Canine Seizures

Seizures are frightening not only to the dog having the seizure attacks, but to the owner as well.

If your dog unfortunately has problems with seizures, be sure to consult a veterinarian to see if the seizures are caused by an underlying health issue. If so, and when the underlying cause is addressed and dealt with, the dog will no longer suffer from seizures.

Possible Causes of Canine Seizures

There are quite a few dog illnesses that can trigger a seizure in a dog. Some possible causes include:

• idopathic epilepsy (epilesy with no known underlying health problem)
• poisoning
• low blood sugar
• distemper
• brain tumors
• thyroid problems, such as hypothyroidism
• liver disease
• kidney disease
• heat stroke
• brain injury

(In older dogs, seizures are more likely to be caused by a brain tumor, hypothyroidism, or liver/kidney disease.)

Additionally, according to some veterinarians, a dog being constantly choked by a neck collar can develop seizures.

The reason is that, the first cervical vertebra (C1) in dogs articulates with the brain stem. If the neck is choked by a collar, there will be increased pressure in C1 which puts increased pressure on the brain stem. This can lead to a seizure. Therefore, choke collars can pose a danger to puppies and dogs.

Also, if you tether your dog outside most of the day, use a harness instead of a collar to prevent your dog from running out the length of the leash and being choked by the collar.

Signs of a Dog Having a Seizure

Immediately before a seisure, the dog may be:

• anxious or frightened
• restless
• extra "clingy" to his owner

During a seizure, the dog may:

• have violent muscle contractions
• lose motor control
• faint
• lose bladder or bowel control

After a seizure, the dog may:

• look confused and dazed
• become disoriented
• have dilated pupils
• become temporarily blind
• lose his appetite (or become ravenously hungry)

Handling a Dog Having a Seizure

Here are some of the things to remember when handling a dog during an epileptic episode:

• Do not try to restrain the movement of a dog in seizure since he may injure himself during violent convulsion if he cannot move freely.
• Keep your hand away from the dog's mouth to avoid being bitten inadvertently by the dog.
• Protect the dog's head from hard or sharp objects by removing the objects if possible.
• Try speaking to the dog softly to ease his fear and anxiety.
• Do not give the dog any pills or liquid in the mouth as he will choke on them.

Types of Dog Seizures

Dog seizures can be generalized, focal, or psychomotor. Generalized seizures are the most common in dogs.

Generalized Seizures

Also known as "grand mal seizures" or "tonic-clonic seizures", a generalized seizure has three states:

• Pre-ictal: This state happens before the actual seizure itself. A dog in this state usually has some noticeable changes in his behavior.

  For example, the dog will become anxious and restless, and he may look worried or scared.

• Ictus: This is the actual seizure, which may last for only a few seconds but could last up to a few minutes. The seizure usually consists of two phases - the "tonic" phase and the "clonic" phase.

  In the "tonic" phase, the dog becomes unconscious and collapses with rigidly extended limbs. This may last for 10-30 seconds.

  Then the "clonic" phase begins with a "running or paddling in place" motion, sometimes accompanied by drooling, chomping, or chewing. The dog may also lose control of his bowels.

• Post-Ictal: This is the state when the dog regains consciousness but remains disoriented. He may stumble into a wall or walk into furniture. This state may last for minutes or even hours.

Focal Seizures

Also known as "focal motor seizures", this type of seizures is similar to generalized seizures but involves only one area of the dog's body, e.g. a limb, or one side of the dog's face may be affected.

A seizure may start off as a focal seizure and progress into a generalized one.

Psychomotor Seizures

This type of seizures causes a dog to behave abnormally, such as running around hysterically, "fly-biting", chasing his tail, etc.

Since a dog having a psychomotor seizure is fully conscious, it may not be easy to tell if the dog is having a seizure or if he is just being silly.

But if the abnormal behavior is the same every time, then you can be pretty sure that the dog is suffering from psychomotor seizures.

Can a Seizure Kill a Dog?

Generally speaking, seizures that last for only a few seconds do not cause any permanent brain damage, and will not kill a dog.

However, when a seizure lasts for over a few minutes, the dog's body temperature will begin to increase. Sometimes the temperature could reach as high as 43°C (110°F).

In such a case, the dog may suffer from complications, such as a heat stroke or brain damage.

So while a seizure itself may not be able to kill a dog, the complications as a result of a prolonged seizure could be fatal.

Many dog parents also wonder if seizures are painful. As frightening as they may look, seizures do not cause any pain to dogs.

During a generalized seizure, the dog is unconscious and doesn't feel anything. Dogs having focal seizures may feel confused, but not pain.

Conventional Treatment for Canine Seizures

If the seizures are short, mild, and infrequent, your dog may not have to take any medication. In fact, there is a "2015 ACVIM Consensus Statement on Seizure Management in Dogs" stating that drug therapy should not be recommended if a seizure is mild and infrequent.

On the other hand, if your dog has more than one generalized seizure a month, your vet will likely to prescribe an anticonvulsant drug, and conduct tests to try to identify if there is a root cause.

Common Anticonvulsant Drugs for Dogs

Phenobarbital

Phenobarbital is perhaps the most commonly prescribed medication for dog seizures. It is usually given two times daily, and should not be stopped abruptly as this may trigger more seizures!

"Pheno" is effective in suppressing or stopping a seizure. (But ineffective in dealing with any underlying cause(s).)

Side effects of phenobarbital are rare but may sometimes occur in some dogs, which include increased thirst, urination, and appetite.

Potassium Bromide

Sometimes potassium bromide is given in combination with, or in place of, phenobarbital for dogs who do not respond well to phenobarbital.

This drug can cause sedation and may lead to pancreatitis and/or toxicity in dogs. As such, nowadays, it is being replaced by newer medications and is gradually being used less frequently.

Newer Anticonvulsant Drugs

Newer drugs on the market for dog seizures include Primidone, Levetiracetam, and Zonisamide.

Levetiracetam seems to be effective in treating seizures in dogs and have few side effects.

Primidone is not as effective (as Pheno) and there is no advantage to choose this drug over others such as Pheno.

There are few studies on the effectiveness of Zonisamide. However, it has known side effects such as sedation, appetite loss, and may also potentially cause liver and urinary problems.

In Summary

Watching a dog having a seizure could be extremely traumatic to dog parents, but most of the time, dog seizures can be managed using anticonvulsant drugs (and remedies), and dietary changes.

Seizures do not shorten a dog's life span, and with proper management, a dog with seizures can live a relatively normal and happy life.

References
Eldredge, et al. Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook 4th edition (Wiley Publishing, 2007).
Merck Publishing and Merial. The Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health (Merck, 2007).
R.H. Pitcairn, The Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats (Rodale, 2005).
D. Hamilton, Homeopathic Care for Cats and Dogs (North Atlantic Books, 1999).