Why is my cat having seizures and heart issues after normal tests?

Question

Hi there! my cat is actually in with a vet but i wanted to ask in case more opinions could help or be of any use. my cat was having seizures and went to the hospital and they did mri's and did cerebral spine fluid tests and everything was fine. She now has constant ventricular tachycardia and small seizures on and off. Has this ever happened to any animals you know of? Shes 3 almost 4. Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 10 lbs

Lauren Jones VMD · Accepted Answer

I'm sorry to hear that Pickles has been experiencing so many problems! While I have not personally treated any young cats with concurrent seizures and ventricular tachycardia, despite normal MRI and CSF findings, I would be most suspicious of underlying portosystemic shunts (PSS), toxin exposure, or underlying heart disease. With PSS, blood vessels on their way back to the heart bypass the liver, which is responsible for filtering normal toxins (i.e. ammonia) out of the blood stream. When this does not happen and ammonia-containing blood reaches the brain, seizures can occur. Sometimes syncopal (fainting) episodes can resemble seizures and are actually caused by underlying heart disease. Consider asking your vet about abdominal ultrasounds and bile acid tests if they are concerned about a PSS, or about an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) if primary heart disease seems more likely. I hope that all goes well for Pickles!

Why is my cat having seizures and heart issues after normal tests?

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