A seizure is the lack of voluntary muscle control. Your dog might twitch, salivate, have a distant look, or it might fall down and convulse. When your dog has seizures on a regular basis, it might be diagnosed with epilepsy. Epilepsy is a generic term applied to most seizure disorders. There are several causes of seizures.
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Identifying Genetic Factors
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Genetic predisposition can cause seizure disorders. A common cause is an imbalance in sodium, calcium and potassium. All three are necessary for constant communication between nerve cells. If they aren't balanced in the proper ratio, the electrical charge transmitting between nerves misfires and could trigger a seizure. Vitamin deficiencies can also contribute to seizure disorders and can come from feeding the wrong food, malnutrition or a congenital defect that prevents proper absorption. A complete blood workup will reveal any chemical imbalances or deficiencies, and treatment usually addresses restoring the proper balance.
Maintaining Glucose Levels
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Dogs can have diabetes and hypoglycemia, just like humans. If a dog's glucose level rises or falls too rapidly, or excessively out of normal range, it can trigger a seizure. If this is the cause of your dog's seizures, make sure the dog maintains steady blood sugar levels through diet, exercise and medication, if prescribed.
Organic Causes
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Brain lesions, tumors, cysts and infections, like encephalitis, can all cause seizures. Your dog will need a vet to diagnose these disorders. Your vet will probably request a C.T. scan or MRI, or an X-ray of the skull to check for abnormal growths. Brain infections are often diagnosed via lumbar puncture (withdrawing a sample of spinal fluid). If an organic cause is to blame for your dog's seizures, it might be treatable and should reduce or eliminate further seizures. Injuries from accidents and abuse can also cause seizures, which might last for the dog's lifetime.
Environmental Factors
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Toxins, like lead or antifreeze, can cause seizures. So can sensitivities to chemicals and preservatives found in dog foods. Never give your dog chocolate, because dogs can't metabolize theobromine, a chemical found in chocolate. It builds up in the brain to cause seizures. Your vet will conduct tests for toxins. You might be asked to do a food trial, where you switch to a different kind that contains new protein and carbohydrate sources the dog hasn't eaten before (e.g. duck and sweet potato). Vaccinations can also cause seizures. Vaccine-related seizures are usually short-term, but if your dog has one, it is advisable to skip future vaccines, if possible.
Organ Failure
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Renal and liver failure can both trigger seizures. Both are life-threatening conditions and will require immediate treatment. Diagnostic tests include blood tests and possibly imaging tests or biopsies. Treatment will depend on the cause of the illness, and seizures usually resolve with effective treatment.
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