Epilepsy in dogs: causes, symptoms and treatment options
Not only humans but also dogs can suffer from epilepsy and the seizures associated with it. Depending on the severity and frequency of the seizures, epilepsy can be an enormous burden both for the affected dog and for the owner.
In the following, you will learn how epilepsy develops in dogs, what symptoms the disease manifests itself by, and what treatment options are available.
Epilepsy in dogs: what is it?
Epilepsy is a chronic disease of the nervous system. In dogs with epilepsy, sudden disturbances in the discharge of neurons in the brain occur more or less regularly. Among other things, this leads to disturbances in behaviour and movement and to seizures.
Possible causes of epilepsy in dogs
There are two different types of epilepsy in dogs, each of which can have different causes. In addition to symptomatic epilepsy, dogs can also have idiopathic epilepsy.
Symptomatic epilepsy in dogs
If a dog suffers from symptomatic epilepsy, it is a concomitant symptom caused by a previous illness or other health problems.
Symptomatic epilepsy in dogs can have the following triggers, for example:
- An injury to the head
- A brain tumour
- Liver or kidney diseases
- Low blood sugar levels
- An infectious disease
- Toxins absorbed with food
- Idiopathic epilepsy in dogs
In contrast to the symptomatic one, idiopathic epilepsy in dogs cannot be traced back to a specific previous illness. It is therefore also called primary epilepsy and is the most common form of the disease in dogs.
Dogs with idiopathic epilepsy appear perfectly healthy, apart from occasional seizures, and their brains show no abnormalities.
Although theoretically, any dog can have idiopathic epilepsy, certain breeds of dog are at much higher risk.
The following breeds are more likely to have idiopathic epilepsy
- German Shepherd Dog
- Collie
- Dachshund
- Irish Setter
- Beagle
- Boxer
- Labrador
- Golden Retriever
- English Springer Spaniel
- Magyar Vizsla
- Poodle
What symptoms are caused by epilepsy in dogs?
The typical symptom of epilepsy in dogs is seizures, which can occur with varying severity. If an epileptic seizure is imminent, this is often indicated in advance by behavioural problems. Affected dogs then often appear anxious and restless or they are particularly affectionate. This condition is also called aura in dogs with epilepsy.
Partial epileptic seizures in dogs
Mild epileptic seizures are usually limited to one part of the body, such as a twitching leg. In addition, such partial seizures often involve conspicuous behaviour, such as gasping in the air or barking without reason, as well as anxiety.
Generalised epileptic seizures in dogs
If a dog suffers a generalised epileptic seizure, its entire body is affected by twitches and convulsions. In addition to twitches of the limbs and face, there are also stretching cramps. In some cases, a severe epileptic seizure can also trigger uncontrolled urine and faeces disposal and heavy salivation.
During the seizure, the dog is in a largely comatose state. He is usually unresponsive and twists his eyes severely. A generalised epileptic seizure can last from a few seconds to several hours. Following this, the dog will initially be very exhausted and will give a disorientated impression.
Diagnosing epilepsy in dogs
The diagnosis of epilepsy in dogs is often difficult and usually requires a large number of examinations. As a first step, the veterinarian must rule out possible causes of symptomatic epilepsy as well as other diseases as triggers for the seizures, such as tetanus and rabies.
Only then can they examine the affected dog for the presence of idiopathic epilepsy. This usually involves blood tests as well as MRI and X-ray images and EEGs (electroencephalography). In addition, the veterinarian may also examine the brain fluid to diagnose the dog's epilepsy.
Treating epilepsy in dogs
The necessary treatment measures depend not least on the form of the dog's epilepsy. For in the case of symptomatic (secondary) epilepsy, it is primarily necessary to treat the previous illness responsible for the seizures.
If, on the other hand, the dog suffers from idiopathic epilepsy, the treatment measures are primarily aimed at reducing the excessive excitation of the nerve cells in the dog's brain and thus preventing epileptic seizures.
Treating epilepsy in dogs with medication
In the treatment of dogs with primary (idiopathic) epilepsy, so-called anti-epileptic drugs, such as phenobarbital, are used. In order for phenobarbital to be effective, it must first reach a certain level in the blood. This usually takes about two to three weeks.
At the beginning of the drug treatment, various side effects such as increased appetite and thirst as well as fatigue and sluggishness can occur, but in most cases, these only last for a few days.
With luck, phenobarbital can significantly reduce the incidence of seizures in dogs with epilepsy. If this does not succeed, a combination with other anti-epileptic drugs, such as potassium bromide, may be necessary.
Anti-epileptic drugs must be dosed precisely. For this reason, dogs with epilepsy must be regularly examined by a vet and their blood levels checked.
Medication to relieve epileptic seizures
In addition to the actual therapy with anti-epileptic drugs, dogs can be given additional medication to alleviate their symptoms during an acute epileptic seizure. In most cases, the veterinarian prescribes diazepam for the dog. The sedative can be administered to the dog during the seizure in the form of a suppository.
Important behavioural tips for affected dog owners
If your dog is suffering from an acute epileptic seizure, you must first and foremost ensure that he cannot injure himself on objects in his environment.
In addition, some dogs react positively to physical contact with their owner during a seizure. However, since it is sometimes possible for your four-legged friend to bite you accidentally, you should be careful when petting him.
What is the prognosis for dogs with epilepsy?
In the case of symptomatic epilepsy, the chances of recovery depend primarily on the treatment options for the previous illness.
In dogs with idiopathic epilepsy, the time at which treatment begins is particularly decisive for the success of treatment. This is because each seizure usually affects more nerve cells, which means that the epilepsy becomes more severe over time and the seizures become more frequent.
Regardless of this, idiopathic epilepsy in dogs requires lifelong treatment with the aim of reducing the severity and frequency of epileptic seizures. In some cases, this is achieved quite successfully. However, it may well be that the medication used to treat epilepsy in dogs does not provide any noticeable relief.
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