What is it?
This is not a seizure, we don't think and shouldn't be confused with orofacial seizures in cats. FOPS is a behavioral manifestation of oral discomfort and occasionally tongue, lip or gum mutilation in cats. There is some suspicion that this is a neuropathy arising from the trigeminal nerve or the ganglion processing from CN V.
How does FOPS present?
This disease is more common in Burmese cats but can be seen in any breed at any age. Signs are often linked to dental work, tooth eruption or oral surgery. According to data from one study (link below), the median age was 7 years at first onset of signs, with the majority of cats having repeated or ongoing signs after the onset.
Can it be diagnosed?
Anything called a “syndrome” should be your tip off that we don’t have a definitive cause or diagnostic routine. Rule out underlying dental disease, or oral pain, or diet-related causes for automatisms of the mouth following eating or other activities (e.g. wet food for a cat without teeth). If you’ve performed oral radiographs, a dental cleaning, looked for oral masses or wounds and tried diet changes without improvement, it might be time to think about FOPS.
How is it treated?
Not well.... oh wait, that is not what you mean, is it? Sadly, it is the truth. What treatments have been tried?
Dental procedures: 35/53 cats improved following a dental procedure, but it was not sustained in 9 cats.
NSAIDS: 18 cats received NSAIDS of some variety. This was effective in 6 cats
Corticosteroids: 7/17 cats had relief with steroid use.
Antibiotics: 2/12 cats attained improvement with antibiotics (unknown type, dose)
Combination treatment (anti-inflammatory and antibiotic): 9/21 cats found this effective
Opioids: 4/14 these were effective
Phenobarbital: 14/14 cats, effective (this was combined with a dental 2 cats)
Diazepam oral: 13/14 cats this was effective (combined with a dental in 1 cat)
Gabapentin: only used in 1 cat and was effective *I would try pregabalin now*
Chlorpheniramine: effective in 2/4 cats
Take Home Message
It is very important to read the numbers regarding treatment carefully. This data is reporting a subjective response to treatment, with variable doses and types of drugs within one class, in a small group of cats. This data suggests efficacy with phenobarbital or diazepam use but other treatment choices may be effective. These medications are proposed to be effective because of their anti-allodynic effect, not anticonvulsant effects. Human patients with a burning sensation for their neuropathic pain find phenobarbital particularly effective and it may be the reason for improvement in FOPS. Also, remember that oral diazepam can cause idiosyncratic hepatic necrosis and therefore should be used with caution in cats.
Have a great week, and thanks for reading!
Link to an article for additional information: https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.jfms.2010.03.005