Seizures

Few experiences are more frightening for a pet owner than a seizure. A common scenario is a normal pet (usually a dog) who comes in from the fence or is sleeping by the owner and suddenly becomes stiff, appears to stop breathing and then becomes a flurry of confused activity. In a couple minutes that seem like half an hour, it is over and by the time the veterinarian is on the phone, the dog/cat is looking for food like nothing happened. What should you do for your pet during and after a seizure? What can you expect in the future?

A seizure is caused by abnormal brain activity. Signs of a seizure may include disorientation, collapse, stiff legs and neck, apnea (not breathing), paddling of the legs, chewing motions, urination, defecation and lack of response. Seizures have three phases. The first part of a seizure is the aura. During the aura some animals exhibit behavioral changes such as becoming very clingy or wanting to be alone. Owners often learn to recognize the aura and realize that a seizure is about to occur. The second phase is the actual seizure which, no matter how long it seems, usually ends within two minutes. The third and final phase is called the postictal phase. This last phase may last minutes to hours and the animal again may exhibit changes in behavior such as fear or disorientation.

A seizure that progresses rapidly in which the animal quickly returns to normal is usually not an emergency (at that point, the owner is usually in worse shape). Your veterinarian may ask you to come in during regular hours for the animal to be checked. Most of the time these animals will have a normal physical exam and blood work. It is important to know when a seizure is an emergency. Long or recurrent seizures are called status epilepticus and can result in brain damage or death. Any time a seizure lasts longer than ten minutes or more than one seizure occurs without the animal returning to normal in between, you should seek veterinary care for the animal. Animals in status epilepticus need medication to stop seizures.

If you are with an animal having a seizure, there are some things that you should do and some things not to do. A blanket or towel placed under the animal's head may protect them. Move anything away from the animal that they may knock over or hurt themselves on. Sitting with them and talking quietly may help calm them faster and will be reassuring when they regain consciousness. Never try to open their mouths or put anything in their mouths. They will not swallow their tongues and they will begin breathing on their own. Animals having seizures can bite badly without knowing it and you may injure their mouths by trying to open them. If the animal recovers quickly and doesn't need immediate care, it is a good idea to record the details of the seizure. How long did it last? What happened before the seizure? What activities occurred during the seizure? How long did it take the animal to recover? This information can be helpful for your veterinarian in deciding the cause of the seizure and the right time to begin treatment. Because it takes time for the brain activity to return to normal, the time following a seizure is the most likely time for an animal to have another seizure. Keep the animal quiet and observe them for several hours.

Most seizures in dogs are epilepsy. Injuries, toxins and metabolic disease can also cause seizures. In cats seizures are more likely to be caused by some other illness. A good history, a physical exam and blood work are needed to determine the cause of the seizure and when to begin treatment. Treatment with anti seizure drugs is not usually started after one seizure. Some animals will have one seizure and never have another one. Unless the seizure is dangerously long (status epilepticus), the recommendation is to wait and observe the pattern of seizures. If an animal has infrequent, mild seizures, the seizures may be better than the side-effects of medications. Always inform your veterinarian when your pet has a seizure. The veterinarian will help you determine when the frequency and severity of the seizures warrants anti-seizure medication.

Phenobarbital is the most common medication used to treat seizures in pets. In dogs that are poorly controlled with phenobarbital alone, potassium bromide is often added. When beginning seizure treatment for your pet, it is important to understand certain aspects of treatment so that your expectations will be reasonable. Phenobarbital accumulates slowly in the blood and it takes two weeks for a drug dose to reach it's highest blood level. During that time, seizures may continue to occur and the animal may require extra treatment. After two weeks, if control is not good, the dose can then be increased. During the first weeks of medication, animals will experience more side-effects. Sedation, excessive thirst and hunger, and increased urination are common. While these are problems, be patient and remember that they will subside. Complete seizure control is often not possible. Treatment is considered successful if there is a decrease in the number, severity and length of seizures. An owner should never stop or change seizure medication without consulting the veterinarian. Sudden changes in phenobarbital can cause status epilepticus. Blood work will be scheduled to monitor the level of phenobarbital in the blood and the effects on the pet's general health.

Owners can do many things to give their pets quality of life. Stay in communication with your veterinarian a concerning the animal's seizures and other health problems. Give medications as prescribed and follow the veterinarian's recommendations on monitoring the pet's blood work. Keep records of when, what happened and how long when seizures do occur. Maintain the best nutrition in order to minimize the effects of drugs on the animal's overall health. Do not allow the animal to become overweight (remember that the human controls the food!). Animals that have seizures should not be breed because the tendency to have seizures can be genetic. Spaying and neutering can also make seizure control better. While it is disturbing to see an animal have a seizure, pets that have seizures can live long and happy lives.

--- Ann Brady DVM

Upcoming Events -

Rabies Clinic at Mebane Veterinary Hospital

Alert: There have been reported cases of RABIES in Orange County. Please be sure that your pet's rabies vaccination is current! (For more information on rabies, please see the Kids' Corner link below.)

Kids' Corner -

Some links for Kids!(These links will open another browser window.):

Center for Disease Control Rabies Site for Kids

AVMA Kids' Korner