What Are the Causes of Seizures in Standard Poodles?

Although the standard poodle is generally a healthy dog breed with few genetic issues, the Canine Inherited Disorders Database indicates that standard poodles sometimes develop seizure disorders. Seizures can occur because of liver, brain or metabolic problems, or they can be a symptom of a disease. Sometimes seizures happen for no apparent reason. The causes and symptoms of seizure are not unique to poodles. Dog breeds in general suffer the same types of symptoms depending upon the underlying condition.

  1. Idiopathic Epilepsy

    • Many dog breeds are affected by idiopathic epilepsy, according to the Canine Inherited Disorders Database, including standard poodles and other poodle varieties. Idiopathic epilepsy is a condition that results in recurrent seizures without an apparent underlying cause. The condition is passed from canine parents to their offspring. The condition becomes evident when the dog is between 1 and 3 years of age. Symptoms vary depending on the severity of the illness. Some dogs have mild seizures that are barely noticeable, while others fall unconscious and their limbs jerk uncontrollably. These dogs salivate, urinate and defecate involuntarily during the seizures, which usually only last for a moment or two. The animal is tired, hungry or out of sorts afterward. Epilepsy is not curable. The symptoms are controlled with a prescription medication called phenobarbitol.

    Canine Distemper

    • Canine distemper is a disease caused by a virus. It usually affects puppies under 6 months of age, but dogs of any age can become ill, according to Pet Education. The symptoms of canine distemper are a runny nose, runny eyes, fever, diarrhea, vomiting and seizures. The disease is highly contagious and often fatal. Pet Education claims that the disease has a mortality rate of around 75 percent. The few dogs that recover from distemper are left with tooth enamel damage, vision problems and permanent nervous system issues. Canine distemper is easily prevented through vaccinations, but there is no specific treatment for the illness after the animal has been infected. The veterinarian treats the seizures with anti-seizure medication and administers intravenous fluids so that the dog does not become dehydrated.

    Brain Tumors

    • According to the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, seizures that begin when a dog is over 5 years old are the most common symptom of a tumor on the front of the brain. Such tumors can affect standard poodles and other dog breeds alike. A frontal brain tumor causes dogs to pace or walk in circles. It decreases or increases the appetite depending on the dog. The animal may forget its previous training or act depressed. The website indicates that dogs with brain tumors often bump into things because they lose vision or bodily awareness on one side of the body. Brain tumors are treated with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The treatments are designed to prolong the dog's life. The website notes that the prognosis varies depending upon the location and the severity of the tumor.