What Causes Epilepsy in Dogs?
One of the most frightening experiences can be a dog seizure. It can alter a pet’s life in adverse ways. This is because owners often do not know how to respond, making a few minutes seem like an eternity. The attack can be either the problem itself or an indication of a much more serious health issue. For this reason it is very important to know if your dog is having a seizure and what the causes may be.
There are several causes; one of them is genetics. This is due to gene malformations, or due to heredity. Some breeds that are susceptible to having canine epilepsy are German Sheperds, Cocker Spaniels, Poodles, and Golden Retrievers among others.
Another cause is hypothyroidism. This is because of a thyroid gland malfunction due to the wrong signals being sent from the thyroid gland to the brain.
An underlying cause of epilepsy may be also heart disease. The heart is not able to pump the correct levels of both nutrients and oxygen to the brain, resulting in not only a heart malfunction, but epileptic seizures.
As dogs may be exposed to a variety of environments, a really big cause may be toxins. This can be confusing to owners, especially if there is a lack of awareness of what toxin the dog may be around. Lawn pesticides, chemicals such as motor oil, and house cleaning supplies are among the culprits. The attack can be eradicated once the toxin is identified and the pet is taken to the doctor.
Trauma is another cause; changes in how the brain functions and even cell behavior can occur as a result of physical trauma. The likelihood increases if the dog already has brain damage due to trauma.
Education is also very important because once an owner knows the underlying cause, steps can be taken to eradicate it or minimize damage to the dog. Very few health issues can be scarier to an owner than dog convulsions. That is why it is important to be informed about the causes of dog seizures and know what to do about them. Once you know what the cause is, a veterinary doctor can be informed, and a correct course of treatment can be done. No dog should have to suffer through such an uncomfortable and painful disease. Awareness, education and eradication are the solutions.
No comments:
Post a Comment