Epilepsy is not a single disease but rather refers to a group of clinical signs that result from over-stimulation of the brain. These signs include chronic, episodic and recurrent seizures, with or without any detectable underlying brain lesion.Dog Epilepsy can be caused by a number of things, each of which ultimately lead to abnormal electrical activity of the brain. The exact mechanism that triggers seizures is not known. Typically, epilepsy is classified as being either
Whether genetic or caused by some identifiable physical condition or disorder, the symptoms of epilepsy are typically the same. An affected dog usually loses its sense of balance and collapses, loses consciousness, stiffens, chomps or chews, froths profusely from its mouth, pees and poops (urinates and defecates), makes unusual vocal sounds and paddles the air rhythmically with stiff limbs. The actual seizured usually last less than 2 minutes, although they can last longer.Owners of epileptic
Authorities suggest that the two most critical factors in diagnosing canine epilepsy are the age of the first seizure and the seizure pattern, in terms of type and frequency. Dogs that develop epilepsy at a very young age tend to have more serious disease, which often becomes resistant to consistent medical management. Dogs with localized or focal seizures usually have some brain lesion causing the condition, which may or may not be treatable.Idiopathic epilepsy (that
Epileptic seizures – especially status epilepticus and serial cluster seizures - can be life-threatening and become a true medical emergency. They should be treated quickly and aggressively. The primary therapeutic goals for any epileptic dog are to reduce the frequency and severity of seizure activity and increase the seizure-free interval to a point that the dog and its owners can maintain and enjoy an acceptable quality of life. Depending on the particular animal, daily medication