Epilepsy is a serious neurological disorder in dogs caused by misfiring neurons in the brain. When the brain sends too many "move" signals, a dog&'s muscles seize, resulting in what the owner observes as an epileptic seizure. Although seizures may be dramatic and obvious, they do not always mean that a dog has epilepsy. If your dog has a seizure, watch for another one and record some important data, then take your dog to the vet for a diagnosis.
Things You'll Need
- Pad
- Pen
- Stopwatch
Instructions
Watch your dog when you notice an aura, or preseizure phase. During this phase, the dog may wander, grow distracted, become clingy or concerned, or whine. This phase may last several hours; it is your signal that a seizure is coming. During this phase, keep your pad and paper and a stopwatch nearby so you can record data about the seizure.
Watch for the seizure to start. The dog may stiffen or grow loose, fall over, drool, moan or urinate. Start the stopwatch to time the seizure, and record the symptoms of the seizure. Rate the severity of the seizure on a scale of 1 to 10. If you&'ve waited until the second or third seizure to take your dog to the vet, record how often your dog has had a seizure. Consider whether the dog has seizures at certain times, or in response to certain changes in the environment, as this could be important information in a diagnosis.
Take your dog to the vet, armed with this information and your dog&'s health and vaccination records. Vets will run a variety of blood and other tests to diagnose your dog.