Watching a dog have a seizure can be pretty alarming for many pet owners.  Having your pet go on a daze and not responding to any calls for attention while twitching and drooling excessively can be really traumatic and dangerous if you don’t know what to do.

Seizures are caused by a neurological disturbance in the brain.  These disturbances can cause a loss of consciousness on your dog, and can proceed to sending off series of uncontrolled electrical impulses from the brain to several parts of the body, particularly the limbs and facial muscles.  An attack can be quite disturbing and definitely exhausting for your pet.

Causes of seizures in dogs

Usually the cause of seizures is unknown.  Approximately around 5% of dogs suffer idiopathic seizures.  This means even in the absence of a known cause, your dog may still suffer from an attack when it is least expected.   However, some dogs suffer seizures because of the following:

• Genetics: certain dog breeds are more prone to suffering seizures compared to others.  These breeds can include but not excluding:
  • Cocker-Spaniels
  • Labrador
  • Golden retrievers
  • German shepherds
  • Beagles
  • Dachshunds.
• Blood sugar levels: a drop in blood sugar can cause loss of consciousness and seizure in dogs that have been given too much insulin.  High levels can also cause seizures.

• Hypocalcemia: usually seen in puppies with an acute infestation of worms.  It can also happen in lactating dogs for their calcium storage is being secreted in breast milk.

• Medical conditions: liver and kidney disease have been linked to seizure disorders.  Liver problems can cause the increase in ammonia in the blood, while kidney problems can cause electrolyte imbalances and build up of toxins that lead to seizures.

• Head Trauma: a dog that just had an accident or has been given a blow on the head is at high risk for having seizures.  Blood clots can form in the brain, as well as swelling that can cause an inflammatory response that can compromise blood circulation in the brain.  This can disrupt the flow of impulses in the brain as well as cause an imbalance in the neurotransmitters, causing seizure episodes.

• Infections: encephalitis is a common cause of seizures, as well as distemper and rabies to name a few.

• Toxins: lead toxicity is one of the major causes of seizure episodes in dogs for it is commonly found within the household (i.e. tarpaper, roofing materials, peeling oil-based paints, etc).  Certain foods can also cause seizure such as onions and chocolates.

General symptoms of Seizures

Dogs show different signs and symptoms of seizures depending on the degree of severity of an attack.

• Petit Mal: this type of seizure is often missed by dog owners because the signs and symptoms are somewhat similar to other medical conditions.  Signs and symptoms include:
  • Fine tremors
  • Excessive salivation/drooling
  • Whining
  • Spontaneous urination
  • Loss of balance
• Grand Mal: the most violent type of seizure.  Major muscle parts of the body are greatly affected, leading to more obvious manifestations.  Also known as tonic-clonic seizure, your dog will first show sudden rigidity of limbs that can be accompanied by a stop in breathing that can last for 30 seconds.  Los of consciousness may or may not ensue, followed by the excessive muscular stimulation.

• Status epilepticus: by far the most alarming type of seizure in dogs.  May present either petit mal or grand mal seizure that can last for more than five minutes.  This is the most life-threatening type of seizure, with the risk of cardio-pulmonary arrest, as well as oxygen deprivation of the brain.

Stages

Dogs exhibit an attack in several phases.  Knowing and understanding these phases can help you recognize an impending seizure and what to do as your dog pass each one.

• Pre-Ictal phase – dogs exhibit certain behaviors before an onset of an attack. Initially, they would be hyperactive and anxious, as if sensing that an attack would occur any moment.  The would seek out the owner and would often be highly affectionate, as if seeking help or reassurance.  Others would prefer to look for a dark, quiet place and wait for the seizure to take over.

• Ictal phase– this is the onset of the seizure itself.  Usual attacks can last between seconds to 5 minutes.  It is important that you do not touch or do anything to your dog for you may severely injure yourself in the process.  Countless owners have been hospitalized because of the attempt to prevent the dog from “swallowing its tongue” during an attack. All you have to do is stay with your dog and wait for the seizure to stop.  Do not panic, do not shout, and do not shake your dog.  Doing so would only prolong the episode.  Move your dog to a rug on the floor, turn off the lights or draw the shades.  You must also turn of any form of noise in the room such the TV or radio.  Keep the kids from the room for this can be severely distressing for them and can cause them to cry out and scream, making matters worse.

• Post-Ictal Phase – after an episode, your dog will be severely spent and exhausted.  He would also show some difficulty so it is highly imperative that you remain with your dog to comfort him in this phase.  Your dog may be will be blind for nearly an hour or so, deaf, uncoordinated and unbalanced, and can be highly frightened. You must sooth and comfort your dog as he recovers his senses.  If he did not defecate or urinate in the ictal phase, he would do so now.

Treatment

Medication for seizure is commonly directed on the cause of the seizure.  Medical conditions are properly treated, and external factors are eliminated as much as possible.  The modality of treatment for this condition is more palliative than curative.  Anti-seizure medications are given to prevent increased occurrence of seizure and lessen its duration, but not stop it from occurring totally.

Treatments include Phenobarbital, potassium bromide, as well as primidone.  The treatment takes about 1 to 2 weeks.  It is important that you bring your dog to the vet when seizure has occurred to fully diagnose the cause as well as give adequate and prompt treatment for the condition.