Jean Dodds talks about vaccines for Dogs Naturally magazine

W. Jean Dodds DVM, long time vaccinology expert:

“I don’t really believe my training in veterinary college was adequate with regard to animal vaccination.  To be fair to current knowledge, I graduated from veterinary college in Canada in 1964. At that time we understood much less about the molecular aspects of immunology, and the long term medical effects of vaccinations, both beneficial and potentially harmful. We also had fewer infectious diseases to treat and prevent, and hence fewer vaccines for them.

“I was always a clinical research scientist, but colleagues and pet owners would tell me about malaise and illness that appeared shortly after pet animals were vaccinated. This was in addition to the rare case of anaphylaxis induced by vaccination.   They spoke about irritability, low-grade or even high fever, anorexia, stiffness, and occasional seizure-like episodes. These usually occurred from 2-10 days post-vaccination, sometimes longer (up to 45 days).

“The clinical signs associated with vaccine reactions typically include fever, stiffness, sore joints and abdominal tenderness, susceptibility to infections, neurological disorders and encephalitis, collapse with autoagglutinated red blood cells and icterus (autoimmune hemolytic anemia) (AIHA), or generalized petechiae and ecchymotic hemorrhages (immune-mediated thrombocytopenia) (ITP). ^{1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 12, 13}

“Hepatic enzymes may be markedly elevated, and liver or kidney failure may occur by itself or accompany bone marrow suppression.  Furthermore, MLV vaccination has been associated with the development of transient seizures in puppies and adult dogs of breeds or cross-breeds susceptible to immune-mediated diseases especially those involving hematologic or endocrine tissues (e.g. AIHA, ITP, autoimmune thyroiditis). ^{1, 7, 10} Post-vaccinal polyneuropathy is a recognized entity associated occasionally with the use of distemper, parvovirus, rabies and presumably other vaccines. ^{2, 3, 7}  This can result in various clinical  signs including muscular atrophy, inhibition or interruption of neuronal control of tissue and organ function, muscular excitation, incoordination and weakness, as well as seizures. ⁷

“Certain breeds or families of dogs appear to be more susceptible to adverse vaccine reactions, particularly post-vaccinal seizures, high fevers, and painful episodes of hypertrophic osteodystrophy (HOD). ^{7, 9} Vaccination of pet and research dogs with polyvalent vaccines containing rabies virus or rabies vaccine alone was recently shown to induce production of antithyroglobulin autoantibodies, a provocative and important finding with implications for the subsequent development of hypothyroidism. ¹⁰

“Furthermore, injection site fibrosarcomas have recently been documented in dogs as well as cats, and other cancers such as leukemia have been vaccine-associated.” ^{7, 18}

References

1. Dodds WJ. Immune-mediated diseases of the blood.  Adv Vet Sci Comp Med 1983; 27:163-196.


2. Phillips TR, Jensen JL, Rubino MJ, Yang WC, Schultz RD.  Effects on vaccines on the canine immune system.  Can J Vet Res 1989; 53: 154-160.


3. Tizard I. Risks associated with use of live vaccines.  J Am Vet Med Assoc 1990; 196:1851-1858.


4. Duval D, Giger U. Vaccine-associated immune-mediated hemolytic anemia in the dog. J Vet Int Med 1996;10: 290-295.


5. Cohen AD, Shoenfeld Y. Vaccine-induced autoimmunity.  J Autoimmunity 1996; 9: 699-703.


6. Schultz R. Current and future canine and feline vaccination programs. Vet Med 1998; 93:233-254.


7. Dodds WJ. More bumps on the vaccine road. Adv Vet Med 1999; 41: 715-732.


8. HogenEsch H, Azcona-Olivera J, Scott-Moncrieff C, Snyder PW, Glickman LT. Vaccine-induced autoimmunity in the dog. Adv Vet Med 1999; 41:733-744.


9. Dodds WJ.  Vaccination protocols for dogs predisposed to vaccine reactions. J Am An Hosp Assoc 2001; 38: 1-4.


10. Scott-Moncrieff JC, Azcona-Olivera J, Glickman NW, Glickman LT, HogenEsch H. Evaluation of  antithyroglobulin antibodies after routine vaccination in pet and research dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2002; 221: 515-521.


11. Paul MA (chair) et al. Report of the AAHA Canine Vaccine Task Force: 2003 canine vaccine guidelines, recommendations, and supporting literature. AAHA, April 2003, 28 pp.


12. May C, Hammill J, Bennett, D.   Chinese shar pei fever syndrome: A preliminary report. Vet Rec 1992;131: 586-587.


13. Scott-Moncrieff JC, Snyder PW, Glickman LT, Davis EL, Felsburg PJ.  Systemic necrotizing vasculitis in nine young beagles.  J Am Vet Med Assoc 1992; 201: 1553-1558.


14. Dodds WJ. Estimating disease prevalence with health surveys and genetic screening. Adv Vet Sci Comp Med 1995; 39: 29-96.


15. Wilbur LA, Evermann JF, Levings RL, Stoll LR, Starling DE, Spillers CA, Gustafson GA, McKeirnan AJ.  Abortion and death in pregnant bitches associated with a canine vaccine contaminated with blue tongue virus.  J Am Vet Med Assoc 1994; 204:1762-1765.


16. Day MJ, Penhale WJ. Immune-mediated disease in the old English sheepdog. Res Vet Sci 1992; 53: 87-92.


17. Dougherty SA, Center SA. Juvenile onset polyarthritis in Akitas. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1991; 198: 849-855.


18. Vascellari M, Melchiotti E, Bozza MA et al. Fibrosarcomas at presumed sites of injection in dogs: characteristics and comparison with non-vaccination site fibrosarcomas and feline post-vaccinal firosarcomas.  J Vet Med 50 (6): 286-291, 2003.


19. Twark L, Dodds WJ. Clinical use of serum parvovirus and distemper virus antibody titers for determining revaccination strategies in healthy dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2000; 217:1021-1024.


20. Flemming DD, Scott JF. The informed consent doctrine: what veterinarians should tell their clients. J Am Vet Med Assoc 224: 1436-1439, 2004.


21. Klingborg DJ, Hustead DR, Curry-Galvin E, et al.  AVMA Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents’ report on cat and dog vaccines.  J  Am Vet Med Assoc 221: 1401-1407, 2002.


22. Schultz RD, Ford RB, Olsen J, Scott F.  Titer testing and vaccination: a new look at traditional practices. Vet Med, 97: 1-13, 2002 (insert).


23. Moore et al, Adverse events diagnosed within three days of vaccine administration in dogs.  J  Am Vet Med Assoc 227:1102–1108, 2005.

“If I was in private practice today, I would only use a conservative puppy or kitten series (2-3 doses only) of vaccines: one before 12 weeks in puppies and 10 weeks in kittens; and a second between 14-16 weeks in puppies and 12-14 weeks in kittens. All vaccines should be 3-4 weeks apart.  I would not vaccinate beyond the puppy and kitten series, and I would not worry about income impact, regardless, as our veterinary oath requires that we “do no harm”.  Judicious use of vaccines is paramount.

“I don’t feel any professional pressure to keep quiet on the vaccine issue.  I’ve been teaching it for more than 40 years!  It must be understood that this is an educational problem that needs to start with the veterinarian so that he or she can educate the clients and public in general.

