Seizures in dogs are, without a doubt, a matter of great concern for all dog owners. The symptoms they produce cause alarm and, above all, impotence, not knowing what to do to help, and fear of a fatal outcome.
In this article on our site, we are going to talk about the causes of epileptic seizures in dogs, the symptoms that characterize them, the recommended treatment for epilepsy and what we should do if we witness one of these attacks.
Causes of epileptic seizures in dogs
If our dog has epileptic seizures, the first thing we should do is go to the vet Not only epilepsy can be the trigger of these convulsive crises, hence the importance of having this professional give us a diagnosis.
Once epilepsy is confirmed, it is defined as a recurrent seizure disorder and may be idiopathic or acquired.
Idiopathic epilepsy in dogs
In the first case, it is unknown what causes it, although it is believed that there could be an imbalance in certain chemicals linked to the transmission of electrical impulses in the brain.
Epilepsy in young dogs, that is, under five years of age, is usually idiopathic.
Acquired epilepsy in dogs
The second, on the other hand, does have a clear origin. For example:
- A noticeable scar on the brain.
- Nervous system or liver problems, common in older dogs.
- Sometimes epilepsy in dogs is inherited in breeds such as the beagle, dachshund or German shepherd.
There are also other breeds more prone to suffer from it, although its genetic origin has not been confirmed. Among them are the cocker spaniel, the poodle, the mini schnauzer, the Saint Bernard or the Siberian husky.
Symptoms of epileptic seizures in dogs
True epilepsy is characterized by recurrent and similar seizures that also become more frequent over time. The typical epileptic seizure in dogs is divided into the following symptomatic phases, although we cannot always distinguish them:
- Prodrome: is the period prior to epileptic activity. There may be behavioral changes that help the caregiver recognize this phase, such as restlessness, anxiety, or more clinging than usual. It can last for hours and even days, although it is not always present.
- Aura: This phase may not be easily recognizable. It marks the beginning of the crisis. Vomiting, urination and defecation may be observed.
- Ictal period: This is the seizure itself, in which there are involuntary movements, abnormal behavior, etc. Its duration varies from a few seconds to several minutes. It can be partial or generalized.
- Postictal period: after the epileptic seizure the animal may show strange behaviors such as disorientation, inappropriate urination and defecation, nervousness, thirst and hunger increased or decreased or some neurological deficits such as weakness or blindness. The cerebral cortex is not yet recovered. The length of this period varies greatly, from seconds to days.
Some dogs have different epileptic seizures that are characterized by the appearance of very strange behaviors, such as frantic barking or biting even if they don't actually have anything in their mouths.
If you have doubts about whether or not your dog suffers from epilepsy, you may be interested in reading this other article on our site about Epilepsy in dogs - Causes, symptoms and treatment.
Diagnosis of an epileptic seizure in dogs
By looking at the symptoms of an epileptic seizure in dogs we can know if it really is this disease or, on the contrary, the seizures have another cause. For the differential diagnosis we will take into account:
- The syncopes: in this case the dog collapses suddenly and recovers in the same way. In the previous section we have already seen how long an epileptic seizure lasts in dogs and in what phases it develops. Most epileptic seizures are brief.
- Vestibular alterations: the animal will be conscious and the symptoms will last much longer.
- Narcolepsy: the animal will be fast asleep but can be woken up.
- The pain attack: the animal will be conscious again, it will position itself in different postures and for a considerable time.
- Poisoning: in this case the seizures are usually continuous or repeated every few minutes. In addition, other symptoms such as weakness, diarrhea or incoordination can be observed between seizures, while in epilepsy, after the seizure, there is usually a period of calm, although the dog seems dazed.
In the next section we will see what to do when faced with an epilepsy attack in dogs.
What to do in case of an epileptic seizure in dogs?
It is common for an epileptic seizure to impress us, frighten us and generate doubts about how to act to help our dog. The guidelines that we must follow are as follows:
- If the attack takes place in a location where the dog can get hurt, we have to move it.
- On the other hand, if the environment is safe, don't touch it.
- Do not touch the dog during the attack or in the post-convulsive period, since it could favor the recurrence of the picture.
- Do not take your tongue out of your mouth or insert anything between your teeth with the intention of preventing it from biting.
- As soon as the seizure is over, Take him to the vet.
- On the contrary, if the attack lasts more than five minutes, it is considered an emergency and it is essential to seek veterinary assistance immediately. The prognosis in these cases, which are called status epilepticus, is serious and the dog could die.
Treatment of epileptic seizures in dogs
There are several drugs that can be used in dogs suffering from epileptic seizures. Its objective is to reduce the number of attacks, their frequency and their severity, that is, alleviate the symptoms, since none is going to make them disappear completely.
The vet will prescribe the most suitable one for our dog. Of course, they can have side effects such as sedation. In addition, they require regular veterinary follow-up and that, at home, we scrupulously respect the administration and dosage guidelines determined by the professional. Treatment is essential for epileptic seizures in very frequent dogs.
Sequelae of epileptic seizures in dogs
Epileptic seizures in dogs that are too close together can affect the animal's quality of life. Likewise, poorly controlled epilepsy can generate consequences such as:
- Incoordination.
- Blindness.
- Turns in circles.
- Hyperactivity.
Luckily, some of these sequelae are fixable. To do this, it is best to have a good veterinary control so that the professional can tell us how to treat our pet.
How many years does a dog with epilepsy last?
The life expectancy of a dog with epilepsy will depend, on the one hand, on the severity and type of epilepsy and, on the other, on its good veterinary control. On average, it is estimated that dogs with epileptic seizures can have a life expectancy of between 5 and 9 years approximately.
The most favorable cases of epilepsy in dogs is idiopathic epilepsy, in which dogs usually have a life expectancy higher (about 9 years), while dogs with associated epilepsy usually live about 5 or 6 years.
Can a dog die of an epileptic seizure?
Seizures of epilepsy in dogs do not have to lead to death, as long as the animal is carefully controlled. It is very important to time the duration of the epileptic seizure. If this lasts more than 5 minutes, you will need to go to the vet urgently. It is in these cases that the dog could die
Other convulsive seizures in non-epileptic dogs
Although it is common for caregivers to consider any episode of seizures to be epileptic seizures, the truth is that true epileptic seizures in dogs are just as we have described them. Dogs can suffer seizures for different reasons, so it's important that we don't take anything for granted and go to the vet.
Causes of seizures in dogs
Seizures may appear, for example, as a symptom of:
- Poisoning.
- Sugar drops.
- Infections such as distemper.
- Hydrocephalus.
- Brain tumor.
- Encephalitis.
- Meningitis.
- Trauma.
- Cardiovascular accidents.
- Metabolic diseases.
- Congenital malformations
In this other article on our site we explain in more detail everything about Seizures in dogs - Causes, treatment and what to do.
