Cluster Seizures in Dogs

Cluster seizures in dogs come and go hours or even minutes apart. Dogs need a couple of days to fully recover from a seizure, so having a series of them can put your dog at risk of brain or internal organ damage, according to the Canine Epilepsy Network. Dogs need to be taken to the vet and administered diazepam (Valium) or another anticonvulsant so your dog's body has time to recover.

  1. Signs

    • Dog seizures are not always foaming at the mouth and flailing legs. They can be subtle, such as an uncontrollable shaking of the head or nystagmus, where one or both eyes are moving in peculiar random motions. Individual dogs develop their own signs of a seizure, according to the Canine Epilepsy Network. Dogs suffering from cluster seizures will not swallow their tongues, but may stop breathing up to a minute, lose control of their bladders or bowels, or bite.

    Warning

    • Cluster seizures in dogs are emergencies. Contact a vet at once. Seizures normally last less than a minute, but any seizure lasting more than five minutes is another emergency. After five minutes, the brain may become damaged. Dogs with brain problems or that have been poisoned may develop status epilepticus or a seizure that does not stop. This can kill a dog, according to "Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook."

    Causes

    • Cluster seizures are like other types of canine seizures in that there are a wide variety of causes. These include injuries, such as being hit by a car, poisoning, side effects or allergies to medications or a problem with the dosage of medications epileptic dogs may be taking. Illnesses that cause cluster seizures include epilepsy, hydrocephalus (water on the brain), birth defects of the head, diabetes, a sudden drop in low blood calcium that may happen to female dogs nursing puppies and inner organ failure.

    Treatment

    • The World Small Animal Veterinary Association recommends giving anesthesia whenever possible to a dog suffering a seizure. When the dog stops moving about jerkily, give an IV of phenobarbital. When the dog is in between seizures or if the seizures have finally stopped, urine and blood samples should be taken to be sure the dog has not been poisoned or is suffering internal organ failure.

    Misconceptions

    • There are other medical conditions dogs can have that may appear to be cluster seizures. These include infections or diseases of the middle ear or neurological diseases that affect coordination, such as wobbler syndrome or white dog shaker syndrome, which occurs for an unknown reason to white dog breeds, like the Maltese, according to "Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook."