Seizures in Dogs

Watching your dog having seizures can be a scary thing for the pet owner. The convulsions and choking are usually the result of uncoordinated processing of the neurons in the cerebrum. Seizures in dogs, convulsions or fits are one of the most common neurological problems afflicting dogs. It may range from mild to life-threatening conditions and may be accompanied by muscular contractions, changes in mental awareness and certain other behavioral changes. Most of the time, pet owners are unprepared for the seizure activity in dogs. Here is a look at the possible causes and treatment of canine seizures.

Causes

Idiopathic epilepsy in dogs is one of the most common causes of seizures in dogs. What causes the convulsions is however, determined based on the severity of the condition. Here is a look at some of the dog health problems that may be the cause of seizures in dogs.

• Liver disease
• Toxins or poisons
• Encephalitis
• Brain disorders
• Brain tumors
• Electrolyte abnormalities in the blood such as low calcium levels
• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
• Hypothyroidism
• Severe worm infestation
• Vaccinations
• Dog cancer
• Vitamin deficiencies

Symptoms

The common symptoms of canine seizures are stiffness, loss of consciousness, uncontrollable urinating, and salivating, sudden, violent shaking muscle twitching and altered vision. There are essentially three phases of dog seizures accompanied by varying symptoms. These include:

Pre-seizure Phase: Often known as the aura phase of seizures in dogs, the pre-seizure phase occurs a few minutes before the actual seizures occur. In this phase of the seizure attacks, dogs appear restless and may pace around often. Most of them seek constant attention or try to hide. In addition your dog may constantly salivate and whine.

Ictus Phase: The convulsion attacks or actual seizures are those that take place in the ictus phase. The dog appears quite excited and disoriented. It runs around in circles, collapses on the floor as muscular contractions or fits take over its body. This may be accompanied by vomiting and salivating.

Post Ictus Phase: Once the seizures are over the dog enters the post ictal period where it appears uncoordinated and disoriented. It may also be afflicted with temporary blindness. This period of recovery from the seizures may last from a few minutes to days.

Treatment

For diagnosing the cause of the seizures, the veterinarian may recommend a basic blood screen, urinalysis, CAT and MRI scans and cerebrospinal analysis. However, it is important to keep in mind that even with advanced diagnostic procedures, the exact cause of the seizures may never be discerned.

Treatments for seizure in dogs involve treating the underlying cause of the seizures. However, if the exact cause cannot be ascertained then cure for seizures in dogs include a range of drugs and medication. For controlling seizure in dogs, medication such as phenobarbital, potassium bromide, gabapentin and chlorazepate may be prescribed. These anticonvulsants can be prescribed separately or administered together.

When your dog is having seizure attacks, please remain calm so that you can soothe the dog. Make sure that when the uncontrolled fits take over, your dog is in a safe place away from stairs and sharp objects. Calm the dog and avoid putting your hand in its mouth when it is having seizures as the uncontrollable muscle movements may make it bite you. If the seizures are persistent even after ten minutes or reoccurs immediately then transport your pet to a medical emergency facility as soon as possible. Most of the time, the vets may want to know the date, time, and duration of the seizure so make sure that you record it.