A new puppy can be a wonderful addition to your family. Unfortunately, not all puppies are 100 percent healthy. A puppy that is experiencing seizures should be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Seizures can cause stress to both the animal and its owner, however, seizures are not always indicative of a death sentence.
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Hydrocephalus
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Hydrocephalus occurs when abnormal amounts of fluid accumulate in the brain. Normally, fluids are able to drain but in a brain affected by hydrocephalus, the fluid is retained. Hydrocephalus is usually diagnosed prior to 4 months of age in puppies. Certain breeds that are predisposed to hydrocephalus include Chihuahuas, Yorkshire terriers, Maltese and Pomeranians --- all of which have dome-shaped heads. However, other breeds can also suffer from this condition.
Symptoms of hydrocephalus include seizures, blindness or an abnormal walking pattern. Dogs that suffer from this condition may also be mentally challenged and have limited learning capabilities.
Canine Distemper
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Canine distemper virus can affect any of the organs of the dog including the respiratory system, the intestinal tract and even the eyes, brain or skin. In most cases, canine distemper affects puppies that are six months or younger.
Common signs of canine distemper include seizures, discharge of the eyes or nose, diarrhea, vomiting, coughing and fever. It is important that dogs are vaccinated against this virus. Fortunately, not all dogs that become infected with the canine distemper virus will die. However, those that do survive may be affected by tissue damage including thickened pads of the feet, a thickened nose or even damage to the teeth.
Meningitis
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Similar to meningitis in humans, meningitis in pets occurs when the protective tissues, known as the meninges, of the brain or spinal cord become infected. Infection can occur for a variety of reasons including trauma, bacterial infections, fungal infections or parasitic infestations.
Symptoms of meningitis include stiffness, fever, spasms that may be painful for your puppy, sensitivity to touch and seizures. Your dog may also experience a loss of appetite as well as lethargy or, in some cases, aggression. Meningitis can occur in dogs of any age.
Steroid Responsive Meningitis
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Steroid responsive meningitis (SRM) has nearly the same symptoms as standard meningitis. However, SRM is known to affect puppies more often than older dogs and some breeds are prone to this condition.
Fortunately, this form of meningitis can be treated through the use of steroids, as suggested by the name. For some dogs, the treatment may be lifelong.
Liver Shunts
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Liver shunts, also known as portal caval shunts, occur exclusively in puppies. This disorder occurs due to improper development of the circulatory system during the fetal stages of development. Liver shunts happen when the vessels surrounding the liver transporting waste from the fetus to the mother fail to close after birth. Even though the mother and puppy are no longer attached, the blood is still being transported around the liver because the puppy's body believes that the liver has not fully developed.
Common symptoms of liver shunts include vomiting, diarrhea, abnormally slow growth, excessive urination, seizures and death. Fortunately, today there are options for puppies with liver shunts. Surgery can be performed to manually close the shunts. However, this can become quite expensive due to costs of extended testing, diagnostics and the surgeries themselves.
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