Epilepsy in dogs: causes, symptoms, treatment, what to do during an attack

Epilepsy in dogs is a chronic neurological disease. Everyone has heard about this disease among people, but few think that animals can also be epileptic. Epilepsy manifests itself in seizures. But don't equate these two terms with each other.

An attack is a short-term phenomenon, a painful state of the body with a violation of basic functions. Many factors contribute to the onset of an attack.

The essence of epilepsy is that the brain is already in a state “ready” for an attack; no specific conditions are needed for its occurrence. There is already a problem in the neurobiological processes occurring in the brain.

A dog can only be declared to have epilepsy if it has had 2 unprovoked seizures within 24 hours.

Causes and mechanism of occurrence

The mechanism of occurrence of an epileptic attack is very complex. All animals have excitatory and inhibitory neurons. With epilepsy, a restructuring of the brain occurs, as a result of which there are many times more excitatory neurons than inhibitory ones.

First, a “focus of attack” is formed. At some point in brain activity, some neurons (nerve cells) become unstable and hyperactive. The frequency of their discharges increases sharply. More and more neurons are involved in this pathological process and their discharge crosses a certain threshold.

After crossing the threshold, the process spreads to the nearest areas of the brain. And at this moment we can already observe convulsions. Before this there was a preparatory stage.

Convulsions are a pathological reaction of the body that occurs when the body’s protective properties are at their limit.

There are many causes of epilepsy; they can be congenital or acquired, and it is not always possible to identify it.

Possible complications

Physical injury to a dog during an epileptic seizure is very likely if everything is left to chance and precautions are not taken.

Excessive nervous irritation during a seizure can cause a malfunction of the gastrointestinal tract and other organs and systems.

Abrupt withdrawal of one drug can cause new signs of pathology, and in some cases causes an attack

During an attack, nerve cells consume a huge supply of nutrition, which leads to a subsequent decrease in the dog’s brain activity.

But the most terrible and irreversible consequence of an epileptic seizure is that the animal can die from asphyxia.

Types of Epilepsy

In veterinary medicine, the classification of epilepsy is currently imperfect.

The following types are distinguished.

Genetic Epilepsy (congenital)

It is characterized by the following factors:

An MRI scan shows no changes in the brain.
The dog's age is from 6 months to 6 years.
Between attacks the dog is absolutely healthy.
Family history and breed (for example, Labradors have a predisposition) - heredity - are very important.

Structural/metabolic (reactive seizures) epilepsy

Caused by intracranial problems, for example:

Hematomas after injuries.
Tumors.
Encephalitis and diseases of the central nervous system.
Metabolic changes - kidney failure, poisoning, hormonal imbalances, etc.

Idiopathic epilepsy

This is an intermediate diagnosis when we cannot yet prove the cause. This also includes genetic epilepsy, but which did not manifest itself at the specified age, but earlier or later.

Cryptogenic (Possibly symptomatic epilepsy)

Often in cats, when diagnosing difficulties arise.

Types of seizures

An epileptic seizure is a periodically recurring burst of excitation and hypersynchronous activity in the brain.

Attacks can be:

Isolated

When one attack occurred in 24 hours.

Cluster

When 2 or more attacks occurred in 24 hours.

IMPORTANT between attacks there is a complete restoration of consciousness.

Generalized

Spreads to several areas of the body. In the brain, the pathological process affects both hemispheres, and the convulsions themselves are usually symmetrical (often the dog falls on its side and moves its paws as if running, this is called swimming movements).

Generalized attacks may manifest as follows:

Tonic-clonic seizures are the most common type. During it, there is also a period of contraction and relaxation.
Tonic cramps are a prolonged contraction of all muscles, without a period of relaxation.
Myoclonic spasms - when they contract one muscle or one muscle group. Most often this is manifested by contraction of the brachiocephalic muscles.
An atonic attack is characterized by a sharp loss of muscle tone.
Absence seizures are a type of seizure without convulsions. This is absence syndrome.

Facal or partial seizures

They start in one part of the body and then take over the entire body. Clinical manifestation depends on which area of the cerebral cortex is affected. For example:

If the motor cortex is affected, then we see motor seizures (clonic/tonic seizures). If the sensory area is affected, then we observe auditory or visual hallucinations in the dog. You can often observe such a manifestation of visual hallucinations - the dog seems to be catching invisible flies, or simply watching them.