“I totally embrace my profession and always have, but the pharmaceutical industry has considerable influence on it; there is a huge marketing effort here – that’s their job. We are the ones that need to ‘sift’ this information appropriately. We, the consumer professionals, have allowed this influence to go unchecked.  It’s time for senior members of our profession to step up and place controls on the commercial influence upon relatively naive veterinary students and new graduates. This influence is even stronger in the pet food and supplements industry.  The government also needs to be more proactive and keep up to date.

“With regard to traditional veterinary products such as steroids, NSAIDs, preventatives and antibiotics, we as professionals using these products need to more effectively reign-in commercialism.

“The culprits behind ill health in companion animals are environmental factors, including drugs, chemicals, pesticides, toxins and preventatives like vaccines and those used to control fleas, ticks, and heartworms, superimposed on genetic predisposition.  This is especially problematic for inbred and linebred breeds of dogs and cats, which are more genetically alike, and can respond adversely to any one or more of these immunological ‘insults’.”

Excerpted from Vets on Vaccines, Dogs Naturally Magazine.

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My Life with Dogs » Bandit

Well, I learned the hard way not to leave food on my counters.   After losing a bag of nuts and a whole tin of hot cocoa (that was fun to clean up…), I make sure before I leave the house that all food is well out of reach….but what about canned food?   Shouldn’t be an issue, right?

Well, I had all my chili fixings on the counter, cans of beans, tomatoes, and of course, the Rotel diced tomotoes with chilies already chopped up – yum!    Well, I went out shopping – I know I was not gone more than 45 minutes, but when I came home all three kids met me at the door from the garage into the kitchen….and I saw it.  

The poor can of Rotel tomatoes and chilies after Bandit got ahold of it!

A can was lying on the floor.  At first, I thought it was an empty can of dogfood that I did leave on the sink.  But, after closer investigation, I saw it was a full can of something – the label was gone.  The remains of the label told me it was the Rotel.   The teethmarks in the can had pierced the can numerous times.  The liquid had obviously spilled out – and probably licked up too!   Hopefully, the picture does this justice.

All I could do was laugh….Bandit looked so innocent with his soft brown eye…but behind those eyes is a ruthless food thief…a bandit if you will!   So, what to do?  I made chili of course!   It was a little tough to open the can, but you shouldn’t waste food, right?

While I was on vacation, I boarded Bandit and Shelby at the Yorkville Animal Hospital.  They are really great with them, and I feel better that Bandit is at a vet in case anything happens.  Well, sure enough, when I returned, they told me that he had a grand mal seizure on 2/23, and they gave him valium and he was fine.  It was actually the day before I had requested that he be upped on his meds.  I know that he can have seizures when he gets excited, and I try to plan for it, but I missed it…

Thankfully, he is o.k. and did not have any further seizures now that I have him home.

Unfortunately,  Bandit had a series of seizures after I returned from WV.  The seizures started at 7:50 a.m and he actually had the seizure in bed with me.   The other dogs seem to know to stay away.

Baby Bandit

The seizure was short, but it is the recovery that is long.   I helped him out of bed and he stumbled around while I followed him.  He went into the bathroom, then fell down and had a second seizure.   He started to come out of it, then he went into a third seizure.    I called the emergency vet clinic, and they said I should bring him in.    I called Lilia to help me carry him to the car.

When she came over, Bandit had again started recovery.   He paced and stumbled, but he did not have another seizure.  I decided not to take him to the hospital, but I gave him some extra phenobarbital.   The entire episode lasted nearly one hour.

I called the Yorkville Animal Hospital, and they said he did not have any seizures when he was there.   Then, they said something that made sense – they said that after he has been excited or stressed, when an epileptic dog gets back to his calm home situation, that is when they have seizures.   

This has been the pattern – after Bandit has been excited, i.e. he is boarded somewhere while I am on a trip, when he gets home, he has the seizure!   His neurologist did say to give him additional phenobarbital when he is in a stressful situation.   I guess I didn’t think that boarding him at the Yorkville Animal Hospital would stress him.   But, now I know better…

The whole rest of the day, Bandit followed me around – even more than usual.   It was so funny – I would stand up and walk a few steps, with Bandit at my side.  I stop – he stops.   I walk a few steps, Bandit walks a few steps.  I stop, he stops!  It was so funny!

FDA warning for owners of dogs on seizure meds:

Via Vet Blog:

I recently received an urgent E-mail notification from the American Veterinary Medical Association. It seems that Qualitest Pharmaceuticals, a manufacturer that supplies some veterinary products, has made a production error. It has distributed generic Vicodins in pills that for all outward appearances appear to be (and are labeled as) phenobarbital.

Phenobarbital is used to treat epilepsy and seizures in dogs and cats. It also may be used as a sedative. Vicodin is used to treat pain in humans. One of Vicodin’s ingredients, acetaminophen, is deadly poisonous to cats. In dogs the safety margin of acetaminophen is low. Animals that receive the mislabeled pills could be at risk of seizures (from lack of appropriate phenobarbital treatment) as well as liver failure and death from acetaminophen.

Click over to read the whole thing and find out what you need to check with your vet.

Seizures in Dogs: Dogs With Epilepsy

I recently had an email from a former client who has a dog that suffers from seizures.Percy is a 4 year old yellow Lab with epilepsy. He has been on traditional ant-seizure medication, and is not responding very well now. He is suffering from seizures once a month, even on the highest doses of these medications.My former client asked me if there was anything she could do at home, holistically. She wants to avoid conventional medications as much as she can. So I sent her the information in this article. You may not have a seizuring pet, but you should be aware of the signs and possible solutions.Seizures in DogsThe signs of seizures vary, but they generally include some of the following symptoms. Loss or derangement of consciousness, contractions of all the muscles in the body, changes in mental awareness (from non-responsiveness to hallucinations), involuntary urination, defecation, or salivation, or behavioral changes, including non-recognition of owner, viciousness, pacing, and running in circles. Seizures consist of three parts:1) The pre-ictal phase (aura) is a period of altered behavior in which the dog may hide, appear nervous, or seek out his owner. He may be restless, nervous, whining, shaking, or salivating. This may last a few seconds to a few hours.2) The ictal phase is the actual seizure itself. This lasts from a few seconds to about five minutes. During this period, all of the muscles of the body contract strongly. The dog usually falls on his side and seems paralyzed while shaking. His head will be drawn backward. Urination, defecation, and salivation often occur. If it is not over within five minutes, the dog is said to be in ‘status epilepticus’ or prolonged seizure.3) During the post-ictal phase, there is confusion, disorientation, salivation, pacing, restlessness, and/or temporary blindness. There is no direct correlation between the severity of the seizure and the duration of the post-ictal phase. Despite the dramatic signs of a seizure, the dog feels no pain, only bewilderment. Unlike with us humans, dogs do not swallow their tongues. If you put your fingers into his mouth, you’re not going to help! You will run a VERY high risk of being bitten – and bitten very badly. Do NOT place your hands in his mouth. The important thing is to keep your dog from falling and hurting himself. As long as he is on the floor (or outside on the ground), there is little chance that he will harm himself. If the seizure continues for longer than a few minutes, his body temperature will begin to rise. If hyperthermia (over heating) develops along with a seizure, you will have another set of problems. Prolonged Seizure (Status Epilepticus) Status epilepticus is very serious. It is characterized by a seizure that lasts more than five minutes. When this occurs, your dog’s life is in danger. Unless intravenous medication is given quickly, death can occur. If your dog is in this state, you should IMMEDIATELY take him in for emergency veterinary care.Causes of SeizuresThere are many, many causes of seizures. Epilepsy is the most common reason and of least consequence to the dog. The other extreme includes severe diseases such as brain tumors. Fortunately, most seizures are due to epilepsy.Possible SolutionsWhen a seizure occurs, we begin by taking a thorough history concentrating on possible exposure to poisonous or hallucinogenic substances or history of head trauma. We also perform a physical examination, a basic battery of blood tests, and an electrocardiogram (EKG). These tests rule out disorders of the liver, kidneys, heart, electrolytes, and blood sugar level. A heartworm test is performed if your dog is not taking heartworm preventative very regularly. If these tests are normal and there is no exposure to poison or recent trauma, further diagnostics may be performed depending on the severity and frequency of the seizures. Occasional seizures are of less concern than when the seizures are becoming more severe and frequent. In this instance, a spinal fluid tap and fluid analysis may be performed. Depending on availability, specialized imaging of the head with a CAT scan or MRI might be performed. Fortunately, these additional tests are usually not needed.To The Veterinarian:We generally prescribe 1-2 weeks of anticonvulsant therapy. If there are no more seizures during that time, the anticonvulsants are gradually discontinued. The next treatment is determined by how long it takes for another seizure to occur. That may be days, months, or years. At some point, many dogs have seizures frequently enough to justify continuous anticonvulsant therapy. Since that means that medication must be given every 12 to 24 hours for the rest of the dog’s life, we do not recommend that until seizures occur about every 30 days or unless they last more than five minutes.It is important to avoid sudden discontinuation of any anticonvulsant medication. Even normal dogs may be induced to seizure if placed on anticonvulsant medication and then abruptly withdrawn from it. Your veterinarian can outline a schedule for discontinuing the medication.Hypoallergenic Diet:There are reports that show a link between diet and seizures in dogs. Every seizuring pet should at least try a commercial hypoallergenic diet for 12 weeks. You can also make your own elimination diet.Melatonin:This has been used an anticonvulsant for some dogs. Many dogs only have seizures at night.Homeopathic:Cicuta virosa. This can be given to control seizures.Serenity:Many pets with epilepsy will seizure in response to certain stimuli, such as loud noises or bright lights. Get to know what triggers your pet’s seizures, and avoid these situations.Try the above solutions to see what works for your dog. Note how I mention diet as a possibility: if you are not feeding your pet a quality premium NATURAL food, make the switch NOW. This will help with more than just seizures – this will help in almost all areas of disease. Do what you can! Become a member of my Inner Circle and stay up to date with ways to treat your dog at home. See the link to my site, theonlinevet, below. Until next time…

