Heart murmurs and seizures affect dogs just as they affect humans. Treatments for heart disease that may be prescribed by your veterinarian may be Enacard, Lasix or Theophylline. Medications prescribed to treat seizures in dogs may be phenobarbital, chlorazepate, felbamate and Levetiracetam.
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Heart Murmurs
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A normal heartbeat for a dog should sound like "lub dub" and each beat should sound the same in volume and rhythm. If the beat sounds differently, it may be a sign of a heart murmur.
Variations
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Various heart rates are normal with different breeds and dogs. For example, a stressed out and fearful dog that is in poor health may have a rapid heart rate which is also known as tachycardia. A slower heart rate, called Bradycardia, would be normal in an athletic dog that is in good condition.
Severity
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Heart murmurs are identified by grades which are determined by intensity or loudness. A barely audible heart murmur would be considered a Grade I heart murmur. A soft but clearly audible heart murmur would be called a Grade II. Intermediate loudness or very loud when the stethoscope is barely touching the dog's chest would constitute a Grade III or Grade IV heart murmur.
Seizures
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There are many different types of seizures in dogs. Some of these are generalized: petit mal, partial, complex partial and cluster.
Causes
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Seizures in dogs can be caused by many different conditions apart from epilepsy. Genetics, a brain tumor, canine distemper, a head injury, lyme disease and environmental toxins are all situations and conditions that could result in a dog suffering from seizures.
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