force.

• If the drug ends, you need to worry in advance about buying a new package. If the medicine is given on prescription, you need to notify the veterinarian.
• Storage of the product should be carried out in a safe place, not accessible to the animal or child.
• You need advice from a veterinarian about compatibility with other drugs, in case you need to add.

Possible 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 it - maybe the medicine does not fit your pet, and you need to replace it with another.

How quickly the effect of treatment is achieved?

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

It should be borne in mind that in some cases it is impossible to control seizures, even with the use of medications. Take care of your pets, pay as much attention, care and love to them as possible, and do not leave them alone with the disease!