Seizures/ Epilepsy/’fits’ or ‘funny turns’ In Dogs: Symptoms, Causes, & Treatments
Compiled & Edited by-Dr.Rajesh kumar singh
Epilepsy is a chronic condition that causes repeated seizures (which may be described by terms such as ‘fits’ or ‘funny turns’), and is the most common chronic (long-term) neurological disorder in dogs in India. A seizure occurs when there is abnormal electrical activity in the brain which leads to sudden but short-lived changes in a dog’s behaviour and/or movement.
A number of different underlying diseases and other factors can cause seizures leading to epilepsy. Generally, epilepsy can be classified as ‘structural’ (where an underlying cause can be identified in the brain) or ‘idiopathic’ (where no underlying cause can be identified, and a genetic predisposition is often presumed or the cause is unknown).
STAGES OF A SEIZURE-
1) The Prodome: This stage precedes the seizure by hours or days and is characterized by changes in the dog’s mood or behaviour.
2) The Aura: This signals the start of a seizure. The dog may show nervousness, whining, trembling, salivation, restlessness, hiding and apprehension.
3) The Ictus, the actual seizure: This is a period of intense physical activity usually lasting 45 seconds to 3 minutes. The dog may lose consciousness and show teeth gnashing, uncontrolled thrashing of limbs, drooling, whining, foot paddling, urination and defecation.
4) The Post Ictus/Ictal: This is the stage after the seizure. The dog may eat or drink excessively, continuously pace, or appear blind and deaf.
TYPES OF EPILEPSY-
There are three types of epilepsy that can affect dogs; reactive, secondary and primary. Symptomatic (secondary) means that a cause has been identified, whereas idiopathic (primary) means there is no apparent cause.
Reactive seizures are caused by metabolic problems, such as low blood sugar. or kidney or liver failure. Secondary epilepsy seizures are caused by problems such as a brain tumours, strokes, or other trauma. In primary epilepsy, there is no known cause – this is usually diagnosed by eliminating other possible causes for the seizures.
What Can Cause Seizures in Dogs?
- Eating poison
- Liver disease
- Low or high blood sugar
- Kidney disease
- Electrolyte problems
- Anemia
- Head injury
- Encephalitis
- Strokes
- Brain cancer
What to look out for with dog seizures
Simply put, a dog seizure is caused by abnormal bursts of electrical activity in your pet’s brain which results in twitching, shaking, and sometimes loss of consciousness.
Even if you don’t know what to expect, it will probably be quite clear if your dog is having a seizure. Your dog will begin by behaving very unusually, and the seizure itself can seem quite dramatic. The most important thing you can do is to remain calm and decide on the next step to take.
Before the seizure
Although it can be hard to predict when a seizure will happen, there are a few ‘pre-seizure’ symptoms you can watch out for. Shortly before your dog has a seizure, they may exhibit:
- Unusual behaviour such as seeking attention or appearing nervous
- Restlessness
- Salivating
- Whining
During the seizure
The main part of your dog’s seizure can last from a few seconds up to five minutes, or in some cases, longer. These symptoms occur in the middle of the seizure. There is nothing that can be done to prevent the seizure, but you can try to keep your pet safe and comfortable. During a seizure, your dog may experience:
- Loss of consciousness
- Muscle spasms, particularly in the legs
- Appearance of ‘treading water’
- Salivation
- Urination, or loss of bowel control
- Foaming at the mouth
What Are the Symptoms of Seizures?
Symptoms can include collapsing, jerking, stiffening, muscle twitching, loss of consciousness, drooling, chomping, tongue chewing, or foaming at the mouth. Dogs can fall to the side and make paddling motions with their legs. They sometimes poop or pee during the seizure.
Some dogs may look dazed, seem unsteady or confused, or stare off into space before a seizure. Afterward, your dog may be disoriented, wobbly, or temporarily blind. They may walk in circles and bump into things. They might have a lot of drool on their chin. They may try to hide.
SYMPTOMS
Physical symptoms may include the following –
• Tachycardia
• Weak pulse
• Low blood pressure
• Muscle contractions
• Trembling, shaking or twitching
• Difficulty with breathing
• Obvious seizures
• Fainting
• Swelling in the brain
• Obsessive and compulsive behaviors
DIAGNOSIS
As with most dog diseases, diagnosing the condition early and getting appropriate treatment are vital to overall health and wellness. With epilepsy, younger dogs are more at risk from severe forms of epilepsy, including primary epilepsy. Diagnosis will require laboratory and biochemical tests. These may reveal the following –
• Low blood sugar
• Kidney failure
• Liver failure
• Fatty liver
• Systemic diseases
• Infectious blood diseases
• Viral diseases
• Fungal diseases
What Are the Types of Seizures?
The most common kind is the generalized seizure, also called a grand mal seizure. A dog can lose consciousness and convulse. The abnormal electrical activity happens throughout the brain. Generalized seizures usually last from a few seconds to a few minutes.
With a focal seizure, abnormal electrical activity happens in only part of the brain. Focal seizures can cause unusual movements in one limb or one side of the body.
Sometimes they last only a couple of seconds. They may start as focal and then become generalized.
