Dogs Having Seizures While Asleep

A Brief Introduction To Canine Seizures

There are several different types of canine seizures that you may want to know about. A partial only affects a small area or just one side of the body. The most common type is a grand mal. The dog will fall over, go into convulsions, salivate, urinate and defecate involuntarily, and be unaware of surroundings. In a petit mal, the animal looks like it simply passed out, as there is no convulsing.

A seizure has three recognizable phases that you will notice if you observe closely. In the pre-stage, also called the aura, dogs appear restless, whine, salivate, or try to hide. The ictus is the episode itself. Collapsing, convulsing, salivating, and vomiting may occur. The postictal phase is the recovery and can last from minutes to days. They may appear uncoordinated and disoriented. Temporary blindness can sometimes set in.

The exact trigger of episodes such as these is still unknown. However, it has been noticed that a state of excitement tends to set off an attack in many pets. This could be anything from playing to greeting visitors or even yourself when you come home from work at the end of the day. Some dogs also appear to have their seizure while sleeping, but should not be confused with simple dreaming. You cannot awake a seizuring animal.

There is a long list of conditions and diseases that are known to cause fits like these. For instance, the metabolic disorder diabetes mellitus affects the animal world just as it does humans. It is caused when the pancreas produces too little insulin. This leads to higher glucose levels in the system than are normal. They can also be too low, something known as hypoglycemia.

Ingestion or overexposure to various toxins can also be a contributing factor. For example, chocolate is highly toxic to dogs. You should never give them any. Another big toxin to watch out for is antifreeze. Also known as ethylene glycol, it has a sweet taste and aroma that is attractive to pets. Even the smallest amount can kill a large canine. Crystals will form on the kidneys, shutting them down and eventually killing the pet slowly.

Canine distemper, an extremely dangerous virus, can sometimes also cause seizures. This particular disorder completely ravages nearly every area of the dog’s body. It’s very contagious and also has an incredibly high death rate. The suffering of the animal during the process is great. Avoid contraction of this deadly illness by having your pet vaccinated against it each year without fail.

If your veterinarian cannot find an exact cause, either one that was mentioned or one of several others, he will most likely diagnose the dog as epileptic. Epilepsy simply means recurring seizures not associated with another condition. Caused by random firing of neurons in the cerebrum, they’re most likely due to a chemical imbalance. It most commonly appears from ages of six months to five years.

If your dog goes into canine seizures, the best thing you can do is remain calm. Remove any other animals or small children from the room. To prevent injuries from a fall, put him on the ground if he isn’t already and away from sharp objects. It’s a myth that they will swallow their tongue, so avoid putting your hand in their mouth; you might get bitten. Observe your pup closely so you can describe the episode to your vet. They should be called immediately if it goes on for over three minutes or has an immediate repeat.

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