Canine Seizures: What You Need To Know
Canine seizures come in varying types and degrees
. Some are only partial, affecting simply one side of the animal's body or even just a small area. A grand mal is the most commonly seen type. Usually, the dog will collapse, salivate heavily, start convulsing, are completely unaware of all surroundings, and can also involuntarily defecate or urinate. A petit mal is similar, but there are no convulsions.
A seizure has three recognizable phases that you will notice if you observe closely. In the pre-stage, also called the aura, dogs appear restless, whine, salivate, or try to hide. The ictus is the episode itself. Collapsing, convulsing, salivating, and vomiting may occur. The postictal phase is the recovery and can last from minutes to days. They may appear uncoordinated and disoriented. Temporary blindness can sometimes set in.
Veterinary science has yet to discover the exact triggers of these types of episodes. It is thought that the majority of pets tend to seizure when in a high state of excitement. General play, greeting people at the door, waiting for food, and chasing cats would be some examples. Occasionally dogs will have an attack while sleeping. However, if your animal is having spasms in his sleep, but you can wake him up, he was simply dreaming.
There is a long list of conditions and diseases that are known to cause fits like these. For instance, the metabolic disorder diabetes mellitus affects the animal world just as it does humans. It is caused when the pancreas produces too little insulin. This leads to higher glucose levels in the system than are normal. They can also be too low, something known as hypoglycemia.
Taking in or being exposed to any number of toxins can also be a contributing factor. One example would be antifreeze, also known as ethylene glycol. Attractive to pets due to its sweet aroma and taste, it is highly dangerous and can kill even a large dog with a very small dose. It does this by forming crystals on the kidneys, systematically shutting down the body. Also avoid giving chocolate due to it toxicity.
Another major culprit is the canine distemper disease. This virus is devastating and known to be fatal in over seventy-five percent of cases. The body is slowly and thoroughly ravaged over time. The condition basically attacks and shuts down every system in the body. It is highly contagious and excruciating to the infected animal. However, it can be avoided with a yearly vaccination.
Although the above-mentioned conditions are common culprits, there are also several more. Your veterinarian will run tests to rule out each disease. If a direct factor cannot be found, the dog will most likely be diagnosed as an epileptic. This only means that he has recurring seizures not caused by a different condition. Commonly appearing in ages of six months to five years, a chemical imbalance in the cerebrum is suspected to be responsible for spasms.
Should your animal have a seizure, there are things you should be prepared to do. First, try to stay calm. If he's not on the floor, put him there so he can't get hurt from a fall. The dog will not swallow his tongue, so don't put your hand in his mouth; you may be bitten. Clear the room of other pets and children. Carefully observe the dog so you can accurately report it to your vet. If it lasts more than three minutes or immediately repeats, call your vet immediately.
Canine Seizures: What You Need To Know
By: sdemers
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