Do pets have seizures?

Good morning. I received an excellent question regarding seizures in pets. These events are usually quite alarming to pet owners because of the sudden onset and unpredictability. As veterinarians, we usually examine a clinically normal pet that has had a seizure episode, so it is important for pet owners to know about seizures so together we can establish more closely what is going on and what we can do about them.

First let’s clear up some terminology. A seizure is the clinical manifestation of abnormal nerve hyperactivity involving the cerebral cortex neurons of the brain. In other words, things go wacko in the brain for a short time. Epilepsy is the term to describe recurrent seizures that occur without some disease process identifiable in the body, either in the brain or other body system. Status epilepticus (I’m going to teach you some Latin) is the term to describe a continuous seizure episode that lasts over 30 minutes or a cluster of seizures where there is no normal recovery between seizures. Status epilepticus is a true emergency. Get your pet to a veterinarian if this is occurring,

The signs of a seizure are variable and close observation of what is occurring will help your veterinarian with the diagnosis. Generalized seizures are the most common with the pet on their side, legs stiff or paddling, chomping of the jaws, drooling, loosing bowel or bladder control or any combination of the above. Seizures last for a few moments or longer. The recovery period can last from a few moments to hours and behavioral changes often are noticed such as disorientation, weakness, blindness, abnormal urination or defecation habits, increased thirst or appetite. These changes are often the only signs that are observed by a pet owner and suggest that a seizure has occurred.

Partial seizures, while rare, can affect a localized area of the nervous system and can be seen as twitches, compulsive chewing or licking or biting at “flies”.

The causes of seizures are varied and can be primary to lesions in the brain or secondary to metabolic disturbances or toxins in the bloodstream affecting the brain. Your veterinarian will run tests such as blood chemistry tests; electrocardiograms to evaluate the heart or more advanced imaging tests like cat scans if a lesion in the brain is suspected. True epilepsy is where no underlying cause can be identified. Genetic predisposition certainly occurs and Beagles, Boxers, Cocker Spaniels, Border Collies and dachshunds and many others are breeds known to have seizures.

If you witness a seizure, keep calm and prevent the pet from injuring itself on nearby objects, falling into a swimming pool, etc. Don’t put your hands near the mouth.

Treatment involves handling any underlying cause found or antiepileptic drugs if warranted. The decision to begin treatment will be based on frequency and severity of the seizures. My rule of thumb is if the seizures are more frequent than one per month or real severe or if the pet was in status epilepticus, then treatment is advised.

Seizures are not life threatening unless the pet is in status epilepticus. The medications are not expensive, but must be given daily. Phenobarbital and Potassium Bromide are the drugs of choice for seizures and it may take a period of days to weeks to get the seizures under control. Unfortunately, epileptic seizures cannot be cured but can be managed quite successfully.

Dr. James Speas is the owner and Executive Director of Crescenta Cañada Pet Hospital located in La Crescenta, California. He has developed a personal philosophy in the area of veterinary medicine – to always work in the direction of preventing problems before occur. Dr. Speas and his staff are proud to serve the pet communities of La Crescenta, La Canada, Glendale, Pasadena, Sunland, and Tujunga California. Call us at 818-248-3963.