Canine seizures can occur due to a number of causes and can indicate a serious medical condition. There are several types of seizures. Canine epilepsy is the most common cause of seizures in dogs. Your dog needs to be evaluated by a veterinarian at the first signs of a seizure. Treatment options will depend on the root cause of the seizure.
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Symptoms
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Dog seizure symptoms vary widely. Seizures are not always easy to recognize. Typical reactions include: nervousness or agitation, trembling, eyes glazed over and disconnection with the environment, your dog may appear blind and will not respond to your voice, falling over, paddling of legs and convulsing, clenched teeth, increased salivation, appearance of not breathing, and disorientation.
Types
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There are four basic types of seizures in dogs. A mild canine seizure may not even be noticed in your dog. Moderate or grand mal seizures cause your dog to fall down, kick erratically, lose consciousness, among other seizure symptoms. Status epilepticus seizures can last for 10 or more minutes and can be a deadly form of a seizure. Cluster seizures are multiple seizures that occur within a 24-hour period. Cluster seizures also can be deadly.
Causes
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There are many potential causes for canine seizures. Epilepsy is the most common reason. Other conditions that can cause your dog to experience a seizure may include a brain tumor, low blood sugar, thyroid dysfunction, heat stroke, congenital malformations, trauma, distemper, or poisoning. Your veterinarian will need to conduct a physical and neurological exam. If no cause for the seizure can be identified, your dog may be diagnosed as having epilepsy.
Treatment
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Treatment for seizures will depend on the cause. If a known cause is found for the seizures, treatment can be focused on correcting the underlying condition. If there is no known cause and your dog is diagnosed with epilepsy, any of numerous anticonvulsant drugs can be administered to control the seizures. The goal of treatment with anticonvulsant medications is to reduce the severity and frequency of the seizures. Seizures are rarely eliminated completely, even with treatment.
Considerations
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Watching your dog have a seizure can be heart-wrenching. Remaining calm will help in caring for your dog. Move him to a safe place, if possible, to minimize the chances of injury. Time the seizure and observe what your dog is doing during the seizure so you can adequately describe this to the veterinarian.
It is not advised to repeat breeding that resulted in an epileptic dog.
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