HEALTH & WELLNESS
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LIONS FOUNDATION OF CANADA DOG GUIDES
Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides and its founding program, Canine Vision Canada, was established in 1983. It’s the largest school of its kind in Canada with its training school in Oakville and breeding facility in Breslau.
An Overview: Epilepsy & Seizures in Dogs
OVERVIEW
Seizure disorders in dogs are common and there are many causes which can include birth defects, metabolic defects, infections, a brain abscess, toxins or vascular disorders such as strokes and high blood pressure.
Perhaps the best-known cause of seizures in dogs is idiopathic epilepsy, which is probably caused by either a genetic mutation, a microscopic brain malformation or possibly a birth injury.
Epilepsy is a disorder of recurring bouts of uncoordinated firing of the neurons within the brain. These episodes are called seizures and occasionally are referred to as convulsions or ‘fits.’
Why neurons do not function normally is not understood. One explanation is that certain substances called neurotransmitters are not in the proper chemical balance, so the nerves do not behave in the normal coordinated fashion.
TYPES OF EPILEPSY IN DOGS
Epilepsy can be broadly categorized into two types:
- primary (or idiopathic)
- secondary (or symptomatic)
Primary epilepsy: also known as idiopathic (unknown cause), genetic, inherited, or true epilepsy. Most dogs that are diagnozed with epilepsy have primary epilepsy, where no underlying cause for the seizures is found. These dogs will be healthy and completely normal in all other respects.
Breeds most prone to idiopathic epilepsy include the:
- Beagle
- Boxer
- Keeshond
- Belgian Tervuren
- Golden & Labrador Retriever
- Dachshunds
- Vizsla
- Shetland Sheepdog
- German Shepherds
- Poodle
- English Springer Spaniel
- Irish Setter
Secondary epilepsy: refers to seizures for which a cause can be determined, and there are a variety which may include:
- Brain cancer
- Stroke
- Head injury
- Electrolyte
- Physical pain or trauma
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Ingesting poison
- Anemia
- Low/high blood pressure
- Canine diabetes
TYPES OF EPILEPTIC SEIZURES IN DOGS
Based on the type of behaviour and brain activity, seizures are divided into two broad categories:
- generalized
- focal (also called partial or local)
Some dogs have more than one type of seizure, and not all seizures involve convulsions. Most epileptic fits usually happen quite suddenly without warning, last a short time (often only a few seconds or minutes) and stop by themselves.
Generalized seizures
The variety of symptoms for generalized seizures include:
– Collapsing
– Stiffening
– Muscle twitching
– Foaming at the mouth
– Loss of consciousness
– Tongue chewing
– Drooling at the mouth
– Chomping
– Excessive panting
– Paddling with all four limbs and fluttering eyes
Focal (partial or local) seizures
These only occur in one half of the brain and within a particular region. How these types of seizures present themselves depends upon where in the brain the abnormal electrical activity started, and the function of that part of the brain.
Some examples of symptoms for focal seizures are:
– Head shaking or repeated muscle contractions of one extremity
– Facial twitches
– Blinking
– Dilated pupils
– Vomiting
– Excessive salivation
– Restlessness
– Anxiety
Focal (partial or local) seizure changing into a generalized seizure
A focal (partial or local) seizure can change into a generalized seizure. This is the most common seizure type observed in dogs. The focal seizure is often very short (a few seconds to minutes) and the generalized seizure follows rapidly.
The focal seizure may be difficult to detect due to its brief nature and it is important to tell your vet what happened before convulsions started, to help them determine what type of seizure your dog is having.
Treatment of seizure disorders is dependent on the diagnosis. Fortunately, the prognosis is good for most dogs.
WHAT TO DO DURING AN EPILEPTIC SEIZURE
Firstly, whether you start noticing the signs, or realize your dog is already having a seizure, stay calm. Next do the following:
- Try to prevent injury (move objects out of the way) and don’t try to hold his/her head or move his/her tongue.
- If possible, remove/block/switch off things that are stimulating to the senses (TV, artificial and natural light, music playing devices, other pets, children).
- Time the length of the seizure: if it’s 5 minutes or longer or happens more than once in 24 hours, contact your veterinarian immediately.
- To help your veterinarian identify patterns and recommend treatment, keep a seizure diary.
- During recovery, don’t move your dog, just keep an eye on him/her.
