Dog Seizures: Causes and Treatment

Many of us have witnessed the frightening phenomenon of seizures in dogs, and almost every adult knows what they are. Unlike dogs, however, dogs can help themselves or others. However, when involuntary muscle contractions suddenly begin in a pet, many are at a loss and don't know how to react. Can you help your dog yourself? What are the possible causes of seizures? How can you provide first aid? What treatment is prescribed? Let's try to figure this out.

Reasons

Most owners panic when they see their pet convulse, which is not surprising: the animal falls, twitches convulsively, salivates, and may even foam at the mouth. It's a horror movie-like sight, not for the faint of heart. And everyone immediately wonders: what happened, what's causing it? It's important to note that seizures are not a specific condition, but rather a symptom of a specific illness. Let's highlight five of them.

1. Infection. Involuntary muscle contractions can be caused by a bacterial or viral infection. The most dangerous form of the disease is rabies, which causes convulsions and foaming at the mouth. Transmission occurs through contact with an infected dog.
2. Intoxication. This can occur as a result of a chemical substance (such as arsenic used to poison rodents) entering the dog's body, which eventually leads to poisoningAn inflammatory process begins in the body, and diarrhea and vomiting, then muscle spasms occur, which can result in paralysis.
3. HypoglycemiaThis disease occurs when an animal's body experiences a severe deficiency of glucose in the blood. This disrupts metabolism, primarily affecting the kidneys and liver, and leading to seizures. This disease most often affects young animals and small breeds, and can also be hereditary.
4. Eclampsia, in which a dog's calcium levels drop sharply. Pregnant females, newborn litters, and dwarf breeds are particularly susceptible to this condition. Calcium deficiency is what triggers seizures in pets.
5. EpilepsyThis is the most common cause of seizures in animals. This disease affects the brain. It can result from head trauma, inflammation, tumors, or be inherited. Large breed dogs are most susceptible to epilepsy.

Types of seizures

Involuntary muscle contractions are divided into four types, and every owner needs to know the symptoms associated with each type. This is important to accurately describe the nature, duration, and frequency of the spasms to the veterinarian. This information will help make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment. There are specific differences between the types of muscle contractions, so let's look at each type.

1. Convulsive movements are characterized by weak twitching that occurs periodically. After short, jerky contractions, the animal may even stand up and respond to the owner's commands, after which the convulsive spasms repeat.
2. Tonic. This type is not particularly dangerous; the spasms are short-lived. The muscles tremble periodically, and the dog remains conscious throughout, but feels a dull ache, becomes nervous, and whines. The spasms can occur in any part of the animal's body; they don't cause severe pain, but they can be frightening.
3. Clonic. With this type of seizure, the animal's state alternates, with muscles contracting and relaxing at intervals of half a minute to a minute. For example, if a dog's paw cramps and the seizure occurs, the animal remains conscious, and during periods of muscle relaxation, the animal calms down. Then, the contractions begin again.
4. Epileptic seizures. This condition is the most frightening and dangerous; the dog appears frighteningly, as if in death throes. The muscles contract almost continuously, and this continues until the animal loses consciousness from the pain. Epileptic seizures can be incurable for the affected dog.

First aid

If your pet suddenly begins to experience involuntary muscle contractions, the most important thing is to remain calm and try to alleviate the condition as much as possible. Unfortunately, there's no way to help your pet in this situation, as convulsive twitching is a very serious symptom. So what should you do if your dog is having seizures? The first step is to immediately call a veterinarian or, if possible, take your pet to a clinic. Don't panic, especially since it's possible to provide assistance, even if minor, to your pet.

Provide the animal with peace and quiet, darken the windows, and then carefully (during periods of relaxation) transfer the dog to a bed or firm mattress (not a bed). Do not manipulate the pet in any way, and do not attempt to restrain or otherwise revive it—this is strictly prohibited. Only a qualified professional can provide necessary medical care. The only thing you can do yourself (if you are hesitant to transfer the pet) is to lightly support the dog to prevent it from hitting its head on foreign objects.

Closely monitor your pet's condition, pauses between seizures, and overall behavior. Report all your observations to your veterinarian for proper diagnosis and the most effective treatment. Another first aid measure veterinarians recommend if your dog is experiencing seizures is to gently place a few drops of Corvalol or Valocordin on the pet's tongue. These medications will calm your pet slightly and reduce nervous system excitability.

Examination

Only a veterinarian can determine the exact cause of a dog's seizures after performing the necessary tests. These include an abdominal ultrasound, complete blood count and biochemistry, CT scan and MRI, cardiac ECG, and chest X-ray. Without these tests, a diagnosis is impossible, unless one can only speculate about the cause of the seizures. In dogs under one year old, muscle contractions are caused by inflammation and congenital abnormalities. In animals over one year old, such alarming symptoms indicate epilepsy. If your dog is over five years old, seizures may indicate cancer.

Prevention

There are no specific, difficult-to-follow tips for preventing seizures in dogs. Pay attention to your pet's nutrition, add variety, and choose food enriched with vitamins, minerals, and trace elements. When out for walks, ensure your pet doesn't come into contact with strays or, especially, aggressive animals, which could expose them to dangerous diseases. And, of course, have your pet undergo routine checkups with a veterinarian at least twice a year to rule out any conditions that could cause muscle seizures.

Treatment

Before diagnosing the cause, a specialist will begin treatment for a dog's seizure with intramuscular injections of magnesium sulfate. This antihistamine will stop spasms and eliminate involuntary muscle contractions. The doctor will then examine the symptoms, refer the animal for an examination, and only then, based on the results, make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe the appropriate treatment. You will only need to strictly follow all the doctor's recommendations until your pet has fully recovered.

The biggest mistake many dog ​​owners make is voluntarily discontinuing treatment, believing their pet has already recovered and that there's no need to further medicate them. This is unacceptable; the animal must complete the full course of treatment, which can only be completed with the vet's approval. Whether their four-legged friend fully recovers depends entirely on the dog owner. After all, pets are often treated at home, and if the doctor's recommendations are ignored, the pet's health and even life are at risk.

Which breeds are at risk?

These are mainly purebred dogs such as collie, husky, poodles, Labradors, and dachshunds. The animal's gender also plays a role, as males are more susceptible to epilepsy than females. However, females can pass on the condition during pregnancy.

However, small dog breeds aren't immune either; they can also experience seizures, but as a consequence of another condition: hypoglycemia. This condition is most common in Chihuahuas, miniature Spitz dogs, and Yorkshire Terriers. It can begin at an early age, and low blood glucose can be caused by several factors: premature birth, poor feeding, a sudden change in the familiar environment, and even stressful situations (remember, miniature dogs are very skittish).

You can also ask our website's staff veterinarian a question, who will answer them as quickly as possible in the comments box below.

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