Erik Verrynne, [01 Feb 2023 at 10:21:51]: Good morning. Our previous discussions about a suspected high incidence of epilepsy in caracals in captivity refer. We recently lost one during a convulsion. The brain lesions are very interesting showing “moderate, multi focal cerebral vascular mineralization with associated malacia and dystrophic calcification. “ The cause is unknown but worth further investigation. If anyone has seen cases and may have access to a PM, please send in the brain samples and take a thorough history to allow us to compare? My email is erik.verreynne@me.com. Luis Amaral, [01 Feb 2023 at 11:54:15]: Toxoplasmosis also to be considered resulting in encephalitis. I have seen in lions Annie Mears, [13 Dec 2022 at 11:05:44]: Please can anyone suggest an oral sedation for caracal that are semi tame that need to be caught for vaccines. Something to slow them down. They have a history of seizures Luis Amaral, [13 Dec 2022 at 12:04:26]: Dormicum tablets Pierre Nel, [15 Dec 2022 at 13:35:32]: This is not the first time I have heard of seizures in captive caracal - is it a common occurrence? Is it related to captivity? Erik Verrynne, [16 Dec 2022] I have a client with a caracal both blind and epileptic. It seems epileptiform seizures are common in captive caracal. Any idea on causes and cures? Maaike de Schepper, [16 Dec 2022 at 21:53:16]: I have also had an almost blind caracal who started with seizures under immobilisation. Henry Labuschagne, [17 Dec 2022 at 05:29:23]: I have not had a captive Caracal with epilepsy yet. I see a lot of Serval and Caracal. My 1st DD is Vit A deficiency. I would also consider Toxoplasmosis. Erik Verrynne, [17 Dec 2022 at 06:06:12]: How do they get their Vit A in natural diets considering they eat small mammals and especially birds? In all the cases I have seen where they catch larger prey, they lick the blood and then eat a small part of the muscle of the back legs. Never seen them eating the intestines or contents as larger predators do. Henry Labuschagne [17 Dec 2022] Did you take skull x rays ? What tests were done ? Results of tests ? Blood and liver are good sources of Vit A Rob Jackson, [17 Dec 2022 at 06:48:50]: I have a client with a blind caracal which was hand reared. I think that it was blind from when rescued. Maybe we save the genetically defective kittens because we find them abandoned, while in nature they would not make it? Ulf Tubessing, [17 Dec 2022 at 07:16:45]: I agree with Vit A deficiency but also believe Vit B deficiency. Seizures in hand-raised kittens often cease with proper vitamin replacement. Said it before, I also strongly believe in the positive effect of combination with phospholipids. I routinely give Essentiale to hand-raised wild cat spp Roy Bengis, [17 Dec 2022 at 07:33:25]: We must remember that the thaw /freeze cycle depletes thiamine levels in meat. Henry Labuschagne, [17 Dec 2022 at 07:56:44]: Henry Labuschagne, [17 Dec 2022 at 07:59:56]: I agree with Ulf and Roy. Wild cats have specific nutritional needs that I think Adrian Tordiffe understands best. These needs are seldom met when they are kept in captivity. Adrian's supplements is as good as it gets for captive wild felids. Adrian please comment? Adrian Tordiffe, [17 Dec 2022 at 09:08:39]: As mentioned it is very likely related to nutrition, with vitamin A and thiamine (Vit B1) the most prominent deficiencies. The scarring in the CNS after necrosis with B1 deficiencies can cause chronic seizures that are unresponsive to vitamin supplementation (especially if treatment was delayed). Caracals eat many small whole mammals and birds in the wild, the livers of those prey animals provide the primary source of B1 and Vitamin A Erik Verrynne, [17 Dec 2022 at 09:14:44]: We assume the same principles for small carnivores apply to larger carnivores. Yet their feeding habits differ as Adrian pointed out. This particular animal has been on vit B supplements and is fed natural prey such as doves, she gets liver. The frequency of seizures reduced when taken off the vit B supplementation. It is most likely nutrition but we need to investigate other species specific possibilities such as sensitivity to environmental toxicities or metabolic issues. The black-footed cats in captivity are a good example of species specific differences.
