RSSThe Reasons Why Dogs Have Seizures
Jul 20
Dog Information animals, canine epilepsy, dog, Dog Information, Dog Nutrition, dog seizures, dogs, home, labrador retrievers, pet, pet diseases, pet health, pet nutrition, pets, yellow labs No Comments
People in England use the term “fits” to describe what happens to a person when their brain loses control over the body. However, these episodes are more widely known as “seizures” in America. The purpose of this article is to provide a brief summary as to some of the many causes of dog seizures.
EPILEPSY. The primary cause of dog seizures is epilepsy, but it is important to make the distinction that not all seizures are attributable to epilepsy. The definition of epilepsy was discovered by some people who were on a walk in the woods and happened upon a wolf that was throwing fits, looking as if he were doing some odd dance on a path in the woods. This group told the rangers and since the group was considered a group of idiots, the term used to describe this type of seizure is idiopathic epilepsy. So this story is not completely true, but it sure is more exciting than the real scientific story about how the term was created. Basically, the term “idiopathic epilepsy” really describes any case when a dog has seizures and the experts can’t seem to pinpoint the reason why they are having them.
TOXINS. There are a lot of different types of toxins that dogs can become in contact with or ingest that will cause them to have seizures. Toxins can be anything from a household cleaning product, somethings used to kill pests or even things like flea medication that is meant to be used on a dog. Other things that are toxins that can bring about seizures, include paint, insecticides and antifreeze, which are also products that can be fatal. With early treatment and intervention, most animals have a good to fair prognosis of making a full recovery if they have a seizure as a result of an environmental poisoning.
BRAIN TUMORS. One thing that any vet will want to rule out first when a dog has a seizure is the presence of a brain tumor or abnormal growth in the brain. Growths cause pressure on the brain tissue, which in turn can cause seizures and other neurological abnormalities. Fortunately, there are diagnostic tests (MRI or CAT scans) that can determine if that is the problem; however, only a very small percentage of dog seizures are caused by tumors or head injuries. In either case, anti-epileptic drugs would not be effective for dogs suffering from seizures caused by either of them.
TICK INDUCED DISEASES. The bite of the bloodsucking arachnid known as a tick can cause Lyme Disease or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, both of which can cause dog seizures. If the tick is discovered within the first 24 hours after it has attached itself to the dog, the chance of infection is greatly reduced. There are antibiotics that can kill Lyme Disease, and most dogs respond quite well in general to antibiotics.
DISTEMPER. Distemper, in which a fever develops, then diarrhea and dehydration, can cause seizures in dogs, especially puppies, when they lose their maternal antibodies at about the age of 3 months. This is why it is vital to get your dog vaccinations as soon as possible, because vaccinations are the only way to prevent this disease – unfortunately once a dog gets it, it is in many cases fatal.
Sandra DeMers is the author of “Cory’s Story,” the story of a yellow Labrador retriever suffering from dog seizures that will absolutely AMAZE you. Cory is alive, happy and healthy at the age of 13 and hasn’t had a seizure in over 5 years. Visit www.corysstory.com to learn Sandra’s secret to good canine health–you’ll be surprised when you learn the truth.
categories: dog seizures,canine epilepsy,yellow labs,dog nutrition,pet health,pet nutrition,pet diseases,labrador retrievers,dogs,dog,pets,pet,animals,home
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