Hyperactivity and Alopecia Associated with Ingestion of Valproic Acid in a Cat

    May 2001 in “ Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association ”
    Debra L. Zoran, Albert Boeckh, Dawn M. Boothe
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    TLDR A cat's hyperactivity and hair loss were caused by eating valproic acid but improved after stopping access to the drug.
    A 1-year-old castrated male cat presented with alopecia and hyperactivity, which were later linked to the ingestion of valproic acid from the food of a child with cerebral palsy in the same household. After the cat's exposure to the drug was eliminated, its clinical signs gradually disappeared. The case highlights the potential sensitivity of cats to human medications and the importance of a thorough history to uncover environmental factors affecting an animal's health. It remained unclear whether the cat's symptoms were due to an adverse reaction or toxicosis due to prolonged hepatic elimination, but the cat fully recovered after the drug was no longer accessible.
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