Seizures in dogs, as in humans, are crises of nervous origin that represent the most frequent canine nervous emergencies. Seizures are associated with impaired motor activity with disorders of sensitivity and consciousness. We must know that seizures in dogs can have various causes and, depending on what is affecting our dog, the veterinarian will prescribe one treatment or another, as well as specific care and management to improve their he alth. We know that seeing your dog having a seizure can be an extremely stressful and traumatizing situation for caregivers, especially if they don't know what to do.
For all these reasons, in this article on our site we want to talk in detail about the seizures in dogs, explaining the causes that cause their appearance, the most common symptoms that warn us, the treatment that the veterinarian will prescribe and, above all, what to do when they manifest
What are seizures in dogs?
To begin with, we need to know what seizures in dogs are. Many people confuse the concept and believe that it is only due to canine epilepsy, however, there are many other causes.
To understand it, we must know that we are dealing with an excessive electrical activity that occurs in the cerebral cortex of the individual's brain. This is when various symptoms occur, such as loss of consciousness and involuntary contraction of one or several parts of the body.
Types of seizures in dogs
Below we will briefly mention the types of seizures in dogs that exist:
- Generalized seizures: this is the most common form and we observe that the whole body of the animal becomes tense and rigid. You can manifest contractions, loss of consciousness and even defecation and urination.
- Focal seizures: in this case it manifests in only one part of the body and loss of consciousness does not always occur. Chewing movements, for example, are characteristic of distemper, although there are of course other causes.
- Psychomotor seizures: in this case we are dealing with a focal seizure, however, it is usually confused with abnormal behavior of the dog and is not is associated with a seizure. The dog appears to be upset and will not respond normally. They can even manifest episodes of aggressiveness in which the dog attacks and bites. In other cases the dog will be disoriented.
In general, we should note that seizures in dogs are not always easy to identify, as they can easily be confused with fainting spells, other he alth problems and even behavioral problems.
However, if you've noticed unmistakable signs that your dog is having a seizure, it's Important to go to the vet As you already know the types of seizures in dogs, below we will talk about the causes and manifestations according to the life stage of the dog.
Causes of seizures in dogs
There are many causes that can cause seizures in dogs. They are called reactive seizures those that are caused by the development of tumors, toxins, hereditary diseases or traumas. On the other hand, structural or secondary seizures are those that have appeared as a consequence of an identifiable brain abnormality. Finally, those called primary seizures are those that have an idiopathic cause, that is, unknown and are diagnosed as canine epilepsy.
It is also important to note that the various age groups must be taken into account, as the causes of seizures in older dogs, puppies or adultsmay vary, being essential to adapt the tests for diagnosis, which we will discuss in the following sections.
Why is my dog convulsing and foaming at the mouth? Next we will talk about seizures in dogs and the most common causes:
- Seizures in dogs due to poisoning: poisoning caused by a drug or a cleaning product can cause seizures in your dog. If, after conducting a clinical examination and the necessary tests, the veterinarian is unable to determine the cause of the seizures, these seizures without an apparent cause will be considered to be idiopathic seizures. You may be interested in consulting the following article on Ingestion and inhalation of bleach in dogs: symptoms and what to do.
- Seizures in dogs due to metabolic causes: liver failure, heart failure or hypocalcaemia are some of the many causes that can cause the appearance of seizures in dogs due to metabolic causes. Tests should be performed to arrive at a specific diagnosis.
- Seizures in dogs due to shock: Yes, head injuries can cause seizure problems at the time of the trauma or later. Therefore, if your dog has suffered seizures, when you go to your veterinarian you should mention that your dog has suffered a brain trauma in the past.
- Congenital seizures in dogs: Hereditary diseases, such as brain malformations, are frequently the cause of the appearance of seizures in dogs. dogs. The breeds most prone to problems due to their morphology are the Chihuahua, the Yorkshire or the French bulldog, among others.
- Seizures in dogs due to a brain tumor: the development of a tumor in the brain region may be responsible for seizures, especially in adult dogs. In this case, the seizures can be accompanied by neurological disorders such as difficulty walking, behavioral changes, vision problems, tilted head… The hypothesis of a tumoral cause should be considered if no other cause has been found. Meningioma is the most common type.
- Seizures in Dogs Due to Infectious Causes: Some infectious diseases can cause seizures during illness or as sequelae after infection. The most common and well-known is, of course, canine distemper, common in puppies and unvaccinated individuals.
- Seizures in dogs due to parasites: indeed, a parasitic infestation can also be the cause of the appearance of seizures. Canine toxoplasmosis or neopsora are some of the most common examples of seizures in dogs caused by parasites.
Dog Seizure Symptoms
Seizures in dogs have characteristic symptoms, such as:
- Loss of consciousness.
- Behavior changes.
- Agitation.
- Intense shaking.
- Tremors.
- Ataxia.
- Complete paralysis.
- Paralysis of a limb.
- Involuntary movements.
