Viral Causes of Acute Canine Seizures

There are many reasons why a dog can have a seizure. Sometimes seizures occur for no apparent reason at all. In other cases they can be caused by environmental poisons or toxins, low blood sugar, inherited epilepsy, brain tumors or bacterial infections. They can also be caused by serious and potentially fatal viral infections, especially if the seizure is accompanied by other symptoms.

  1. Distemper

    • Distemper is an often fatal disease that is transmitted when an infected animal breathes, coughs or sneezes on a healthy dog. The early symptoms of distemper are watery eyes, runny nose, fever, a loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea. As the disease progresses it attacks the nervous system and causes encephalitis, or swelling of the brain. This leads to seizures, brain damage and death.

      There are vaccines available that will prevent dogs from getting distemper. Unfortunately, there is no medication available that will treat the disease in a dog that is already infected. The doctor can only treat the secondary symptoms of the disease by giving the animal intravenous liquids to prevent dehydration, by controlling the vomiting and diarrhea and by administering medication to control its seizures.

    Infectious Canine Hepatitis

    • Canine hepatitis is caused by a viral infection in the liver. The disease is passed from one dog to another by direct contact. The initial symptoms of canine hepatitis are a sore throat and cough. The dog's eyes may also appear blue or cloudy because of a buildup of fluid in the layers of the cornea. The disease quickly spreads to the liver. The dog experiences vomiting and diarrhea as well as extreme thirst, convulsions and seizures as its liver and kidneys fail.

      Pet Education website explains that this disease can lead to death in as little as two hours after the initial onset. There are vaccines available that can prevent the disease from occurring in puppies and adults, but there is no treatment available for canine hepatitis beyond keeping the animal hydrated and monitoring its symptoms.

    Rabies

    • According to the Health Communities website, rabies is transmitted through the bite or scratch of an infected animal. The infection can lie dormant for weeks or even months after the animal is infected. Within several months, however, the virus spreads to the brain and spinal cord.

      The symptoms of rabies usually occur in a standard pattern. First, the dog will stop eating or drinking. Next, it shows signs of confusion and disorientation, followed by aggression, fearless behavior, a loss of coordination and seizures. The final phase results in paralysis that starts in the jaw and spreads to the other areas of the body, eventually leading to coma and death.

      A veterinarian cannot test for rabies unless the dog is dead because the test must be performed on the animal's brain tissue. Dogs can be vaccinated against rabies to prevent the disease from happening, but the condition is fatal in animals that have already been infected.