Arthritis
Atopy (Inhalant Allergy)
Bufo Toad Poisoning
Cat Home Safety Tips
Collar Hazards
Common Things to Watch for
Dental Disease in Pets
Diabetes
Dog Safety Tips
Feline Heartworm Disease
Mallassezia (yeast) Dermatitis
Reasons to Neuter
Noise Phobia in Dogs
Weight Problems in Pets
Otitis (Ear Infections)
Parvo Virus
Pruritis (Itchiness)
Rabies
Seizures and Epilepsy
Senior Pets
Reasons to Spay
Toxoplasmosis, Cats and Women
pet have a seizure. Many owners panic because they do not understand what is
happening and are unsure of what they should do.
A seizure or "convulsion" is a spontaneous, involuntary disturbance in neuronal
(brain cell) discharge. Seizures often occur suddenly and usually cease on their own.
They also tend to recur. A seizure is not a disease in itself but rather it is a clinical
sign of cerebral dysfunction.
A seizure typically has three stages. The "preictal" stage occurs a few minutes prior
to the seizure. The animal usually displays abnormal behavior such as restlessness,
whining, trembling, salivating and either attention seeking attempting to hide.
The "ictus" or seizure is characterized by severe , involuntary muscle contractions,
loss of consciousness, dilated pupils and a dazed look to the eyes. The animal may
also either clench its jaw or exhibit chewing motions and it usually salivates
profusely and may urinate or defecate. The actual seizure stage usually lasts for only
a few seconds to a few minutes.
The "postictal" period immediately follows the seizure and may last for several
minutes to several hours or even days. In this period the animal is usually lethargic
and very disoriented. Many animals experience temporary blindness and some may
become quite aggressive or act demented.
The causes of seizures in dogs and cats are varied and include heat stroke, smoke
inhalation, metabolic disorders, trauma, poisoning, infectious/inflammatory
conditions, brain tumors, epilepsy and malformations.
Animals that are left in cars may become hyperthermic and go into seizures if their
body temperature exceeds 105 degrees. Metabolic disorders include low blood sugar
levels; "hepatic encephalopathy" which is a build up of ammonia and other toxins
due to liver disease; and low calcium levels which may be seen in female dogs a few
weeks after having puppies.
Traumatic events such as a blow to the head or being hit by a car can cause brain
swelling that leads to seizures. Many chemicals such as lead, antifreeze, and
household pesticides poison many animals each year resulting in seizures. Canine
distemper is the most common viral disease that causes seizures in dogs. Other
diseases such as Feline Leukemia, Toxoplasmosis and Rabies can also be a cause.
Brain tumors are the most frequent cause of seizures in older animals.
What do you do if you see your pet have a seizure?
Unfortunately, there is not much that the owner can do while a seizure is going on.
The first thing the owner should do is to begin to time the seizure if at all possible.
Many times the episode is over with within 2 minutes. If it lasts longer than 3 or 4
minutes then the animal should be taken to a veterinarian immediately.
The most important thing is not to get bit or scratched. DO NOT put your hands into
the animal’s mouth for any reason. It will not swallow its tongue and you will get
bit. Do not force any liquids or syrups into the animal’s mouth during the seizure or
you may cause it to inhale the material into its lungs. Do not force any object into the
animal’s mouth to chew on because of the risk of breaking teeth or getting bit. The
animal may bite its tongue but that can be treated afterwards.
Do not try to calm or reassure the animal during or after the seizure. Do not pet the
animal or continuously call out its name. You want to reduce the amount of external
stimulation as much as possible and also keep in mind that the animal will be very
disoriented and may not recognize you after the seizure stops.
If at all possible you should keep the animal from injuring itself from falling down
stairs or knocking over furniture or other objects. Restraining the animal in a blanket
may help.
The animal should be transported to a veterinary hospital as soon as possible after
the seizure stops and immediately if the seizure lasts longer than 4 minutes. Call
ahead to make sure the hospital is open or take it to an emergency clinic if it is after
hours.
Many owners become quite emotionally distraught after their pet has a seizure. Get a
friend or neighbor to drive if necessary. Do not risk a traffic accident if you are too
upset to drive.
Once at the veterinary hospital the doctor may need to give an injection of diazepam
to stop the seizure. A chemistry panel, complete blood count and urinalysis should
be performed to detect any metabolic problems. Other tests may be necessary to
determine the exact cause. Many times a cause can not be identified and a diagnosis
of "idiopathic epilepsy" is made.
Generally, anticonvulsant medications such as phenobarbital are not started after the
first seizure. Reasons to start the animal on an anti-seizure drug are if the seizures
become too frequent, increase in severity or duration or if the animal demonstrates
aggression in the postictal phase.
These drugs do not cure epilepsy and do not completely prevent a seizure from
occurring again. They can also have side effects such as increased thirst and
urination, ravenous appetite, sedation or personality changes, and liver damage.
Starting the animal on the herb "milk thistle" may help to prevent liver damage from
occurring.
Watching your animal have a seizure is truly an unpleasant experience. But knowing
what to expect, what to do and more importantly what not to do may make it a little
easier if you are ever faced with this situation.