If your beloved dog suffers from a seizure, it can be stressful to watch. But if you understand the type of seizure your dog is experiencing, it will be easier to give your dog the type of treatment he requires. There are several different kinds of seizures that effect dogs, and each type is recognizable by its defining traits.
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Tonic Clonic Seizures
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These seizures may either be mild or severe (otherwise known as grand mal). During the "tonic" phase, the dog will fall over and extend his limbs. If the seizure is grand mal, the dog could lose consciousness at this point. His respiration may also stop. About 15 to 30 seconds later, the "clonic" phase begins, during which the dog will begin to move in place, either paddling his limbs or chewing. Do not attempt to put your hand or an object into his mouth to block his tongue, because canines are not in danger of swallowing their tongues during a seizure the way humans are. Additional symptoms include dilated pupils, heavy salivation, and urination or defecation. This type of seizure is typically associated with primary epilepsy.
Petit Mal Seizures
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These seizures are rarely found in dogs. The signs of a petit mal seizure are brief, lasting only a few seconds, and include loss of muscle tone, a blank stare, an upward rotation of the eyes, and possibly brief unconsciousness. Some veterinarians do not believe this seizure occurs at all in animals, or that it is often misdiagnosed.
Partial Seizures
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In a partial seizure, the movements are restricted to one area of the body. This may manifest by way of muscle jerking, spasms in one limb, facial contractions, and turning of the head or body to one side. This type of seizure can progress into a tonic clonic seizure. Dogs who suffer from partial seizures may have secondary epilepsy.
Complex Partial Seizures
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A complex partial seizure involves a series of bizarre or complex behaviors that repeat during each seizure. Humans who experience these seizures have reported distortions of thought, perception and emotion, including increased fear. In dogs, this tends to manifest as repeated lip-smacking, chewing, and fly-biting, aggressive behavior, or hysterical running, cowering, vocalization or hiding in otherwise normal canines. This type of seizure is also associated with secondary epilepsy.
Status Epilepticus
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A status epilepticus seizure is any continuous seizure that lasts more than 5 minutes, up to 30 minutes in some cases. It is considered life-threatening, and can occur in dogs with no previous history of seizures due to traumatic brain injury, toxins or disease. It is most common, however, in canines with a history of tonic clonic seizures, but can occur in dogs with secondary epilepsy as well.
Cluster Seizures
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Cluster seizures are multiple seizures that occur within a short period of time. Your dog may experience brief periods of consciousness, but oftentimes this type of seizure can be confused with status epilepticus, since lucid periods are often short. Cluster seizures are also considered life-threatening, so even if you don't think your dog is suffering from status epilepticus, you should still call a veterinarian immediately.
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