Nothing is more terrifying than seeing your dog on the floor having a seizure for the first time. They can twitch, shake, paddle their legs, drool, lose bowel control and vocalize.

This traumatizing ordeal can be as short as 30 seconds and can last as long as several minutes. In more severe cases dogs can have horrible seizures that do not stop without medical intervention, and that can lead to death if not treated immediately.

Seizure activity in dogs can be the result of many different causes, including but not limited to epilepsy, cancer, infection, toxins, trauma, and metabolic disturbances. Of these, the most common cause of seizures in dogs is epilepsy.

What is epilepsy?
Epilepsy in pets can be due to several reasons. The main cause of the condition is the garbling of the messages coming from the brain down to the body. Usually messages from the brain come in an orderly pattern that the body muscles recognize and then co-ordinate accordingly to perform functions. But sometimes, changes to the brain or the neural pathways cause electrical message impulses to malfunction in several ways resulting in a loss of physical, sensory and motor functions.

What are the different types of epilepsy?
1. Primary epilepsy is also called idiopathic or genetic epilepsy. There is no exact method by which doctors can diagnose idiopathic epilepsy. Primary epilepsy typically occurs at an early age between 6 months to about 4 years. There are several breeds that are predisposed to epilepsy due to a genetic component. The most common breeds that may be at risk of seizures are Beagles, Dachshunds, German Shepherds, Keeshonds, Cocker Spaniels, Boxers, Irish Setters, Labrador Retrievers, Miniature Schnauzers, Siberian Huskies, and Wire-Haired Terriers.
2. Secondary epilepsy occurs due to underlying medical conditions that can be diagnosed. Pets that get epileptic seizures after the age of four are more likely to have secondary epilepsy. This type of epilepsy be caused by the following:
• Trauma to the brain and the head
• Degenerative diseases of the body and brain
• Developmental defects like Hydrocephalus
• Metabolic conditions like low blood sugar and liver failure
• Kidney disorders
• Tumors
• Certain medications
• Low calcium levels in lactating females
• Severe body infections like Canine distemper
• Toxins like lead, arsenic, insecticide and metaldehyde poisoning
• Low blood oxygen levels that affect functioning of the brain
• Nutritional defects like thiamine deficiencies and parasites

Types of seizures:
If you know that your pet is susceptible to fits or seizures, it is helpful if you note the symptoms properly before you take your pet to the veterinarian. A veterinarian may be able to diagnose the cause of your pet’s seizure and prescribe the ideal medication for it only after you give a detailed medical history of your pet. The main types of seizures are described below.

Generalized Seizure: These seizures are also called Tonic-clonic, Grand Mal or Mild seizures and they can be really scary for the pet owner who experiences them for the first time. This type of seizure has 2 phases. Initially the pet in the tonic phase may faint and all his limbs will extend rapidly into different directions. There is a strong possibility that respiration may stop for a few seconds. After all the limbs have extended, they then start flexing for about 10-30 seconds.
Symptoms that indicate a clonic phase include:
1. Paddling of the limbs
2. Dilation of pupils
3. Excessive salivation
4. Uncontrolled defecation and urination
5. A mild attack will show nothing except for a loss of temporary consciousness but a prolonged attack may be a sign of primary seizures
6. Seizures lasting longer than 5 minutes have the potential to cause lasting brain damage and can result in death if left untreated.

Petit Mal Seizures or Focal Seizures: This is also called Absence Seizures. The main problem with this type of seizure is that it sometimes goes totally unnoticed simply because the symptoms are so mild. A typical Petit Mal Seizure lasts for only a few seconds and pet owners may think nothing of it. Symptoms of a typical petit mal seizure are:
1. Temporary unconsciousness
2. Blank stare by your dog that can last anywhere from a minute to a few seconds. Many pet owners regard this condition as nothing but a temporary distraction.
3. Lax muscles for a few minutes
4. Decreased eye movement or even a temporary rolling upward of your dog’s eyes

Partial Seizures: Partial seizures occur when only a part of your pet’s body gets affected. The symptoms of a partial seizure sometimes mimic tonic-clonic seizure and it might be difficult for pet owners to differentiate both. A few of the more common symptoms include:
1. Frequent head turns toward a particular direction
2. Limb bends which may look involuntary and painful to the dog
3. Most partial seizures may progress into complete tonic-clonic seizures if left unattended

Complex Partial Seizures: Complex Partial Seizures are also called Psychomotor or Behavioral Seizures and are extremely difficult to diagnose. Even in humans this type of seizure is characterized by peculiar and highly complex behavior. The same odd (abnormal) behavior is also seen in pets with visual, auditory, olfactory and gustatory hallucinations. Abnormal aggression and unexplained snapping are also signs. Other symptoms observed are:
1. Salivation
2. Diarrhea
3. Vomiting
4. Blindness
5. Excessive thirst
6. Sometimes unwary pet owners are frightened of their pet’s odd behavior and leave them unattended until the behavior subsides. Ignoring it, however, can result in the seizure progressing into generalized tonic-clonic seizures.

Cluster Seizures: Cluster Seizures are several seizures of a shorter duration that can affect your pet multiple times in a short period of time with periods of unconsciousness in between.

Status Epilepticus: Status Epilepticus occurs as a single continuous seizure, which lasts 30 minutes or more. Status Epilepticus can also occur as a sequence of multiple seizures within a small time interval with periods of unconsciousness. Any pet in status epilepticus requires prompt veterinary care and medical intervention to avoid permanent damage.

I hope this short article has educated you about epilepsy and how to detect its signs. If, at any time, you feel that your pet could be suffering from epilepsy, get in touch with a veterinarian immediately.