There are few things more terrifying than seeing your beloved dog having a seizure on the floor as you look on helplessly. A little knowledge on epilepsy should make things a little easier for you and your precious pet.
Stages of a Seizure
There are 4 stages to a seizure, namely:
The prodome stage: This stage can occur a few days to a few hours before the actual seizure. The most common symptom is a change in your pet’s behavior- perhaps he or she might be acting more moody and sulky than usual. In humans, the prodome stage shows up as headaches and mood changes. We aren’t really sure what pets experience since they cannot articulate how they are feeling, but generally, you might notice subtle changes in behavior.
The aura or preictal stage is the signal of an impending seizure. Symptoms of an impending seizure are salivation, aimless wandering, running hysterically or sometimes whining or trembling without any particular reason.
The ictal stage also known as the seizure stage is the actual seizure which lasts for 1-3 minutes and can display increases in muscle tone, loss of consciousness etc.
The post-ictal stage exhibits signs that are seen after a seizure. Mostly the dog is confused or shows signs of restlessness for a few minutes or sometimes even days after the seizure. During this stage your pet is conscious but not fully functional. Some dogs may appear tired and lethargic. However, a large percentage of dogs (especially young dogs) bounce back from a seizure within minutes as if nothing ever happened.
What can you do when your dog seizures?
Keep a note on how long the seizures last. Stroke your pet to comfort them and ensure that their surroundings are safe, cool and isolated. Keep other dogs away as it may scare them and change their behavior towards the affected dog. Occasionally dogs can bite their tongue during a seizure. Absolutely NEVER try to stick your hand inside their mouth to free their tongue as you may get bitten severely. It’s best to use a wooden spoon or another equally strong utensil to free the tongue. Once the seizure has passed, get him to a veterinarian immediately. Typically seizures last from 30 seconds to 2-3 minutes. If a seizure has not let up after this period of time, contact your nearest veterinarian and prepare to transport your dog there as soon as you can.
Diagnosing Epilepsy
1. The first time your pet has a seizure, get a complete neurological and physical test done. Usually, for a single seizure no medication or care is required but if the process repeats itself then you will have to keep a close eye on your pet. No medication is required until all the diagnoses are complete. Ensure that blood work, urine analysis and fecal testing are performed. Consider performing advanced imaging techniques like CT scans, MRI and getting a referral from a veterinary neurologist if necessary.
2. You can help your vet out by making a chart that records the date, time, and duration, as well as a detailed description of seizure activity.
3. Ensure that you mention to your vet all the information you have about any vaccinations given, previous illness/injuries, current diet, and potential exposure to toxins.
Treatment
It’s extremely necessary to start medication for pets that have seizures more than once a month. Your veterinarian will guide you accurately on what medications you should use for your pet. The most common drugs prescribed to pets to control epilepsy are Phenobarbital and Potassium Bromide (KBr). Drug therapy is only successful if the pet owner follows the doctor’s instructions exactly. A disorganized or haphazard drug administration regimen is of no use to you or your pet and can eventually push your pet into Status Epilepticus. Status Epilepticus is an extremely dangerous state of uncontrolled and continuous epileptic fits. You have to follow the rules to the tee to prevent any problems.
Phenobarbital- As mentioned, one of the most commonly prescribed drugs is Phenobarbital. Dogs generally develop a quick tolerance to the sedative action of Phenobarbital. Long term, and often life-long usage of this drug is required to help control seizure activity. It is common for the dose of the drug to be increased over time and for your veterinarian to measure its level in your pet’s blood. Since long-term usage can result in liver damage, periodic blood work should be performed to look out for any damage and to modify the treatment protocol if need be. If the drug is stopped suddenly, adverse symptoms such as restlessness or tremors and full-blown seizures may occur. Do not stop the medication suddenly or reduce the dosage on your own without consulting a professional.
Diazepam- For the treatment of Status Epilepticus, Diazepam is also commonly used. Please get in touch with your veterinarian regarding exact dosages and for more information.
Potassium Bromide- One of the drugs that is gaining recognition to treat canine epilepsy is potassium bromide. It was also used to treat human epileptics and it is the prescribed drug for canines that suffer from liver disease. Sodium bromide also works well for canines that have kidney problems. However, as with every drug, there are potential side effects- in this case, depression and muscle pain. A combination of Potassium Bromide and Sodium Bromide is useful for patients who are not responding to Phenobarbital or Primidone alone.
Monitoring Drug Treatment- You should constantly monitor the amount of seizure medication prescribed to your pet in order to learn how much of the medication is required for the drug to be effective. Overdosing on medication can lead to liver and kidney damage. If your dogs are on drugs, make it a point to visit the veterinarian regularly and to observe the blood serum levels to ensure that your pet is being prescribed the right amount of drugs to avoid any harmful side effects.