Symptoms and signs

Epilepsy is characterized by epileptic seizures. Different attacks look different. We have already described above how the different types differ from each other, and here we will look at what they look like from the owner’s perspective.

A tonic-clonic seizure in a dog is manifested by the contraction and relaxation of several muscle groups at once. Usually these are swimming movements when the animal lies on its side.
Tonic generalized attack - muscles are toned, there is no relaxation. Usually the head is raised, and the front legs are either stretched forward or seem to be thrown back behind the head, sometimes tucked under themselves.
A generalized myoclonic seizure appears as if the dog sniffs a strong odor and pulls back, jerking its head away. Sometimes this manifests itself very clearly, to the point that the dog may fall, and sometimes it is a slight jerking away.
Absences are a syndrome of absence. It is very difficult to detect in dogs, since the animal maintains its position in space, can stand or sit normally, but at the same time the behavior changes, the dog does not seem to hear or see, the owners usually describe it as “a dog in a state of trance.”
Sensory seizures involve visual or auditory hallucinations. Sometimes it's hard to notice, especially if you don't spend much time with your pet.

It is important that attacks can be mixed, then different types appear simultaneously in different areas of the body.

The condition of the dog between attacks depends on the cause of the epilepsy. If it is genetic or idiopathic, no deviations from the norm are visible between attacks.

Prognosis for epilepsy and life expectancy of a dog

Epilepsy is not a death sentence for a pet. With such a diagnosis, a dog can live a long, normal life if the disease is diagnosed in time and treatment is started. The effectiveness of therapy depends on several factors:

time of onset of the first seizure;
the reason that caused it;
severity of epileptic seizures;
reaction to anticonvulsants.

There is no need to make an epileptic dog a disabled person and limit its freedom of action. The animal should not notice drastic changes in the usual rhythm of life. It is enough to surround your pet with warmth and affection, and also do not forget to take the prescribed medications.

Risk group

An epileptic seizure can strike any dog, regardless of age or breed. But some breeds have a predisposition to genetic epilepsy:

Lagotto Romagnolo;
Labrador Retriever;
Irish Wolfhound;
Beagle;
Belgian Shepherd;
Golden retriever;
Dachshund;
Collie;
Bernese Mountain Dog and some others...

Not all dogs of these breeds will have epilepsy. But the likelihood that it will appear between the ages of 6 months and 6 years is greater than in other breeds.

Also at risk are animals with head injuries and dogs with illnesses affecting the central nervous system.

Prevention

Since primary epilepsy is a genetically determined disease, it is difficult to talk about preventing the disease before it manifests itself in a dog. Once the diagnosis is established, it is necessary to take care of preventing attacks and improving the animal’s quality of life.

In order to help your pet cope with the disease, you must carefully follow the doctor's recommendations. In addition, you need to create comfortable living conditions for the dog and surround the animal with love. It is important to protect your pet from stressful situations - it is better for dogs suffering from epilepsy not to participate in various exhibitions and competitions, and you should also be careful when mating. In comfortable and calm conditions, an animal can live a long and happy life.

What to do during an attack, first aid

VERY IMPORTANT - DO NOT TOUCH THE DOG.

Do not follow dangerous advice such as “unclench your jaw”, “insert a spoon”, etc. This can only injure both you and your pet.

When a dog has an attack and begins to convulse, leave it in the same place; there is no need to move it anywhere or try to calm it down.

Your task is to ensure that the animal does not injure itself. If there is a lot of furniture around, then you should move the furniture away (don’t disturb the dog).

If you are afraid that your pet may have a stuck tongue, then make sure that his head is turned to the side.

Do not crowd around your pet and do not panic, as this will cause even more stress on the nervous system.

Turn off the lights in the room with the dog, provide silence and access to fresh air.

If possible, record the duration of the attack, or better yet, film everything on camera to show to your doctor.

What to do during an epileptic seizure

Convulsive outbreaks themselves, even of a generalized type, do not pose a mortal threat to life. But they must be considered as a condition in which a lot of physical stress is placed on the body. That is why even short manifestations are dangerous for four-legged pets suffering from disorders of the cardiovascular system.

First aid for an animal during a nervous attack involves taking measures to keep it safe. It is necessary to ensure that the respiratory passage is clear.