How to Treat Convulsions, Fits or Seizures in Dogs « How To 101

Convulsions or fits are usually called seizures by veterinarians. They are rela­tively common and have many causes. These causes can be due to problems outside the brain such as toxins, low blood glucose or liver problems. They can also be due to a problem within the brain itself such as epilepsy, encephalitis or tumours. Seizures can be generalised and cause unconsciousness, rigid limbs, continuous, violent, limb movements or ‘paddling’, salivation or froth­ing at the mouth and possibly urination or defecation. Partial seizures vary greatly but usually involve involuntary movements such as facial twitching or changes in behaviour. Sometimes a seizure may just be an episode of staring into space. Prior to a seizure, a period called the aura, the dog may be anxious and behave abnormally. Similarly once a dog has recovered from a seizure, they may be disoriented and are often very hungry or thirsty. They may even appear blind, behave very strangely and sometimes seem demented. This is called the post-ictal period and can last for hours or days, even after only a short seizure.

Seizures are upsetting for onlookers, especially if it is the first time that you have seen one. If your dog has a seizure for the first time, the cause may not be obvious, or there may be evidence that they have ingested a toxin, in which case you should take them to your veterinarian immediately. Seizures may occur due to low blood sugar or hypoglycaemia in diabetic dogs that have had an insulin overdose. They can also occur in young puppies that have not eaten regularly enough or have been vomiting. They can also be caused by the artificial sweetner, Xylitol. If you suspect that the seizure has been caused by low blood sugar you should rub some honey or another sweet substance on the dog’s gums, being very careful to avoid being bitten, and take them to your veterinarian immediately.

If they recover from the seizure, offer them something to eat and then take them to your veterinarian. When the cause for the seizure is not obvious you should take your dog to your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Regardless of the cause for the seizure you should move any objects such as furniture away from the dog so that they do not hurt themselves. You should not try to comfort or hold the dog as they are usually unconscious and the movements are involuntary. Similarly, do not try to rouse the dog. A seizure will last as long as it is going to last and talking to, yelling at or shaking the dog will not stop it. You should also not put your hand in their mouth as the dog may bite you involuntarily. Dogs rarely swallow their tongue or even bite it. You can start to comfort the dog once they start to recover.

If your dog has been diagnosed with a seizure disorder such as epilepsy and perhaps is on anticonvulsant medication, a seizure may not be as surprising or upsetting and the cause is usually more obvious. So there may be less urgency to see your veterinarian. However, you should take your dog to a veterinarian if a seizure lasts more than 90 seconds. Seizures typically feel much longer than they actually are so you should time this. Sometimes seizures will be continuous without the dog recovering and this can be very dangerous as it can cause the body to overheat and damage the brain. You should also take your dog to a veterinarian if your dog has more than two seizures in quick succession. If your dog is having a continuous seizure or is having seizures one after another you should try to keep them cool while you transport them to your veterinarian. Spray their coat with cool water or cover them with a wet towel and turn your car’s air conditioning onto maximum or open the windows.

It is also very important to make the environment as safe as possible for dogs with a seizure disorder so that they do not injure themselves if they do have a seizure or during the post-ictal period when they are very disoriented. Swimming pools and other bodies of water are especially dangerous as a dog can drown during a seizure. Cliffs and other heights where a dog may fall are also dangerous. These areas should be secured so that a dog with a seizure disorder cannot access them.

You may have medication to give your dog if they have a prolonged seizure at home. This may be a drug such as Valium (diazepam) that can be administered rectally. In my opinion this is not warranted unless the seizure has been continuing for longer than 90 seconds, however your veterinarian may have given you specific instructions for your dog. You can draw the Valium up into a syringe. The outside of the syringe can be lubri­cated with water-based lubricant and gently inserted into the anus. The plunger is then depressed and the contents evacuated into the rectum where it is quickly absorbed. Your veterinarian may also have instructed you to give your dog’s regular anticonvulsant medication early, as an additional dose or at an increased dose on days when your dog has had a seizure. This is usually very safe but can cause some sedation and drowsiness. If the additional medication is not controlling the seizures or if you have to continue giving additional medication for 48 hours because of ongoing seizures, your dog should be seen by your veterinarian. You should not try to give any oral medication to your dog while they are having a seizure.

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4. How to Treat Heatstroke in a Dog


5. How to Treat Hypothermia in a Dog


6. Stray Dogs and the Cycle of Broken Bonds


7. How to Treat Autistic Disorder


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Dog Seizures - Guide On Seizures In Dogs

Overview of Seizures in Dogs

Watching your dog during a seizure can be a very stressful experience. However, by understanding the definition, causes and treatment for seizures in your dog, it’s possible to find an effective treatment procedure for this condition. There are many different types of seizures that may affect dogs, each of which have several defining traits.

Types of Seizures in Dogs

1. Generalized (also called Tonic Clonic) Seizures

This type of seizure may be either “Mild” or “Grand Mal” (severe). In the “Tonic” phase of this seizure, a dog typically loses its balance and immediately extends its limbs. This usually continues for roughly 20-30 seconds before the next phase (the “Clonic” phase) begins. In the Clonic Phase, a dog will begin a “running in place” motion, which may be combined with contraction of the jaw muscles.

