Seizure disorders in dogs make up a large number of referrals to veterinary neurologists. According to R.M. Clemmons, D.V.M., Ph.D., seizure disorders strike about 1 percent of the dog population. They are much more common in purebred dogs, for which the number of dogs affected can be as high as 15 to 20 percent. The most common form of seizure is epilepsy, which manifests itself in recurring episodes. It is important to determine the cause of a seizure before moving forward with treatment.
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Diagnosis
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Treatment for seizures is usually not prescribed until your dog has had multiple episodes. Once a pattern is observed, it will be easier for your veterinarian to prescribe the correct course of treatment. It is important to note how your dog looks when he experiences seizures, how long the seizures last and how often they occur. Your vet also will want to know if the seizures occur on one or both sides of the dog and if the dog has a fever. It is important to give your doctor an accurate history of your dog, such as recent trauma, vaccination record and diet.
Medication
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Epilepsy is usually a chronic condition, and medication is used to treat and reduce the severity of seizures, rather than to cure them. You will have to administer most of the medication orally. Your doctor probably will need to experiment with one or more medications before deciding on the correct one because each dog will react differently to the medicines. The most commonly prescribed drug is called Phenobarbital, which sedates the neurons in the brain and is also used in humans with epilepsy. You will have to administer this medicine daily.
Tips
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If your dog is having a seizure, the most important thing to do is stay calm. Though the commonly believed proper action is to put your hand into your dog's mouth to stop it from swallowing its tongue, this is not true. You are likely to be bitten, and the dog will not swallow its tongue. One thing you can do is remove any items nearby that can injure the dog. Then you should observe your dog. Mild seizures are not emergencies, but if they last longer than 20 minutes or if the dog has one seizure after another, you should call your vet immediately.
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