- Recognizing
Epilepsy
By Deanna Mather Larson
Luci,
our Dalmatian-Labrador cross was in trouble. She collapsed
at my feet, unconscious. Froth ran from her lips. Her legs
flailed, her neck stretched unnaturally and a painful grimace
twisted her mouth. I watched helplessly as a terrifying seizure
tore through her.
Currently
260,000 to three million dogs in the United States suffer
from epileptic seizures. Some of the most popular breeds are
at the greatest risk. According to Terrell A. Holliday, DVM,
neurosurgeon with the University of California-Davis (UC-Davis)
Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, "There’s a fairly consistent
pattern of breed popularity followed by problems of epilepsy."
Because
you have an "at risk" breed doesn’t mean your pet will inherit
epilepsy, only that its chances are increased. Mixed breeds
aren’t exempt. Any dog can have seizures.
A single
seizure doesn’t mean your pet is epileptic. For a diagnosis
of epilepsy, Holliday explains, "The first requirement is
that there be recurrent seizures."
Recognizing
the symptoms of a seizure and the treatments available will
help your pet survive epilepsy.
Causes
Other
causes of epilepsy are brain tumors, birth injuries, a blow
to the head or accidents such as near drowning, entanglement
or near strangulation, and exposure to a poisonous substance
such as lead or mercury. Some experts suspect exposure to
insecticides, snail bait and flea dips may cause permanent
brain damage. Infections or diseases such as kidney failure,
distemper, tetanus, hypoglycemia and some types of parasites
or conditions such as malnutrition and dehydration can put
your pet at risk.
Signs
"There
isn’t a single definition of seizure," says Dorothy W. Gietzen,
Ph.D. and research scientist with the UC-Davis School of Veterinary
Medicine. She explains, "It’s the coordinated firing of lots
of neurons that aren’t supposed to work together."
You’ll
notice a change in your pet’s mood or behavior hours or a
few days prior to a seizure. Just before the seizure your
dog may whine, pace restlessly, snap at invisible flies, drool,
follow you closely or hide. Sometimes a pet growls or exhibits
unfounded aggression during this time.
When the
seizure strikes, there will be a sudden stiffness in limbs
followed by collapse and unconsciousness. Muscle contractions
will imitate running or walking. Jaws will clamp and there’s
a possibility of incontinence of bladder and bowel.
"A seizure
is an alarming thing for an owner to see if they’ve never
witnessed it before," says Holliday. "It seems like it goes
on for hours, when in most cases it’s only a few minutes."
A seizure
may last up to ten minutes. Afterward your pet may remain
unresponsive for a few more minutes. Holliday advises, "Don’t
try to feed it or water it until it’s up and walking around."
After your dog is fully alert, a spoonful of honey may help
regain lost blood sugar and may alleviate depression.
Danger
"A single
seizure, you don’t worry about brain damage," states Holliday.
"When they start having them and don’t recover consciousness
between seizures, it’s absolutely necessary to get help."
If your dog’s seizure activity calms, but he doesn’t get up
or respond when his name is called, and then starts thrashing
again, contact a veterinarian right away. Holliday continues,
"If the dog wakes up, then a half an hour later has another
seizure, that’s time to get going too."
Seizures
can look painful. Injuries can occur if a dog’s head or limbs
strike something hard or sharp. The dog can bite its lips
or tongue. It’s likely that the seizure itself doesn’t cause
pain because, as Gietzen explains, "Human epilepsy patients
don’t report pain."
Helping
Talk soothingly
and stroke your pet. Don’t try to restrain movements; pad
his head. Protect him from dangerous obstacles such as swimming
pools or stairs. Keep other dogs away, as they may not understand
and may attack a dog during a seizure. An old towel under
his rear quarters will protect your rug.
"During
a seizure there isn’t a lot you can do," Holliday says. He
doesn’t advise inserting anything into the dog’s mouth because
"the danger of the dog biting its tongue is minimal, and isn’t
worth the risk of you getting badly bitten."
Diagnosis
After
your dog has had more than one convulsion take him to your
vet. Then Holliday recommends a blood chemistry to rule out
liver disease, blood sugar problems and toxicity. Further
testing may involve MRIs, CT scans, electroencephalograms
or spinal fluid analysis.
Most veterinarians
do a general chemistry work-up then question the owners about
the nature of the seizures and the possibility of exposure
to toxic substances before continuing tests. Holliday says,
"In dogs five years and older, we’re more anxious to go ahead
with imaging. You don’t want to miss the chance of a dog having
a brain tumor."
Onset
of inherited epilepsy is usually before the dog’s second year.
Some dogs may go five or six years before their first seizure.
With an accident, or other causes, onset can occur immediately
or weeks later. Often seizures go unnoticed because the symptoms
aren’t recognized or no one is around to observe them.
Treatments
Holliday
advises, "Phenobarbital is the primary anticonvulsant. We’re
using a lot of potassium bromide too." The most common medications
are phenobarbital, primidone, diazepam and potassium bromide.
Phenytoin, or dilantin, is no longer considered effective.
Be patient, it will take time to find the correct dosage.
Follow
your vet’s instructions. A pill dispenser will help you keep
track and alert you if medication was missed. Make pill time
as unstressful as possible. Try hiding it in a bite of the
dog’s favorite soft food.Medication is usually given twice
a day. It’s more beneficial when it’s twelve hours apart (this
keeps blood serum levels even). You may notice some sedation
in your dog, but the effects usually diminish after a few
weeks of therapy. It will take time before you see a reduction
in seizures. Do not ever stop medication without consulting
your veterinarian first. A sudden halt could induce seizures.
Alternatives
"I always
try a hypoallergenic diet," says Susan G. Wynn, DVM, of the
Greater Atlanta Veterinary Medical Group and a director on
the board of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association.
"Acupuncture can be very helpful in some dogs," continues
Wynn. Another treatment is gold bead or gold wire implants.
Supplements such as B6, magnesium, manganese, folic acid,
zinc, taurine, and some Chinese herbs are meeting with success.
Always consult with a specialist to ensure the correct combination
for your dog. If a dog is on drugs, Wynn says, "I don’t change
drugs. What I do is add in." She explains, "I’ll do acupuncture,
and another thing some people are experimenting with right
now is magnets."
Our Luci
had a second seizure and was started on primidone. Her seizures
persisted and potassium bromide was added. Then we began to
see some relief. We take heart in Holliday’s assurance that
when seizures are controlled life expectancy is good and "quality
of life is good, too."
With regular
treatment most dogs will have one or two seizures a year.
Some dogs can become seizure-free. Others may experience a
50 percent or greater reduction in seizure activity. But with
love and care, your epileptic pet can live a long, enjoyable
life.
- First
Aid
Take your
dog to a veterinarian immediately if it has more than one
seizure and does not regain consciousness between them. Take
it if its seizures are a few minutes apart. Stroke it and
call its name. Place an old towel under it. Keep a regular
pill time. Keep a journal of the dog’s seizure activity.Things
not to do:Don’t put anything in the dog’s mouth. Don’t restrain
the movements of its limbs. Don’t offer food or water until
the dog is acting normal.
Deanna
Mather Larson is a freelance writer in Springfield, Oregon.
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www.dogandkennel.com