2. Petit Mal Seizures

This type of seizure is fairly rare in dogs. Petit Mal seizures are characterized by upward rotation of the eyes and brief unconsciousness. There is still some debate among veterinarians about the occurrence and classification of Petit Mal Seizures.

3. Partial Seizures

A Partial Seizure will typically only involve one area of a dog’s body. This may include uncontrollable spasms of a single lib, facial muscle contractions, or slight jerking of the muscles. It is possible for a Partial Seizure to progress to a Generalized Seizure.

4. Complex Partial Seizures

Complex Partial Seizures involve the frequency of complex behavioral traits that are repeated with each seizure. This may involve sensory or visual sensations that will cause strange behavior in a dog. Biting of limbs, hysterical running, aggression and smacking of the lips are other common behaviors that are associated with Complex Partial Seizures.

5. Status Epilepticus

This defines a seizure that lasts longer than five minutes, and may end up to being up to 30 minutes in length. It’s possible for several seizures to occur, with no period of coherency in between. It’s difficult to discern between this type of seizure and Cluster Seizures, though both are considered to be life-threatening.

6. Cluster Seizures

This type of seizure involves the mutiple occurrence of several seizures during a single episode. It’s possible that Cluster Seizures may be confused with Status Epilepticus.

The Three Stages of Seizures in Dogs

When experiencing a seizure, an affected dog will typically go through three separate stages.

1. Pre-Ictal Phase

This is a period of time before the actual seizure in which a dog’s behavior will begin to be affected. This may include nervousness, trembling, constant salivation or incessant whining. The period of time in which this phase lasts is uncertain. Sometimes the Pre-Ictal phase may last for several seconds, or it may continue for a few hours.

2. Ictal Phase

This phase is characterized by the actual onset of the seizure. Most seizures usually last from a few seconds to several minutes. If this phase continues for longer than five minutes, it’s called “status epilepticus”, also known as a prolonged seizure. During this phase, a dog’s muscles will visibly contract in an uncontrollable spastic motion. Most dogs may fall over during this period, appearing stiff-legged and paralyzed while convulsing. Sometimes a dog may lose control of their bowels or salivary glands during this phase.

3. Post-Ictal Phase

This is the period of time after the seizure where a dog’s behavior is still abnormal. A dog in the Post-Ictal phase may appear disoriented, confused, and be salivating excessively. Temporary blindness may also occur during this phase.

Read More

Phenobarbital for Dogs

Phenobarbital is used for dogs with epilepsy. Canine Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain where abnormal electrical activity triggers further uncoordinated nerve transmission. This uncoordinated and haphazard nerve tissue activity scrambles messages to the muscles of your dog’s body and the coordinated use of the muscles is then inhibited.

Because there are many causes of chronic recurrent seizures in dogs, canine epilepsy is not a specific disease or even a single syndrome, but rather a diverse category of disorders. Canine Epilepsy is broadly divided into idiopathic and symptomatic disorders. Idiopathic Epilepsy, also called primary epilepsy, means that there is no identifiable brain abnormality other than seizures.

Phenobarbital is a barbiturate and a nonselective central nervous system depressant. Seizures are caused when the balance of excitation and inhibition in the neurons of the brain is disturbed. Phenobarbital works by increasing the action of GABA (the inhibitory neurotransmitter) and it also appears to inhibit the release of glutamate (an excitatory neurotransmitter) from nerve endings.

The common side effects of Phenobarbital are excessive hunger, excessive thirst, excessive urination, lethargy and ataxia (hind end weakness). It is not uncommon for some patients to demonstrate depression or sedation when Phenobarbital therapy is initiated. These effects are usually transient and resolve as the patient acclimates to the medication. If these side effects do not resolve, or if they are extremely pronounced, talk to your veterinarian.

Less common, but more serious side effects of Phenobarbital are scarring of the liver and liver failure that can be irreversible. Monitoring liver function while using Phenobarbital is vitally important.

Rarely, anemia (lack of red blood cells) can occur with Phenobarbital exposure.
I have listed some links where you can get the medication for your dog. Just thought that you might want a little more information about the medicine before giving it to your dog. Just a habit I have of researching the medicine before giving it to a loved one whether it is 2 legged or 4 legged.

For more information in Phenobarbital for Dogs and diet effects in dog seizures.

Barking dogs, seizures and the Fourth Amendment

There is no deprivation of liberty under the Fourth Amendment if you’re served with a pre-arraignment, non-felony summons requiring nothing more than a court appearance. That’s the holding of the Second Circuit in a case arising from a dog that was barking its head off.

The case is Burg v. Gosselin, decided on January 7. Prior to this court ruling, the Court of Appeals had never taken up the issue of whether a non-felony summons requiring a later court appearance was a “seizure” under the Constitution. While the federal courts recognize that restrictive conditions of pretrial release on a felony charge constitute a Fourth Amendment seizure, the question here is whether that policy applies for less serious offenses. Taking the lead from other Circuit courts, the Second Circuit (Jacobs, Leval and Daniels [D.J.]), sides with the government on this one and dismisses the Section 1983 case.

It all started when the dog control officer in East Hampton, Connecticut, issued Burg a summons requiring her to appear in court at a later time. The summons invoked a Connecticut law which says you cannot own or harbor a dog that barks excessively or creates a disturbance or is “a source of annoyance to any sick person residing in the immediate vicinity.” Burg sued the dog control officer under Section 1983, claiming the summons was a seizure under the Fourth Amendment.

Some district court cases sided with plaintiffs like Burg. Those cases are now overruled. While the Second Circuit held in Murphy v. Lynn, 118 F.3d 938 (2d Cir. 1997) that future court appearances and significant travel restrictions as a condition of post-arraignment release constitute a “seizure,” this case isn’t Murphy. Rather, “this summons does no more than require Burg to appear in court on a single occasion, and operates to effectuate due process. There is no restriction in travel, which mattered in Murphy. Moreover, in Murphy, there were eight court appearances, not the single appearance required by the summons issued by Gosselin. … Finally, Burg’s alleged offense was an infraction, and the summons thus does not impose the burdens … that are imposed when ‘a person faces serious criminal charges.’”

Seizure Dogs

Seizure Dogs

They are an alarm system. They are helpers, protectors and service providers. So-called seizure response dogs can be all these things – and more.

The term “seizure dog” covers a variety of activities associated with a service dog’s response to an epileptic seizure. Some dogs have been trained to bark or otherwise alert families when a child has a seizure while playing outside or in another room. Some dogs learn to lie next to someone having a seizure to prevent injury. Others are said to be able to activate alarm systems. Dogs that are trained to respond in various ways when someone has a seizure are no different from service dogs for other disabilities. Public interest in seizure assistance dogs has fueled demand for dogs with these skills. Some people with epilepsy have found that trained seizure dogs help them with securing speedy assistance when a seizure occurs or alerting others for help. Dogs can be trained as service animals for people with seizures and the law protects a person’s right to use the animal in any public place.

Read the Epilepsy Foundation’s statement on Seizure “Predicting” Dogs and learn about the Rights of Individuals with Service Dogs

Questions and Answers: Seizure Dogs

What is a seizure dog?

A seizure dog is a dog that has been trained (or has learned) to respond to a seizure in someone who has epilepsy.

Is “seizure dog” the official name?