In this video from Blake Erdmann's channel on YouTube you can see a real picture of canine epilepsy.
Phases of seizures in dogs
Seizures in dogs have three phases: the pre-stroke phase, the stroke phase and the post-stroke phase. Some experts also mention the prodromal phase, which occurs before the pre-stroke phase. The truth is that it is difficult to differentiate between them with the naked eye, since they occur in a row and with little margin. With an electroencephalogram, it is possible to see the differences in terms of alterations between both phases.
Knowing what happens in each of the phases will allow us to better understand what we have to do in order to help our dog with seizures. In order of appearance, we find:
- Pre-ictus phase: it manifests the days before or even a few hours before the seizure in the dog. In this phase our dog has behavioral changes such as sudden barking, anxiety or constant calls for attention.
- Ictal phase or aura: is the phase in which seizures occur in dogs.
- Post-stroke phase: our dog has not yet recovered from the seizures and we can see how he is nervous, disoriented and even incoordinated and anxiety. This phase of seizures in dogs can last from hours to days.
What to do about seizures in dogs?
Below we will explain what to do in case of seizures in dogs, a procedure that any guardian with a dog in their care that presents this type of problem should know:
- To start with the most important thing is stay calm.
- We will ask children and other animals to leave the room.
- We must make sure that everything that surrounds the dog cannot harm it: we will remove any surrounding object and surround it with cushions whenever possible. We will try to lower the intensity of the lighting and record him with a mobile.
- We will call the emergency vet: since severe and long crises can be fatal.
- We will time the duration of the crisis: paying special attention if it exceeds 3 minutes.
- Under no circumstances should we try to "wake him up": because the dog is not aware of it. In addition, sound or light stimulation can generate stress in the dog, further prolonging the seizure.
- We will wait for the seizure to end next to the dog.
- Once the convulsion has ended, we will gently comfort the dog: we will avoid yelling or forcing him to get up quickly. It is important that everything is very calm.
- We will go to the vet or request a home visit from a vet.
How to diagnose seizures in dogs?
The medical history is especially important when making a differential diagnosis of seizures in dogs, as there are certain tendenciesbased on the individual's age, race, and gender . It is important for caregivers to explain how seizures begin in dogs, the symptoms noted and their duration, but also, whenever possible, information should be provided on congenital disorders that the dog's parents may have suffered from.
Likewise, any recurrent systemic disease, the dog's vaccination status, if there are other affected animals in the household, details about the feeding of the dog should also be reported. dog, any trauma or exposure to toxins that has occurred.
Neurological exams will be performed, such as head and cranial nerve evaluation, gait evaluation, and neck evaluation and front legs. The laboratory tests and images will also be necessary to help the veterinarian to rule out causes, such as blood tests, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, plain X-ray, computed tomography, MRI, electroencephalogram etc.
From the results of the exams and tests, as well as the information provided about the dog's medical history, the veterinarian will be able to determine the causeof seizures in dogs. However, in those cases where this is not possible, it will be diagnosed as idiopathic canine epilepsy.
Treatment for seizures in dogs
Once the diagnosis is confirmed, the veterinarian will prescribe a treatment depending on the cause that is causing the seizures in the dog. It is important to note that, except in those cases in which the seizures are punctual, as a result of intoxication, it will be impossible to reduce the seizures to zero, even so, it will be possible to improve your quality of life and trydecrease number of episodes
It is also important to point out that, after starting treatment, we should never stop it suddenly, as this could cause an even more serious effect, generating more compulsive crises in the dog. Therefore, we must never forget a single dose or be late in the administration. We must be very precise in this regard, offering our dog the pills always at the same time.
The medication may be stopped in cases where the patient has not experienced an attack for at least one full year Still thus, it is not recommended in certain breeds, such as the Saint Bernard, the golden retriever or the German shepherd. The veterinarian will explain how to reduce the dose gradually to avoid a negative impact on the affected dog's organism.
Dog Seizure Medications
Seizure control includes medication always prescribed by the veterinarian, such as the use of:
- Diazepam.
- Sodium pentobarbital.
- Phenobarbital.
- Propofol.
It will depend on the cause that causes it, whether we are talking about canine epilepsy or other pathologies. Doses will be indicated by the specialist, since they must be adapted to the individual's weight and state of he alth. He may also prescribe the use of anti-inflammatories, such as prednisone, as well as anti-edema drugs such as mannitol.
If you want to apply a natural treatment for seizures in dogs, we will consult with the veterinarian. Now that you know the treatment, let's see what sequelae leave seizures in dogs.
Consequences of seizures in dogs
You're probably wondering what the aftermath of seizures in dogs is, right? At the precise moment of the attack, the dog can hurt himself with various objects, so you should provide him with as much comfort as possible.
Later and as we have mentioned, this problem will continue to occur more or less regularly over time. It will be the veterinarian who will be able to issue a prognosis of the case taking into account the history of the dog. To do this, it is convenient to register all the attacks.