To do this, the four-legged friend is placed on his side and his head is slightly raised. In this position, vomit or saliva will not block the airway.

Usually the body temperature rises significantly, so a towel moistened with cool water is applied to the abdomen and limbs. It is advisable to call a veterinarian at home or take the sick animal to the hospital after the end of the attack.

Short-term flashes last about a couple of minutes. If they last more than 10 minutes, there is a threat to the life of the animal. This will require emergency veterinary attention.

To alleviate your pet's condition, you should:

do not panic, behave as calmly as possible;
reduce light entering the room;
call the patient to you, calm him down as much as possible;
lay on your side, raise or hold your head;
talk to him kindly, without raising your voice;
do not leave unattended for a long time;
record the duration of the seizure;
use prescribed medications.

A common myth is the danger of tongue swallowing. Anatomically this is simply impossible. Pulling out your tongue, unclenching your jaw, or inserting a hand or foreign objects into the oral cavity is completely unnecessary, and in some situations it is even dangerous for a person and his dog.

You should not try to introduce medicine, tablets or liquids into the mouth of a sick individual during an attack. During such a period, the normal function of swallowing is impaired, and there is a possible risk of medications and saliva getting into the respiratory tract. The use of drugs is possible only intramuscularly, intravenously or rectally, that is, through the rectum.

When convulsions occur, it is important to ensure that the pet does not receive mechanical damage, does not fall off the sofa, or hit corners or pieces of furniture.

It is better to check your body temperature during and after an attack. If it rises above 39.8 degrees, then it is brought down with cold compresses.

An epistatus in which convulsions last more than 30 minutes and multiple relapses occurring in a row without a recovery period between them is considered dangerous. Such conditions require emergency veterinary attention. Typically, for effective treatment, the doctor admits the patient to a clinic.

If epistatus is not prevented in time, death may occur due to respiratory arrest, hyperthermia, or cerebral edema.

It is very difficult to provide assistance at home, so it is important to immediately contact a specialized clinic.

Diagnostics

Epilepsy is a diagnosis of exclusion. It is placed when the animal has been fully examined and other causes of periodic attacks have been excluded.

History is very important in making a diagnosis. When you bring your dog to the veterinarian, be prepared to answer the following questions:

Describe the animal's behavior before the attack.
How does a dog behave when an attack begins?
Is the dog conscious during the attack? Your doctor will help you answer this question by asking you leading questions.
How does the dog behave immediately after the attack?
Do all attacks go the same way?
Record the attack on video so you can show it to your doctor later.

A lot of diseases are accompanied by attacks, and to be sure that this is the result of a brain disorder, you need to make sure that there were no additional factors that provoked the attack.

To exclude other diseases, a comprehensive diagnosis is carried out:

It is necessary to donate blood for general and biochemical analysis. And also look at your hormone levels.
If the doctor deems it necessary, he will take urine for a general analysis.
MRI. Unfortunately, not all veterinary clinics are equipped with an MRI machine.
A cerebrospinal fluid analysis is performed.
If there is such a possibility, then an EEG is performed. It is difficult to conduct this study in animals, but it is possible.

A neurological examination between attacks (immediately after a seizure, and when the dog has already recovered) is of great diagnostic importance. With epilepsy between attacks, the neurological condition of the pet is normal.

What should I do if my dog has a seizure?

It is very important that you remain calm
Most seizures are short-lived and dogs are usually completely unaware of them
A sick dog will most likely not be harmed during a seizure, even if they appear terrible in appearance.
Make sure you and your pet are safe by moving any furniture out of the way to prevent your pet from getting hurt
Under no circumstances should you put anything in your pet's mouth, including your hands.
Remember, only a veterinarian can prescribe “emergency treatment” to reduce the duration of an epileptic episode.

It is important to know! If the attack does not end after 5 minutes, you will need emergency help from a veterinarian, because you cannot cope on your own! The dog may die!

Epilepsy in dogs: what should the owner do during an attack?

Drug treatment

As already mentioned, a dog cannot be completely cured of epilepsy. The goal of treatment is to improve the quality of life.

The owner of a dog with epilepsy should keep a seizure diary, in which he will note the frequency and duration of seizures.

If a dog has 1-2 attacks per year, then drug treatment is not prescribed.

In cases where:

attacks occur 1-2 times a month;
the duration of the seizure is more than 5 minutes.