It is the name that is most often used. Some people distinguish between dogs that respond to someone who is having a seizure (seizure response dog) and dogs that appear to know when a seizure is going to occur (seizure predicting dog).

What do seizure dogs do?

A response dog might be trained to bark when a child has a seizure so that family members know what is happening. Or, a seizure dog may put its body in between the seizing individual and the floor to break the fall at the inception of a seizure. Some seizure dogs may even be trained to activate some kind of pre-programmed device such as a pedal that rings an alarm.

 How can someone get a seizure dog?

It depends what your goals are. If you are looking for a seizure response dog, you can discuss what you want the dog to do and work out a plan with a trainer. However, getting a dog with the special skill of recognizing seizures in advance is another matter. Any claims by trainers that they can produce this type of behavior in a dog should be looked at very carefully, especially when the training is expensive. While some people report success, others have been disappointed. More research is needed to better understand what dogs can and cannot do, whether there are differences between breeds, and how best to develop this unique skill.

Read the personal story of a boy and his seizure dog.

Spencer calls his seizure dog, Lucia, his best friend. His mother calls Lucia, “an extra set of eyes and ears.” Read more about Lucia & Spencer’s personal story.

Seizures in Dogs and HeartGard Plus Heartworm Medication

In May of 2009, our 6 ½ yr old Golden Retriever: Lola, experienced the first of her many seizures. It was so very frightening, seeing her first seizure. I had never seen an animal or human experiencing a seizure and I thought our precious Lola was having a stroke and dying in front of my helpless eyes… Lola was about to eat her morning breakfast and suddenly stopped and, looking dazed and confused, she keeled over onto her side while at the same time emitting saliva from her mouth, combined with a hacking cough, and a groaning sound, she would then move her legs in a very fast and convulsive manner, as if she were running quickly… she had no control over her urination and when she came out of the seizure, she would spend hours being very clingy, seemingly not wanting to be left alone. That entire scene would soon repeat itself, on an average every five days for the next year…

In utter desperation, I researched online every symptom that Lola was experiencing. I eventually came to the conclusion that the common denominator with other dog owners was that we all were using Frontline Plus Flea & Tick and Heartgard Plus heartworm medications. Researching further, I found that these very popular and veterinarians’ highly recommended remedies were, in fact, comprised of pesticides, which the manufacturer includes as a main ingredient in order to kill fleas, ticks, worms, etc… Depending upon the size and breed of your dog, continuous use of these pesticides can be poisonous to your pet, causing seizures and possible death.

After charting every seizure for more than nine months, I decided to stop giving Lola her flea and tick medication. Her seizures became less frequent, however they still continued.

In May of 2010, one year after experiencing her first seizure, Lola experienced a very frightening seizure which led to her falling down a flight of stairs in our house… Blood emitted from her mouth (I was just very thankful that she had not broken any bones in her legs or neck!), and it led me to finally stopping ALL medications, including her heartworm medication. I figured I had nothing to lose…

The seizures immediately stopped and have not returned to date: May 3, 2012.

In conjunction with completely stopping the above-mentioned medications, I have been giving Lola daily drops of an herbal supplement called PetAlive EaseSure, which is advertised to help sooth the brain, and nervous system. It can be purchased online at:

http://www.onlynaturalpet.com (Amazon.com also sells this product) along with other natural and holistic products including natural flea and tick remedies and shampoos. I do not know with 100% certainty that  PetAlive EaseSure works in easing/eliminating seizures in pets, or if it is just a coincidence, but I am not going to take the chance by stopping the use of this product. 

I do know with 100% certainty that Lola’s seizures stopped immediately when I stopped using the HeartGard Plus heartworm medication, and she had been seizure-free for the past two years, and she is now 9 ½ years old. 

I do not deny that this medication and the above-mentioned Frontline Plus flea & tick medication, may both be very effective in the early years of an animal’s life in helping to prevent heartworm and flea & tick infestation, however serious thought should be given to researching the possible term limitation of prescribing and recommending these medications once a dog lives past a certain age. In the case of Lola, it seems five (5) years should have been her limit, and such a study might reveal different ages for different breeds.  

If you have any questions about my experiences, please feel free to contact me, Russ Considine, at: russconsidine@gmail.com 

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.

Two Pit Bulls Kill 24-year-old Kelli Chapman

Seizures In Dogs: The 5 Most Important Natural Remedies

If your dog has epilepsy, then you really should be looking at some of the alternative remedies for treating seizures. Conventional treatment typically consists of 2 veterinary drugs, Phenobarbital and Potassium bromide, which both have numerous side effects. This article will cover the types of seizures in dogs, causes, and the most important natural remedies.

A seizure is defined as abnormal muscle activity, as a result of uncontrolled messages from the brain. There is a sudden, brief change in how your dog’s brain is working. When the brain cells are not working properly, your dog has the physical changes called a seizure.

Dog seizures are classified as either grand mal seizures, or localized. Grand mal seizures affect your dog’s entire body. Generally the legs are extended and paddling and the head is rigid and extended. They may go through cycles of being stiff then relaxed. Some dogs may lose bowel/bladder control, and if the seizure occurs at night, this is all you may see in the morning. Localized seizures affect only certain areas of your dog’s body. Typically you may see their head shake or their jaw chatter.

In the majority of cases the cause of the seizure is unknown, and it is then called epilepsy. Some of the other possible causes include: cancer (i.e. brain tumor), infections, brain trauma, poisoning, low blood sugar, hypothyroidism. Your veterinarian can discuss a variety of diagnostic tests such as blood work, x-rays, CT scan, MRI, Spinal fluid tap.

The age at which the seizure starts will give you a fairly good idea as to the underlying cause. For pets less than 1 year old, most are caused by brain infections (i.e. meningitis); some dogs though will develop epilepsy as puppies. For pets between the ages of 1-5, the most common diagnosis and seizure cause is epilepsy. If your pet has his first seizure over the age of 5, the most common cause is a brain tumor.

There are reports that show a link between diet and seizures in dogs. One human study showed a marked reduction in seizure activity with patients on the Atkins diet. Every seizuring pet should at least try a commercial hypoallergenic diet for 12 weeks. Most alternative practitioners are strongly advising a holistic diet, naturally preserved, free of grains, and primarily animal protein.

There is one acupressure point that can be particularly helpful. GV26 is the most important one, as it can help stop a seizure. It is where the nose meets the upper lip (immediately below the nostrils). This is a key one for CPR, as it can trigger your pet to breathe, and for seizures. Hold the point for 1 minute during a seizure.

Essential Fatty Acids may potentially decrease brain inflammation. Here you want to have high doses and therapeutic levels of the the EFA’s; the dose being 1000mg per 10lbs of body weight daily. That equates to 1 tablespoon of flax oil per 50lbs daily.

There are 2 homeopathic remedies that have been reported to be helpful by some holistic practitioners. Belladona can be given twice daily in addition to the conventional medication; the dose being one 30C tab per 30lbs twice daily. Aconite is useful for sudden conditions ( such as during a seizure), dosing it at one 30C tab per 30lbs every 15 minutes.

Choline is used for certain human nerve disorders; it helps make a nerve chemical called acetylcholine. A specific choline product that can help seizures in dogs is called Cholidin. It can be given with conventional medication, at a dose of 1-2 pills daily for a small dog, and 2-4 pills given daily for a large dog.

You should now have a good understanding of seizures in dogs, and the classification of grand mal or localized. Most causes of seizures are unknown; they are then called epilepsy. If you have a seizuring dog, I encourage you to try some of the holistic options in conjunction with your veterinarian. You may be able to decrease the frequency of the seizures, or lower the amount of conventional medication.

