It is heartbreaking to watch your dog struggle with seizures. You may also feel worried for your furry companion, as you are unable to do anything to stop seizures from affecting them right away. However scary it may sound, ‘seizures’ in dogs is not an alien concept. And, you need to know as much as you can about seizures to help your canine friend in this difficult time. So, how should you respond to the seizure episodes and comfort your fur buddy? The information in this blog will be helpful for you.
Keep reading to learn about seizures in dogs, their types, phases, symptoms, causes, and ways to take care of dogs with seizures.
Seizures in Dogs
Seizures are caused by abnormal and uncontrolled bursts of electrical activity in a dog’s brain, which lead to temporary and involuntary disturbances of the normal brain functions and uncontrollable muscle activity. A seizure is more of a symptom than a health condition in itself. Also known as a convulsion or a fit, it is the most common neurologic disorder in dogs.
A seizure episode can last from less than a minute to several minutes. A dog may have a seizure episode only once during their lifetime or may also have multiple seizure episodes within 24 hours, based on their health condition.
Types of Seizures
Seizures are classified into different types, including:
- Generalized seizures: Also known as a grand mal seizure, a generalized seizure is caused by an abnormal electrical activity throughout the dog’s brain and affects their entire body. Here, the body becomes stiff, and contraction cycles occur, like shaking and spasms. The dog usually loses consciousness during this type of seizure.
- Focal seizures: In this type of seizure, the abnormal electrical activity happens in only one part of the dog’s brain. Focal or partial motor seizures lead to unusual movements in only one limb or one side of the dog’s body. Sometimes, this type of seizure lasts only for a few seconds.
- Psychomotor seizures: This type of seizure causes strange behavior in a dog, which lasts for a couple of minutes. The dog may chase their tail or attack an imaginary object. It is difficult to distinguish this type of seizure from odd behavior. But a dog having this type of seizure will always do the same thing each time it has a seizure.
- Idiopathic epilepsy: In this type, the cause of the seizure is unknown. This seizure affects dogs between 6 months and 6 years of age. Though any dog can have a seizure, some breeds are more susceptible to idiopathic epilepsy, including Border Collies, German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Australian Shepherds, Beagles, and Collies. If the seizure lasts for a long time (more than a few minutes), it can raise a dog’s body temperature to unsafe levels and can be dangerous.
Phases of a Seizure
There are mainly three phases of a seizure:
- Pre-ictal (aura): This phase usually goes unnoticed. The dog has an altered state of consciousness and looks restless in this phase. It lasts for a few seconds or minutes.
- Ictal: This is the seizure phase. It usually lasts for a few seconds to several minutes. Its effect ranges from mild changes in mental awareness to a complete loss of consciousness and body function.
- Post-ictal: It is the phase just after the episode of seizure is over. Here, the dog feels confused, disoriented and restless, and may experience temporary blindness.
Symptoms of Seizures
During the three phases of a seizure, a dog may display some or all of the following symptoms:
- A dazed look or staring into space
- Continuous barking
- Drooling
- Stumbling or falling
- Twitching (affecting the whole body or a few muscles)
- Tongue chewing
- Foaming at the mouth
- Paddling motions with the legs
- Uncontrollable urinating or defecating
- Loss of consciousness
Causes of Seizures
The various causes of seizures can be mainly divided into two groups:
- Extracranial causes: These causes originate elsewhere in the body (i.e., outside the head), but can still affect the dog’s brain and lead to seizures. The most common extracranial causes of seizures include:
- Liver disease
- Kidney disease
- Hypocalcemia
- Hypoglycemia
- Hyperthermia
- Ingestion of toxic substances, like caffeine, chocolate or lead
- Intracranial causes: These include diseases that can lead to either structural or functional changes inside the dog’s brain. Common intracranial causes of seizures include:
- Genetic epilepsy
- Head trauma
- Brain tumor
- Meningitis
- Distemper
- Rabies
- Nutritional imbalances
How to Take Care of A Dog Having Seizures?
Here are some of the ways to take care of a dog having seizures:
- Cover your dog with a towel or blanket if they are on the stairs while having a seizure, so that they do not fall or end up hurting themselves. Do not bring your hand near their mouth. As they are unaware of their surroundings during a seizure, they may bite and hurt you.
- Move your fur friend gently to a safe place while they are having a seizure. Say comforting words to let them know you are there.
- Log the date and time of the seizure and record a video if possible. This helps your veterinarian find the cause of the seizure and suggest a suitable treatment.
- Start with a seizure treatment with the guidance of your veterinarian. However, be sure of the use of anti-seizure treatments, as these treatments require lifelong administration.
- When is The Time to See A Veterinarian? If your dog has more than one seizure attack in a month, clusters of seizures (one seizure is immediately followed by another seizure), or has status epilepticus (prolonged seizure that lasts for over 5 minutes), a veterinarian’s intervention is required. Take your furry family member to a vet immediately if any of these are the case.
Wrapping up
Seizure in dogs is a common yet worrisome neurologic condition. Sometimes, it lasts only for a few seconds, and sometimes it can be fatal due to its length and severity. Knowing everything about seizures will help you provide the required care to your beloved four-legged friend. Be vigilant about the symptoms of seizures and do not delay a vet visit whenever required, to keep your dog safe and healthy.