Depending on the situation and cause, anticonvulsants and sedatives are prescribed. All medications are prescribed by a veterinarian.

What should the owner know?

Epilepsy has no breed or species, although the disease is diagnosed more often in males. Convulsions in a dog due to overexertion, exposure to cold and epileptic seizures should not be confused.

Minor tremors occur when:

hyperthermia (with a sharp jump in temperature);
renal failure;
tetany of lactating bitches;
severe pain.

It is difficult to stop an attack at home if there is no clear certainty about its origin. For a breeder who is not versed in the basics of veterinary medicine, epilepsy and seizures are almost identical.

Fact! Epilepsy can take more than 40 forms, depending on the cause that provoked it. And it is very difficult to identify what arose at the beginning of the disease. Therefore, the emphasis is on keeping the dog in a stable condition.

Etiology of the disease and predisposition of breeds

Medicine defines epilepsy as a chronic neuralgic disease characterized by regular seizures. They arise due to disruption of connections between neurons in the brain. Inconsistency in the appearance and transmission of nerve impulses leads to spontaneous, atactic muscle contractions.

Epilepsy in dogs is a non-fatal diagnosis

The mechanisms leading to seizures are still not fully understood. Scientists hypothesize that the cause of the disease may be an improper chemical balance of neurotransmitters. That is why the attacks are not constant, but periodic. Over time they become stronger and more frequent.

The first symptoms appear during the first 5 years of the pet’s life. Most often the disease is diagnosed at the age of 2–3 years. Any dog can get epilepsy, but there are breeds that are at increased risk:

boxer;
beagle;
English Spaniel;
collie;
Labrador;
Shepherd (German, Belgian);
poodle;
Golden retriever;
Saint Bernard;
Irish Setter;
dachshund;
terrier;
husky;
schnauzer

Briefly about the main thing

Epilepsy is a disease characterized by two or more seizures within 24 hours. The essence of epilepsy is a predisposition to seizures.
The disease can be congenital, or it may appear after infection with infectious diseases, encephalomeningitis, or after traumatic brain injury.
There are several types of attack that do not depend on the cause. Usually an attack manifests itself as convulsions, which also come in different types. However, sometimes the attack passes without convulsions, and the dog even stands normally on its feet, but loss of consciousness occurs - absence syndrome.
There are several breeds predisposed to epilepsy, these include: Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, Irish Wolfhound, Belgian Shepherd and some others.
To provide first aid to your dog during an attack, ensure its safety. Don't touch the dog, but make sure it doesn't get hurt. Under no circumstances try to open your jaws!
It is impossible to completely cure epilepsy, but you can achieve long-term remission and significantly improve your pet’s quality of life.

Caring for a dog during remission

Nervous spasms develop under the influence of a large number of provoking factors that should be completely excluded from the life of the four-legged animal. He must be protected from events that cause excitement.

“ For example, you should avoid visiting exhibitions, shows, competitions, and also be sure to reduce the number of intense training exercises.

The walk should be long, but take place in a familiar and calm environment, without excessively active jogging or energetic games.

The presence of even a single attack in a pet requires regular consultations with a doctor and mandatory compliance with his prescriptions.

Restoration and maintenance of vital functions

An important stage of therapy is the normalization of the diet, taking into account the recommendations:

It is advisable to diversify the menu by adding legumes, crumbly millet porridge, sardines, boiled carrots, white cabbage;
food should be given strictly according to the established schedule, slightly warmer than room temperature;
the portion of food should correspond to the age and breed of the pet;
the daily diet should contain the optimal amount of magnesium, manganese, vitamin B6;
the amount of meat, protein products, and salty foods is reduced;
vitamin and mineral complexes are prescribed only by a veterinarian and are selected according to the state of health;
The best option would be to switch from natural food to high-quality industrial feed containing protein components.

It is considered mandatory to exclude from mating individuals suffering from this disease.

Acupuncture techniques performed on ten main sensitive points have shown high preventive effectiveness. Conducting sessions at a certain period serves as a successful addition to medications.

Scientists were able to prove the fallacy of the opinion that after each convulsive syndrome, individual cells and areas of the brain die, which is why the dog becomes inadequate and aggressive.

Epilepsy in dogs: causes and consequences, what to do

Causes and mechanism of occurrence

Possible complications