Seeing a seizure in a dog is quite traumatic. It is usually accompanied by other signs, such as muscle stiffness, excessive salivation and loss of consciousness, which can be very worrying for the owner.
However, the apprehension goes beyond the scare: if not properly assisted, a dog with a seizure can have serious consequences. What do you think about learning about the main causes of seizures in dogs and what to do to help your furry friend? So, keep following us!
How does a seizure occur?
What can cause seizures in dogs? Seizures occur due to some kind of short circuit of the brain because of an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters, because of several reasons-which we shall see below.
Of course, interestingly, this condition can be caused by two ways: generalized seizure and focal seizure. The difference between them is the size of the affected brain area.
Focal seizure
“A focal seizure occurs when only one part of the brain suffers from disordered discharges of electrical impulses,” explains by experts.
In this case, she says that the symptoms of seizures in dogs are often different from those known. The pet does not lose consciousness and only has a few muscle contractions. A common example of focal seizures is Fly Snapping Syndrome or Fly Biting.
The dog will not exhibit any other seizure signs; instead, it will snap at the air as if it were hunting imagined flies. It’s possible for the dog to lick its lips as though it recently consumed something. This is not an illness, but a symptom.
Generalized convulsion
In the case of generalized convulsions, the dog loses consciousness and motor and sensory control. It falls and begins to struggle, and may or may not make pedaling movements with its paws or may stiffen them.
He may also salivate profusely, urinate, defecate and vocalize. And at this point, there is not much the owner can do other than rush him to the nearest veterinary care.
When the seizure is over, the dog may remain blind or deaf for a temporary period of time; he may stumble around while trying to walk, vomit, and become prostrated, losing his appetite altogether. Some animals enter a condition called status epilepticus, wherein seizures follow one after another.
Status epilepticus is also applied when the seizure has been prolonged. This is a serious condition and it constitutes a veterinary medical emergency with a high mortality rate unless reversed and treated in the shortest time possible.
Causes of seizures in dogs
Both focal seizures and the brain short circuit that results in involuntary motions and rigid muscles might have several origins. The expert claims that the most typical are:
- poisoning by poisons;
- head trauma;
- metabolic disorders (such as hypoglycemia and renal failure);
- inflammations and infections;
- brain tumors;
- epilepsy.
Epilepsy is more common in some breeds, such as Irish setters and beagles. “Other breeds are more likely to have inflammatory brain diseases, like Yorkshire Terriers, Maltese and Lhasa Apsos,
Epilepsy
To confirm epilepsy in your dog, one has to rule out all the causes that could have caused seizure in them. A diagnosis of true epilepsy can only then be made. If your question is whether seizures in dogs can be cured, then no.
The pet subsequently leads the rest of its life with anti-epileptic medication. Unfortunately, the younger the age of the dog when the seizures start, the harder it is to get the seizures under control. Thus, veterinary care is very important in terms of ensuring the quality of life for the furry friend.
What to do if the dog is seizing?
Although it is not a disease, but just a symptom, a seizure in a dog may cause serious and irreversible consequences, regardless of the age at which that happens.
Therefore, in such a case where a dog goes into seizure, it is important to take immediate action in reducing future risks: “The dog can suffer irreversible damage to the brain. Quite often, there is an absence of oxygen to the brain while on seizure, and that can lead to areas of necrosis in the brain,” says the vet.
Keep calm and help the furry one
If you notice symptoms of a seizure in your dog, keep him lying on his side in a comfortable, preferably padded place. “If the seizure does not stop on its own after two minutes, take the dog to a veterinary hospital for immediate care,” says the specialist.
There is a belief that the animal’s tongue curls up in such a way that it can choke the dog during a seizure. This is not true. Therefore, do not try to touch the dog’s mouth during a seizure. The dog may involuntarily bite and hurt you without meaning to.
And even if the crisis passes, it is important to seek help as soon as possible (ideally, immediately afterwards), to receive the appropriate diagnosis and guidance, preventing new episodes and avoiding after-effects.
And how to treat seizures in dogs? Treatment depends on the origin of the problem. So go to the vet knowing that your dog will be given further tests to find out if there is something that is causing the seizures or whether he is epileptic.