Author Resource:- Dr Andrew Jones is the author of a NEW Free Ebook, Dog Health Secrets, which gives you over 100 safe, natural and effective at home remedies to solve your dog’s health problems quickly and easily at home. He reveals what Vaccines to AVOID and what to give, The BEST food to feed, plus HOW to save money on veterinary fees. Your FREE Dog Health Secrets Book is here.

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Article From Niche Articles Live

The Amazing Things that Dogs (and Kids) Can Do

I have just started reading the wonderful book, Dog Sense, by John Bradshaw, in which Bradshaw discusses (among many other topics) how science can help redefine dogs’ roles in our lives. We may not need our dogs to help us hunt and herd livestock in our daily lives these days. But as we learn more about their incredible capabilities, dogs are taking on ever more specialized tasks. Three wonderful examples came to the forefront as I watched the news and my Facebook account this past week.

We’ve all heard of drug-sniffing and bomb-sniffing dogs – but a sperm-sniffing dog? Apparently, a Swiss K-9 named Rapports Opus is specially trained to detect sperm. Rapports Opus recently caught the scent of sperm at a crime scene in a Swiss park where a woman claimed a man had forced her to perform oral sex on him. Officers sent the evidence for testing, and the DNA in the sample matched that of the 23-year-old suspect. The suspect has been apprehended, and is currently facing trial on rape charges. That is one impressive dog!  Thanks very much to Nan Arthur of Whole Dog Training and Christy Hill of Coaching Creative Canines for posting this story.

Speaking of K-9s, a local K-9 unit recently lost a hero. Lightcap, a bomb sniffing K-9 with the Fairfax County Police Department, served from 2006 to 2011. Not even cancer kept this dedicated K-9 down, with Lightcap continuing his service during his final year even while battling the disease. Lightcap not only sniffed bombs, but also performed work such as finding shell casings at the scene of shootings. Lightcap passed on July 14 of this year. May this hero rest in peace. Special thanks to Lesley Sullivan of The Pawkeepers for bringing this story to my attention.

Of course, law enforcement is not the only area where dogs use their specially honed detection skills. Service dogs are becoming more and more prevalent, including service dogs who can detect seizures. Evan Moss, a seven-year-old boy here in Northern Virginia, suffers from epilepsy, which is causing severe and debilitating seizures. Evan recently heard about seizure detection dogs. He and his parents realize that a seizure detection dog would be life-altering for Evan, and contacted 4 Paws for Ability. The only problem is the price tag — $ 13,000. So what did Evan do? He wrote a book called “My Seizure Dog,” in which he describes all the wonderful things he will be able to do with the aid of his special service dog. Evan’s book is $ 10, and you can purchase it online at CreateSpace.com or Amazon. You can also make a donation Evan’s fund with 4 Paws for Ability. Evan also has a website, Dog 4 Evan.  If you would like to meet Evan in person, he is having a book signing today from 1:00 to 3:00 at the Grounded Coffee Shop at 6919 Telegraph Road in Fairfax County, Virginia. What a special child! Best of luck to you, Evan! Thanks to the Washington Post for highlighting Evan’s story in this weekend’s Metro section.

UPDATE (7/25/11):  Congratulations, Evan!  The Washington Post reports that 600 people went to his booksigning at Grounded Coffee, 400 books sold (that’s $ 4000 right there!).  And donations are still pouring in.  The donation link to Evan’s website, www.dog4Evan.com, shows he has over $ 7,000 raised now!  Looks like Evan will have his seizure alert dog, and hopefully very soon!

UPDATE (7/27/11):  Evan will be getting his service dog!  He reached his goal of $ 13,000 – and the donations are still rolling in!  Plus, Evan’s book is #1 on Amazon for bestsellers in Children’s health books! Congratulations, Evan!

UPDATE (8/2/11):  Evan has raised over $ 20,000!  Not only will he get his dog, the extra funds will go to two other deserving children who need service dogs!  Check out today’s Washington Post update for more info on this fantastic story.

Categories: Media, Pounds, Animal Control Officers and Law Enforcement | Tags: ADA, criminal law, just for fun, K-9, kudos, service animals | Permalink.

Author: Heidi Meinzer

Attorney and Animal Lover, not necessarily in that order

Epilepsy in Dogs | Paws Around Berkshire

Posted by Sue, on July 27th, 2012

One morning many years ago while out walking our dogs, I noticed our 4 year old Collie Cross, Baron, was lying on the ground, apparently wriggling around. Convinced he was rolling in something unsavoury I marched over to stop him and discovered to my horror that he was having some kind of seizure. Terrified, I held him gently until it passed, then walked him slowly home and rushed him to the vet. In the surgery waiting room, Baron fell to the floor and had another fit and the vet confirmed what I was already thinking; my dog had developed epilepsy.

Often there is no apparent reason why a dog develops this frightening condition. Sometimes it is the result of minor brain damage due to a blow on the head or as a result of oxygen starvation during birth, occasionally, it can be inherited. In some cases, a link has also be suggested between epilepsy and chemical toxins including vaccinations, which is why many people now believe that we should not vaccinate our pets so frequently. However, because seizures usually start many years after the damage occurs, it is often not easy to make a connection. Baron was a rescue puppy so, while I was pretty sure he hadn’t ever seriously bumped his head, I had no idea about his birth or heritage.

The only real option available for an epileptic dog is to give him/her daily medication to control the seizures. Finding the right drug and dose can be a hit and miss affair and it can take some time to find the best combination to help control the seizures. Sadly, In Baron’s case, by the time he was taking sufficient medication to limit the number and severity of the seizures to a manageable level, he was also so doped up with drugs he could barely stand up. Additionally, our other dog became very ‘unsettled’ by Baron’s seizures, particularly after an attack when Baron would often stumble around unsteadily and clearly disorientated. To our GSD, this behaviour was unbalanced and he started showing some signs of aggression towards Baron, which meant that we could no longer risk leaving them alone together.

After months of experimentation with various cocktails of drugs, we finally made the sad and difficult decision that Baron’s life was no longer a happy one, and that it was kinder to let him go. However, in many cases, although your dog is unlikely to ever be cured, careful use of medication can limit the frequency and severity of seizures so that he/she is able to lead a full, happy and healthy life.

If you have a dog that is suffering from epilepsy, especially if he/she has only recently been diagnosed, you may also be interested in looking at the detailed information and advice available on the Canine Epilepsy site: Canine Epilepsy

Seizures in Dogs

If you have ever seen a seizure occur in an animal or a human, then I don’t need to tell you how stressful it can be. Most people feel helpless and frightened when they witness a seizure, especially if it’s the first time. Unfortunately, seizure disorders in dogs are all too common. Whether or not your dog has had a seizure in the past, it is essential that you educate yourself. If your dog ever has a seizure, knowledge may be the thing that saves her life.

Not all dogs that experience seizures are epileptics. In fact, there are a number of causes for seizures. Some can be cured while others are able to be medically managed. Take the time today to learn about seizures in dogs. It could make all the difference tomorrow.

Have you had a dog with seizures? Tell us about your experience.

Epilepsy In Dogs

√ Epilepsy in Dogs
Help your dog get relief from epilepsy. Discover the secret of how magnotherapy can help epilepsy in dogs

Epilepsy Causes in Dogs – Buzzle
Epilepsy causes in dogs are discussed in the following article that will provide you an insight about this frightening dog health condition.

