A Guide To Canine Seizures For Worried Owners

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.

If you are watching very closely, you will see that there are three stages to a seizure. The aura, or pre-phase, is the beginning of the episode. Your pet may whine, seek affection, pace and appear generally restless. Next is the fit itself, known as the ictus. Symptoms include collapsing, vomiting, salivating, and convulsions. The recovery phase, or postictal, can last anywhere from minutes to possibly days. You might notice temporary blindness and the animal seeming to be disoriented.

The exact trigger of episodes such as these is still unknown. However, it has been noticed that a state of excitement tends to set off an attack in many pets. This could be anything from playing to greeting visitors or even yourself when you come home from work at the end of the day. Some dogs also appear to have their seizure while sleeping, but should not be confused with simple dreaming. You cannot awake a seizuring animal.

Several conditions and illnesses can bring out seizures. Diabetes mellitus, just as humans can be afflicted with, is one of these. It is a metabolic disease in which the pancreas produces too little insulin. This eventually leads to glucose levels that are dangerously high. Sometimes those levels can also be too low, causing 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.

Canine distemper, an extremely dangerous virus, can sometimes also cause seizures. This particular disorder completely ravages nearly every area of the dog's body. It's very contagious and also has an incredibly high death rate. The suffering of the animal during the process is great. Avoid contraction of this deadly illness by having your pet vaccinated against it each year without fail.

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.

If you see your dog experiencing canine seizures, just stay calm. Move him to a safe spot on the floor, and clear the space of small children and other pets. You may be bitten, so don't put your hand in his mouth. Don't worry, he won't swallow his tongue; that's only a myth. Watch the animal closely so you can report to the vet later. However, he should be called immediately if the episode lingers for over three minutes or repeats again right after.