Dogs can have seizures at any age, with certain age thresholds indicating specific problems. A first seizure due to epilepsy occurs between 6 months and 5 years. Genetic factors may be the cause in dogs aged 1 to 3 years.
Significance
Always take a seizure seriously. Take a dog that suffers a seizure to a veterinarian immediately. While no test exists for epilepsy, a process of elimination will help determine the cause.
Types
A generalized seizure involves chewing and paddling the limbs. Movement is restricted to one body area in partial seizures. Multiple seizures over a short period of time are cluster seizures. Status epilepticus seizures last for 30 minutes or longer and often happen due to toxins or disease, according to Alicia Wiersma-Aylward, author of an article on canine epilepsy on K9 Web.
Causes
Besides epilepsy, brain tumors, Lyme disease, head injury, toxins, lissencephaly and hypoglycemia cause seizures in dogs, according to “Seizures in Dogs” by veterinarian Thomas A. Graves. The article initially appeared in the AKC Gazette and the Canine Epilepsy Center reprinted it on its website with his permission. Seizure frequency depends on the cause.
Numbers
Veterinarians consider seizures a common problem in dogs. Graves says idiopathic epilepsy, the most common cause of seizures in dogs, occurs in 0.5 to 5.7 percent of canines.
Treatment
Once the veterinarian identifies the cause of a seizure, he will attempt to treat the problem. Anticonvulsant drugs help to control future seizures.
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