Epilepsy in the Dog – Vetrica OnLine Home Page
The treatment of epilepsy in the dog. … Castration reduces the incidence of epilepsy, and so epileptic male dogs ought to be neutered.

How to Get Help for Dogs with Canine Epilepsy – wikiHow
How to Get Help for Dogs with Canine Epilepsy. Canine epilepsy is a chronic condition characterized by recurrent seizures. Watching a beloved pet in the …

Dog Epilepsy
Some 3 percent of dogs have idiopathic epilepsy, meaning there’s no known cause. These account for 80 percent of epileptic seizures.

Canine Epilepsy Resources
Living with our Special Dogs. Emma’s Story “The Face of Canine Epilepsy” : Marion Mitchell; The Fear Inside Us: The Fears of Epilepsy: Roy Dvorak

Epilepsy In The News
Epilepsy Foundation and Epilepsy Therapy Project Announce Merger to Create New National Organization October 04, 2012 New Epilepsy Foundation to Drive Education …

ADOPTING A DOG WITH EPILEPSY, Epilepsy in Dogs, 1
Adopting a Dog with Epilepsy Epileptic Dogs. Epilepsy is a genetic disease that affects more than 20 breeds of dogs today. As the incidence of inherited epilepsy …

Epilepsy in Dogs – How We Control Ours – EzineArticles Submission …
Epilepsy is the most awful disease that your pet can have. When they are having a fit there is nothing you can do to help them and makes you feel …

Epilepsy in Dogs – Squidoo : Welcome to Squidoo
Alternative Treatments – Canine epilepsy is an extremely distressing condition, both for the animal patient and for the human family but especially the family. When …

Epilepsy In Dogs – Choosing A Family Dog
Epilepsy in the dog population is estimated at .5 to 5.7. Medical treatment is generally advised for dogs with epilepsy. Successful treatment depends upon the owners …

Canine Epilepsy Network
This will allow us to positively diagnose the hereditary form and take steps to decrease the incidence of epilepsy in dogs. How common is epilepsy?

Seizures and Epilepsy in Dogs – Glendale Animal Hospital – The …
Seizures and Epilepsy in Dogs. What is A Seizure? A seizure is an external manifestation (something we can see) of abnormal, intermittent electrical activity in the …

Dog Epilepsy Symptoms – Native Remedies® – Natural Health …
Epilepsy that occurs due to an underlying disease is known as secondary epilepsy. The symptoms of epilepsy in dogs are best explained by a description of the different …

Naturally Treating Seizures in Dogs – Purely Pets – Pet Nutrition …
Brief listing of possible causes of epilepsy in pets and a natural management plan.

Epilepsy in dogs – causes symptoms and treatment
Epilepsy and dogs – the causes, types, epilepsy in dogs symptoms and epilepsy in dogs treatment

Epilepsy in Dogs – Australian Shepherd Information, Resources and …
Epilepsy in Dogs Can Have Serious Consequences. Is Dog Epilepsy Affecting Your Furry Friend?

Epilepsy Seizures in Dogs and Cats, Symptoms and Treatment
Epilepsy and Seizures in Dogs and Cats Symptoms, Causes and Treatment for Seizures in Pets Both dogs and cats can suffer from epilepsy. Epilepsy is characterized …Epilepsy in Dogs – OrganizedWisdom Health
Links shared publicly online related to Epilepsy in Dogs … Discovery Of New Epilepsy Gene In Dogs. medicalnewstoday — “ A new epilepsy gene for idiopathic …

miniature schnauzer and seizures | Puppies & Dogs

We attended a pet or having a seizure can be frightening, especially when your pet is out of control, falls, bites, teeth, saliva, drool, complain, paddle their legs, and possibly lose control of bowel and urine. The eyes may expand (dilate) and your animal does not respond. When they saw an attack on their dog or pet, you may panic and feel helpless.

Hopefully, your dog can never have an experience of crisis. However, this information will help you understand the possible causes of the crisis, and what to do and why if your dog one, and the treatment options available.

The epilepsy in dogs is one of many causes of the crisis.

Some breeds of dogs are more prone to seizures. However, the cause of “hereditary” epilepsy is not known with certainty. Included in this group are: Keeshond, Tervueren, Cocker Spaniel, Poodle, Collie, German Shepherd, Irish Setter, Golden Retriever, Dachshund, Labrador Retriever, Saint Bernard, Miniature Schnauzer, Siberian Husky and Terrier.

Dogs with allergies to dog food with chemicals, artificial flavorings and preservatives may be having seizures.

Other causes include liver and kidney diseases, tumors, poisoning, and sugar in blood.

If your dog having a seizure, stay calm.

Although it is difficult to make a calm voice, I calm soothing comfort your dog. Pillows Remove objects that may be dangerous or damaging the dog, or place a coat or blanket between the animal and the object. Slide something soft under the head of your pet, keeping your hands and face away from the head, not risk a possible bite. Rub Gently canine hip or side, but placed on the other side of the feet and toes. Muscle spasms may relax on the feet their claws that can rake your skin. The lights dimmed. Keep the environment quiet as possible.

Write to observe details of the seizure of the dog that you inform your veterinarian.

Your vet will want to know the time of the capture came just days, the length of time of capture, time between each shot, if they are repeated, if your dog is their needs, if successful seizure contractions suddenly before body when he regained consciousness for your pet, how long before your pet appeared normal again, and if something happened that led Confiscation of dog. Are there any possible triggers such as loud noises such as fireworks, unusual items or excessive ingestion activity or exercise?

Some veterinarians will want to see if your dog experiences a later attack.

Some analysis of blood immediately, control of anemia, liver and heart function, calcium, glucose and electrolyte levels. The vet can run screens toxins, taking X-rays or perform an electroencephalogram, although test results can reveal the reason for the seizure of dogs. Your vet may wait to see if the dog attack and may suggest other medications. If the diagnosis is epilepsy, the dog has an excellent opportunity for a normal life with proper medical care and monitoring.

After the seizure, dogs usually appear lost or drugged. This state of May last a few minutes to several hours depending on the seriousness of dog attacks. Your dog may answer you, but they react slowly. The seizures are exhausting. Your dog will probably want to sleep later. Check from time to time, without disturbing your pet rest.

Eliminate the source of the crisis, you may be able to eliminate future attacks from occurring.

If your dog attacks are caused by chemical toxins, remove toxins as possible. In any case, a food quality scheme food that is free of chemical preservatives, fillers and byproducts.

Natural approaches can help some pets, either prior drugs strongest or most of them, who may be able to use lower doses.

The variety of treatment options include natural food, nutritional supplements, homeopathy, herbs, conventional drugs and acupuncture. Sometimes putting the tack auricular acupuncture in a dog will stop the crisis, which requires one acupuncture visit. Or your pet can be treated by acupuncture Traditional Chinese.

Reduce stress to your dog.

Avoid sudden changes in his environment, loud noises, and stressful situations. There are herbs that act as sedatives such as valerian root (relieves stress, anxiety and nervousness) Quiet Passion (over-stimulating the nervous system), kava (not recommended for pets who are depressed), Jews (and soothes stress, soothes spasms and induces sleep) and oat straw (heart and nerves, rich in calcium, phosphorus, vitamins B1, B2, A and E). Note that when using herbs and supplements may be necessary to reduce the dosage of other anticonvulsants.

Some products can reduce your animal seizure seizure threshold more difficult to control.

