Witnessing your dog have an epileptic seizure can be a frightening experience. During a generalized seizure, the dog may lose consciousness and fall on his side, with legs kicking the air. Drooling, vocalizing, and loss of bladder and bowel control may accompany the seizure. A typical seizure is probably harder on you than your dog, who is not in pain and is unaware of what’s happening in his unconscious state.

Seizures in dogs may have an underlying medical cause, and such seizures are not considered epilepsy. Many diseases and conditions may cause seizures, including distemper, head injuries, brain tumors, hypoglycemia, poisoning, kidney failure, thiamine deficiency, parasitic infestations, and metabolic disorders. However, true epileptic seizures do not have an identifiable cause. They are termed idiopathic seizures and are thought to be caused by genetic defects.http://www.petplace.com/dogs/idiopathic-epilepsy-in-dogs/page6.aspx

Dogs who experience idiopathic seizures should be spayed or neutered, and not allowed to reproduce, since idiopathic seizures may have a genetic component. diopathic seizures usually manifest themselves when a dog is between one and five years old.http://www.petplace.com/dogs/idiopathic-epilepsy-in-dogs/page6.aspx

You can’t be certain that the darling puppy you bring home won’t develop epilepsy as he matures. Any dog, whether pure breed or mixed breed, may become an epilepsy patient. Some pure breeds are more likely than others to be vulnerable to idiopathic seizures. These breeds include German Shepherds, beagles, wire-haired fox terriers, Labrador retrievers, Golden retrievers, keeshonds, Irish setters, Saint Bernards, and cocker spaniels.http://www.petplace.com/dogs/idiopathic-epilepsy-in-dogs/page6.aspx

A dog may have only one seizure in his lifetime, or he may have several. Isolated seizures are not generally life-threatening events but when they repeat without a recovery period in between they are considered a medical emergency.http://www.petplace.com/dogs/idiopathic-epilepsy-in-dogs/page6.aspx

Take your dog for an evaluation, even if he’s had only one short seizure in his life, so your veterinarian can rule out underlying medical causes and determine whether further treatment may be necessary. As a dog owner, there are steps you can take to help manage your dog’s epilepsy and protect his health. Please use this guide to learn how to care for a dog with epilepsy.

Seizures occur when the neurological wiring in the brain misfires, and sends out too many electrical impulses at once. The misfiring may be generalized, affecting the whole body, or partial, affecting only a small area of the brain and the parts of the body that small area controls. The episode may begin as a partial seizure and then advance to the generalized state when the brain's neurological misfiring goes wild.http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/CanineEpil.htm

Seizures happen in three stages, and the signs during the first stage (or aura) may be so mild that you don’t notice them. Your dog may have a far-away look in his eyes, a twitch on one side of his face, and shake or bark for no apparent reason, or wander around as if he’s lost. He may clamp his jaws or drool. This stage is very brief and easily overlooked by the owner.http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/CanineEpil.htm

The second stage of the seizure is called ictus, and your dog may have symptoms in any combination, but usually manifest themselves as unconsciousness, falling down, paddling with the legs as if he were swimming, excess salivation, involuntary vocalizations and losing control of the bowels and/or bladder. Time this stage from beginning to end so you can give your vet this information; in your apprehension, it may seem like the seizure lasted a long time but may have only been a minute or so! http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/CanineEpil.htm

The last stage of an epileptic seizure is postictial. The dog will begin to regain consciousness, although he may lay still for several minutes before trying to get to his feet. He may be disoriented and confused, and suffer a temporary blindness. This stage may last only a few minutes, or it may take several days for your dog to fully recover from the episode. If your dog doesn’t seem like his usual self again after about 30 minutes or so, consult your veterinarian.http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/CanineEpil.htm

Although it is a scary thing to watch, short seizures are no real danger to your dog’s health as long as those present protect him from injury during the episode. Seizures that last longer than five minutes, or “cluster” seizures that repeat before the dog has had a chance to recover from the previous one, are considered a medical emergency and you should call your veterinarian immediately.http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/CanineEpil.htm

First of all, don’t get yourself into a panic. Remain calm during the seizure so that you can give your dog appropriate aid. Your calm state will be a comfort to your dog when he regains consciousness and isn’t sure what’s going on. Time the duration of the seizure, from the beginning of the second stage until your dog begins to regain consciousness, and make a note of the behavior he exhibits during the seizure so you can give your vet this information.

Move furniture away from the area that your dog might fall or kick against, and safeguard him from sharp objects, stairways, and bodies of water. Place a pillow, blanket, or other soft object under his head to prevent possible head trauma from his thrashing.http://www.petplace.com/dogs/idiopathic-epilepsy-in-dogs/page1.aspx

Stay by your dog’s side so you can offer him comfort as he comes out of the seizure. He will be confused and may think that he’s done something wrong, so you must assure him that he has not. While your dog is in the postictial (last) stage of the seizure, keep him away from stairways and other potential dangers until his confusion clears, he’s steady on his feet and not bumping into things. Allow him to drink water if he wants it.http://www.petplace.com/dogs/idiopathic-epilepsy-in-dogs/page1.aspx

For their own safety, keep children and other pets away from your dog during the seizure. A seizure that affects the part of the brain that controls your dog’s behavior is called a psychomotor seizure. Your dog may have an altered state of consciousness in which he may become overly aggressive or frightened, run around wildly, snap at the air as if he were catching flies, and exhibit other erratic or unusual behavior. Although he’s conscious he has no control over his behavior. The owner must be aware of this possible outcome and be prepared to control or confine the dog until he’s behaving normally again.http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/CanineEpil.htm

Your vet should give your dog a thorough physical and neurological examination to determine whether your dog’s seizures have an underlying cause which can be treated, or whether his seizures are idiopathic in nature, that is, that the cause can’t be determined. Treating underlying medical causes may prevent your dog from experiencing more seizures related to the disorder. Chronic idiopathic epilepsy can usually be controlled with prescription medications.http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/medical/epilepsy.html

Phenobarbital is commonly used to control idiopathic seizures in dogs and is effective in over 90% of cases. Dogs who don’t respond to phenobarbital alone may do well on a combination of phenobarbital and sodium bromide. Oral diazepam (Valium) might also be prescribed for your dog.http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/medical/epilepsy.html

Your vet may recommend pharmaceutical treatment for idiopathic epilepsy if your dog has one or more seizures every six weeks, or if he experiences cluster seizures (repeated seizures with little recovery time in between) or status epilipticus (repeated seizures with no recovery time in between).http://www.petplace.com/dogs/idiopathic-epilepsy-in-dogs/page5.aspx

Drug therapy may not completely control your dog’s epilepsy, but it may make seizures milder and less frequent. Long-term drug therapy can have adverse effects on your dog’s liver, so you veterinarian will want to check your dog regularly and alter your dog’s medications if necessary.http://www.petplace.com/dogs/idiopathic-epilepsy-in-dogs/page5.aspx

Once your veterinarian has put your dog on medication for seizures, follow his instructions to the letter. Not following the dosage schedule exactly as instructed may cause worse problems than no treatment at all!http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/medical/epilepsy.html Abrupt changes and erratic dosing can cause status epilipticus that may result in permanent brain damage.

Unfortunately, drug therapy does not work for all dogs with epilepsy. Depending on the severity and frequency of your dog’s seizures, the most humane option may be euthansia.. Ask your veterinarian for guidance on this matter if your dog’s epilepsy is severe, uncontrollable and affecting his quality of life.http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/medical/epilepsy.html