A psychomotor seizure involves strange behavior that only lasts a couple of minutes. Your dog may suddenly start attacking an imaginary object or chasing their tail. It can be tricky to tell psychomotor seizures from odd behavior, but a dog that has them will always do the same thing every time they have a seizure.
Seizures from unknown causes are called idiopathic epilepsy. They usually happen in dogs between 6 months and 6 years old. Although any dog can have a seizure, idiopathic epilepsy is more common in border collies, Australian shepherds, Labrador retrievers, beagles, Belgian Tervurens, collies, and German shepherds.
What Should I Do if My Dog Has a Seizure?
First, try to stay calm. If your dog is near something that could hurt them, like a piece of furniture or the stairs, gently slide them away.
Stay away from your dog’s mouth and head; they could bite you. Don’t put anything in their mouth. Dogs cannot choke on their tongues. If you can, time it.
If the seizure lasts for more than a couple of minutes, your dog is at risk of overheating. Turn a fan on your dog and put cold water on their paws to cool them down.
Talk to your dog softly to reassure them. Avoid touching them – they may unknowingly bite. Call your vet when the seizure ends.
If dogs have a seizure that lasts more than 5 minutes or have several in a row while they are unconscious, take them to a vet as soon as possible. The longer a seizure goes on, the higher a dog’s body temperature can rise, and they may have problems breathing. This can raise their risk of brain damage. Your vet may give your dog IV Valium to stop the seizure.
TREATMENT
Drugs that can be used when treating epilepsy in dogs include corticosteroids, anti-epileptic and anti-convulsant medications. These can help reduce the frequency or intensity of seizures. The medication will depend on the type of epilepsy the animal is suffering and will also take into account any other underlying health concerns.
Medications include –
• Phenobarbital
• Potassium Bromide
• Phenobarbital
• Primidone (Mysoline)
• Valium (Diazepam)
• Dilantin
• Gabapentin
• Keppra (Levetiracetam)
What drugs are commonly used to treat epilepsy in dogs?
Many drugs to treat humans with epilepsy are either toxic to dogs or are eliminated too quickly by the body to allow good ‘control’ of the seizure. The first line treatment in dogs is Phenobarbitone or Potassium Bromide (may be prescribed as Potassium Bromide syrup, Epilease capsules, Libromide capsules) and for cats; Phenobarbitone, Diazepam (Valium) or Gabapentin.
Phenobarbitone is often the preferred first choice as it takes effect more quickly (within 2 weeks) than Potassium Bromide (3 to 6 months). Potassium Bromide can be used as first choice in animals with pre-existing liver disease or animals with very low seizure frequency. Diazepam is not suitable for maintenance treatment of epilepsy in dogs as the duration of its effect is too short.
Natural Seizure Remedies Procedure in Dogs
There are several natural remedies and methods designed specifically to prevent or stop seizures in dogs, some of the more common and potentially most effective are:
Essential Fatty Acids
Pet owners and veterinarians alike recommend routinely introducing fatty acids into a dog’s diet. Omega-3 doses can be bought in pills, sprays, or oils. The recommended dosage varies by dog’s size, but one tablespoon per fifty pounds is standard. Several studies both on humans and dogs have shown that fatty acids are not proven to stop seizures, but may improve a patient’s seizure threshold (tendency to seize).
Dietary Changes
Dye used in foods are linked to causing seizures in dogs, particularly a dye called red dye 40. Pet owners should investigate dog foods and treats before trusting them. Several other foods are proven to be dangerous and toxic to dogs as well and could be causing seizures, such as onion, garlic, bell peppers, chocolate, or grapes.
Homeopathic Oils
Oils are a popular choice as they give a pet-owner the ability to administer medicine to their pet during a seizure. Due to the fact that seizures cause the jaw and teeth to clamp, attempting to give a dog medicine in the middle of a seizure is difficult or impossible. Natural oils can be rubbed into the skin or even on the gums of a seizing animal, giving them instant results and potentially ending their seizure and pain. Thus, homeopathic substances are another natural remedy to seizures, such as:
- Belladonna
- Aconite
- Choline or Cholidin
Acupressure
Acupressure is said to help ease an animal’s tension during their seizure. For example, the pressure point at the base of a dog’s nose, right above their upper lip can be pressed, with moderate pressure, for up to a minute.
Ice Pack
Some seizures are caused due to overheating. In this case, an ice pack applied to the back of a seizing dog and gently rubbing it up and down their spine may help the seizure’s grip lessen more quickly.
Melatonin
In animals that experience night seizures, administering melatonin (the naturally-occurring chemical released by the brain to induce sleep) can help.
Honey
If a dog has diabetes or is hypoglycemic, a teaspoon of honey once or twice a day, depending on frequency or severity of seizures, is suggested.
Efficacy of Natural Seizure Remedies in Dogs
Every animal varies in their seizure threshold. A high threshold indicates an animal’s predisposition to not experience or frequently experience seizures, while a low threshold indicates the opposite. When it comes to treating seizures with natural remedies and methods, the most success gained will be with a dog whose seizure threshold is high.
In some cases, a dog’s heritage will predispose them to developing epilepsy. In this case, most veterinarians will prescribe medication in order to reach the desired result: pet experiences less severe seizures and less frequently. Therefore, the efficacy of natural remedies varies widely and is typically utilized as more of a preventative measure than a wholly-healing treatment