Clean your house with chemical free products, use the chips more natural, ticks and worms in the heart of prevention products. For prevention of heartworm disease course, use products containing interceptor and filaribits. Avoid products containing organophosphate insecticides. There are many natural methods to treat seizures should help your beloved dog to live a normal and comfortable.

We have existed as a company since 1985, but it was a love of dogs, the dogs that have been a part of our life, and the passing of one dog in particular, Rusty, that inspired the creation of http://www.CalloftheDog.com and http://www.CalloftheDogShop.com — created to provide the things your dogs and pets need. Visit us for great information and quality dog supplies! Be sure to see our About Us page as well.

The two sites are dedicated to the dogs we have loved so deeply, and who have given us so much love in return. Purebreds and mixed breeds, but mostly rescues in need of a home. We educated them, but each one has had something to teach us in exchange.

My Miniature Schnauzer Wesley Having A Seizure

Seizures In Dogs

√ Seizures in Dogs | Suite101
Does your dog have epilepsy, or any disease that may cause seizures? Look here to see how you can help shorten a seizure.

Seizures in dogs? – Yahoo Answers
Best Answer: I would call the vet to let them know. It may be nothing but you never know. Better be safe. … are you sure you not pulling my tail? … did …

SEIZURES – Palatine Veterinary Hospital, Vet in Deer Park, IL …
Control is defined as a dramatic decrease in, but not necessarily absence of, seizures. Dogs have metabolisms different from humans and their dose of any …

Epilepsy in animals – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This type of epilepsy is diagnosed by eliminating other possible causes for the seizures. Dogs with idiopathic epilepsy experience their first seizure between the ages of …

Seizures in Dogs – Epilepsy in Dogs – Dog Help Network
Seizures in Dogs. About 70 of dogs between the ages of 1 and 6 will suffer from seizures and epilepsy. It is important to be informed on seizures in dogs in the …

Dog Seizures | Symptoms – Pet Health | Health Information for Pets …
A typical seizure in dogs has general symptoms that dog owners should be aware of. Firstly, when your dog feels the onset of a seizure it may get a far-away look in her

IGCA : Seizures – Italian Greyhound Club of America
The results of this study were recently published in the veterinary literature as Seizure classification in dogs from a non-referral based population, written by Michael …

causes_and_treatment – Canine epilepsy and diseases that cause …
Learn about canine epilepsy and medications to contol seizures in dogs. Personal responses to your questions. Articles by leading vets.

Are Seizures in Dogs Common? – EzineArticles Submission – Submit …
Few people expect to see seizures in dogs, but they are just as susceptible as humans, and can get seizures for a variety of different reasons, from …

Dog Seizures | Seizures In Dogs Symptoms and Treatment
Dog seizures are a very real dog health problem for us dog lovers. Discover how to diagnose and treat your dog’s seizures.

Canine Epilepsy Website
If you have witnessed your dog having a seizure (convulsion), you will know how frightening it can be. Seizures are not uncommon in dogs …

Dog Epilepsy: Breeds, Types, Symptoms, Causes, Treatments
Your veterinarian will ask you to keep a log of the frequency of seizures and to provide a description of the dog’s behavior before, during, and after each seizure.

Seizure response dog – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Seizure response dogs are a special type of service dog, specifically trained to help someone who has epilepsy or a seizure disorder. Due to the differing needs …

Causes of Seizures in Dogs – Yahoo Voices – voices.yahoo
Causes of seizures in dogs are typically classified as focal seizures, generalized seizures, or focal seizures with secondary generalization. Focal seizures affect …

Seizures In Dogs, Dog Seizures, Epilepsy, Seizure Disorders
Find the root cause of seizures in dogs … don’t just mask the problem with drugs.

Seizures In Dogs And Food Allergies

Seizures In Dogs And Food Allergies

Fellow Dog Owner, If You’d Cry If Your Dog Died, Then You Need To See This!

Discover The Deadly Secret The Dog Food Industry Spends Millions To Make Sure You Never Find Out!

Seizures In Dogs And Food Allergies Feed dogs raw food is a subject that’s been debated hotly a lot by followers and critics. The actual problem which should be the topic of conversation is digesting versus fresh food for canines, and not therefore if your meals are uncooked or prepared.But due to the Seizures In Dogs And Food Allergies characteristics that characterize all of our pets, you’ll probably find as numerous different nutritional needs because there are canines on the planet. That being said, I believe that diet for pets, in order to keep your dog wholesome, ought to be according to some concepts of good sense.Number1 Theory: Only feed Seizures In Dogs And Food Allergies things that are full of top quality nutrients your dog.Number2 Theory: Your dog meals should be prepared in accordance with an exact formula that provides diet is balanced and finish.#3 Principle: To help keep Seizures In Dogs And Food Allergies both nutritive value of the food as possible so vitamins and minerals are easily absorbed through the body of her dog, serve meals refined less than possible.Principle Number4: Another way to preserve the vitamins and minerals of foods and steer clear of spoilage to lose is giving your dog immediately once the food is prepared.Actually, I’d like to listen to an explanation from anyone who disagrees with one of these good sense concepts.

Seizures In Dogs And Food Allergies

Seizures In Dogs And Food Allergies The amount to which your dog food is processed (principle #3) is in the heart of the problem. The main reason why fresh foods defends when i don’t like refined pet food a lot, is processed or dry, is the higher temps required for industrial dog food producing destroys vitamins and minerals inside it. To solve this issue, pet food manufacturers include synthetic nutritional vitamins to food, chemicals and artificial the body of a dog has a hard time taking in. Cereal InchorganicoInch or ‘natural’ to me is an oxymoron, and also have a good chuckle anytime I see individuals phrases inside a bundle of pet food simply because all the valuable vitamins and minerals that one would expect to find in organic or natural pet food are destroyed through the procedure essential to create commercial cereal.Those who nourish their dogs only raw meals reason that any kind of processing, including light food, places at dietary risk for food. On the other hand, experts of the uncooked meals diet plan would argue that dogs consuming may eat bad bacteria for example e. coli and salmonella which frequently is raw meat. There’s probably some value to each argument, but when deciding which approach to take, note what you will give to choose one diet plan alternatively.Surplus of the dog, based on dependable experts I have spoken with, is completely able to handle regular amounts of germs available in uncooked beef. However, a lot of those exact same specialists will state that only a small amount of damage occurs towards the nutrients which are much more sensitive to heat when meals are prepared slightly enough to get rid of any harmful bad bacteria.Consequently, it’s not necessary to make a decision forwards and backwards methods. Every owners should decide on their own things to feed their dogs.A great guideline Seizures In Dogs And Food Allergies to follow along with is to feed your pet food that’s been refined as little as possible. Most dogs are designed for consuming raw food that has been subjected to any process in any way.But there are some dogs who need to be given cooked meals because their methods sensitive digestive tract just can’t break down the raw meals effortlessly. Or dogs that have a high chance of obtaining sick from bad bacteria uncooked meals, should be launched and this includes in whose natural defenses have been in a destabilized Condition or canines coping with individuals with weak natural defenses. And then you have those careful dogs that insist upon eating only cooked meals. The easiest method to go with these canines should serve meals that’s been prepared.Roughly Seizures In Dogs And Food Allergies two thirds in our customers we are analyzing the report that feed their dogs uncooked food, whilst a third of these function foods to their dogs. Not just did nor group report that their canines endured health issues, but additionally noticed significant enhancements in the healthiness of their domestic pets compared to when had been fed dry pet food.Up a lather on whether it must nourish your dog prepared or raw food is unnecessary.
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