K-9 Seizures

K-9 ("canine") seizures occur in both mixed- and pure-breed dogs and can range in severity from mild to severe. Seizures tend to occur because of an interference with normal brain function and usually signal a serious underlying condition.

  1. Causes

    • A variety of factors can cause canine epilepsy. Genetic epilepsy, also known as primary epilepsy, is determined only after all other causes have been eliminated and is very rare. Secondary epilepsy occurs because of toxic poisoning, metabolic deficiencies or failure, dietary problems or infectious diseases.

    Types

    • Grand Mal seizures or generalized seizures are the most common, last 10 to 30 seconds and occur in genetic epilepsy. The following are associated with secondary epilepsy: Petit Mal seizures last only a few seconds, often going unnoticed by owners. Partial seizures affect only parts of the dog's body. Complex partial seizures are behavioral seizures, identified by strange behavior including biting, vocalizing, and running during a seizure. Cluster and Status seizures are continuous seizures lasting more than 30 minutes and considered life threatening.

    Diagnosis

    • Veterinarians will perform complete physical and neurological tests. Some tests include EEG scans, urinalysis, blood analysis to check for sugar and lead levels and fecal testing to test for parasites. Dog owners will also need to monitor seizure activity and keep a detailed log of occurrences, diets and activities.

    Treatments

    • Certain medications may cause seizures in dogs, so consistent monitoring is necessary for positive results. Medicinal treatments may not cure all epilepsy cases; instead, they control seizure occurrence. Some cases may be alleviated by introducing a healthier diet rich in vitamins and nutrients. Always ask your vet before beginning any diet regiment.