Seizure Disorders - Canine Epilepsy
It can be a very scary thing…you are sitting with your dog when suddenly she starts shaking and convulsing. What it happening? Could it be a seizure? What exactly is a seizure anyway? A seizure is defined as any involuntary electrical activity in the brain that is brief and episodic.
A grand mal seizure (or a tonic-clonic seizure) is characterized by contraction of the muscles, falling over, paddling of the limbs, loss of consciousness, and elimination. This is the most common form of seizure in the dog and what one generally thinks of when they hear the word seizure. It can be quite the scene to witness, and you may think your dog is going to die while it is happening. However, these seizures often last for only about 3-5 minutes, and afterward your dog will usually seem completely normal.
There are also petit mal seizures which are characterized by the loss of function of part of the body. These are less severe than grand mal seizures, and often consist of brief staggering and an upward stare.
Status epilepticus is a very serious condition that occurs when your dog has a number of grand mal seizures in rapid succession, or a seizure that does not end. This is a life-threatening situation and requires immediate veterinary intervention.
There are three phases to a seizure. The pre-ictal phase occurs immediately before the seizure occurs. During this time, the dog may seem uncomfortable and aware that something out of the ordinary is going to occur. The ictal phase is the seizure itself, and this usually last about 3-5 minutes, but it may be longer. If a seizure lasts more than 10 minutes it tends to be more severe and may require intervention. The post-ictal period occurs immediately after the seizure and may last a few hours. Often, the animal may appear exhausted and restless. Temporary blindness may occur and can last up to 4 days.
Epilepsy is defined as the recurrence of the loss of neurological function. Most dogs have idiopathic epilepsy, which means there is no known underlying cause. Epilepsy can also occur secondary to many structural brain disorders, such as a brain tumor, or metabolic disease such as hypoglycemia. Primary (idiopathic) epilepsy seems to be more common in certain breeds of dogs such as German Shepherds and Miniature Poodles, but it can occur in any breed of dog. In the case of primary epilepsy, the first seizure typically occurs between 1-5 years of age, and these dogs are completely normal between seizures.
If you suspect that your dog has had a seizure, you should bring her to a veterinarian to be checked out. Your veterinarian will ask you many questions about the episode in order to determine if it really was a seizure. Then he will perform a thorough physical exam as well as a neurological exam, and perhaps run some blood tests to help determine the cause of the seizures.
If the seizures do not occur more than a few times a year and they are not getting more frequent, your dog may not require treatment. One of the most important things to do after your dog has had its first seizure is to keep track of the frequency of the seizures and how long they last. If they continue to occur a few times a year and do not seem to be getting more severe, your veterinarian may choose to not treat the underlying cause and just deal with the seizures when they occur. However, if the seizures begin to happen more often or if the time interval between seizures decreases, it may be time to begin treatment.
There is no "cure" for idiopathic epilepsy. In some cases, treatment may result in the complete cessation of seizure activity. In most cases though, the goals of therapy are to reduce the severity of the seizures, increase the period of time between seizures, and reduce the number of seizures occurring close together (cluster seizures). The most common therapy is phenobarbitol.
It can be very scary and stressful to have an epileptic dog. There are many options available to veterinarians to try to control the episodes, and in many cases the therapy can be very successful. Every case is truly an individual situation and should be treated as such. In the case of an epileptic dog it is important to establish a good relationship with your veterinarian. Your veterinarian will work with you to find the right treatment for your loving companion!