SEIZURES ( Convulsions) AND EPILEPSY IN YOUR PET
Seizures or convulsions in dogs or cats can be due to many causes including poisons, infections, abnormal hormonal functions ( like diabetes, hypothyroid ); changes in blood levels of enzymes or different elements of body organs including liver or kidney; very low or high glucose; low calcium; certain injuries of the nervous system or brain or brain tumors; and even due to some genetic defects ( hydrocephalus, Porto systemic shunts ). On other hand the epileptic seizures are very severe abnormal electrical impulses in the brain. Typically in an epileptic seizure the animal may be nervous, restless, uneasy, stiff, disoriented, unconscious, and sometimes voids urine, has excessive drooling or foaming at the mouth, twitching or jerking movements or paddling; and other noticeable behavior changes like fly- snapping. Any animal experiencing a seizure should receive a prompt veterinary care . There is no one specific test to diagnose a cause but generally blood tests, spinal tap, electro-encephalogram ( EEG ), X-rays, CAT Scans, and even MRI is done for diagnosis. Sometimes no cause can be singled out in spite of all these tests.
Most of the animals will have occasional seizures which can often be controlled by proper diagnosis and treatment. An occasional seizure like 1-2 in a year may not be treated with medication but are monitored closely. On other hand specific seizures are treated with anti-convulsive drugs with 60-70% success. Most drugs have side effects, some are expensive and others are given more frequently to control seizures. We hope this answers some of the questions that you may have regarding epilepsy or seizures in your pet. If you have any other questions then please call the office at 562-630-2082 to make an appointment with the doctor for more to discuss about your pets condition.