Epilepsy
A Brief Overview of Canine Epilepsy
Marion Mitchell President of the Epil-K9 Foundation
All mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians & fish are capable of having seizures, in other words any living organism that has a brain.
Seizures are the result of muscle responses to an abnormal nerve-signal burst from the brain. They are a symptom of an underlying neurological dysfunction. Toxic substances, metabolic or electrolyte abnormalities and/or imbalances cause an uncoordinated firing of neurons in the cerebrum of the brain, creating seizures from mild "petit mal " to severe "grand mal"
Humans, dogs and cats can suffer from inherited/ideopathic epilepsy or secondary epilepsy caused by an identifiable agent such as a brain tumor or poison. It is estimated that between 0.5% and 5.7% of the canine population suffer from epilepsy, in some breeds it is known to be higher. In Dalmatians it is believed to be round 2.5 %.
Seizing dogs ( and cats) should have blood tests run to rule out secondary epilepsy. If the seizures are happening more than once a month then medication is indicated. Phenobarbital, Potassium Bromide and other add on human drugs including Keppra are the most popular drugs as of this writing. Blood tests need to be run within a few week of starting medication to make sure that a therapeutic serum level has been acquired. Bile Acid tests should be run at least every six months to make sure that Phenobarbital is not compromising the liver. Denysol (Sam E) or Milk Thistle are helpful to support the liver .
It is important to keep the epileptic dog as free from chemical pollutants as possible. Pine scented cleaners, lawn sprays, flea and tick preventatives all have been know to trigger a seizure. Avoid heart worm products with Ivermectin this has been known to cause seizures in some breeds. There are many things that can lower a dog's seizure threshold. Keeping a diary of the dog's seizures is helpful . Note down anything that has been done or that the dog could have come in contact with that day which could have contributed to seizure. It is also a known phenomenon that some dogs may seizure around the full moon.
A diet free from added chemicals and dyes is preferred over a "supermarket" kibble. A raw diet has been found to be helpful in the management of canine epilepsy.
Canine epilepsy is a frightening and traumatic condition for the pet owner to witness. Visit
http://www.canine-epilepsy.com and join the Epil-K9 email list. Instructions on how to join are on the web site.
Marion Mitchell President of the Epil-K9 Foundation
All mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians & fish are capable of having seizures, in other words any living organism that has a brain.
Seizures are the result of muscle responses to an abnormal nerve-signal burst from the brain. They are a symptom of an underlying neurological dysfunction. Toxic substances, metabolic or electrolyte abnormalities and/or imbalances cause an uncoordinated firing of neurons in the cerebrum of the brain, creating seizures from mild "petit mal " to severe "grand mal"
Humans, dogs and cats can suffer from inherited/ideopathic epilepsy or secondary epilepsy caused by an identifiable agent such as a brain tumor or poison. It is estimated that between 0.5% and 5.7% of the canine population suffer from epilepsy, in some breeds it is known to be higher. In Dalmatians it is believed to be round 2.5 %.
Seizing dogs ( and cats) should have blood tests run to rule out secondary epilepsy. If the seizures are happening more than once a month then medication is indicated. Phenobarbital, Potassium Bromide and other add on human drugs including Keppra are the most popular drugs as of this writing. Blood tests need to be run within a few week of starting medication to make sure that a therapeutic serum level has been acquired. Bile Acid tests should be run at least every six months to make sure that Phenobarbital is not compromising the liver. Denysol (Sam E) or Milk Thistle are helpful to support the liver .
It is important to keep the epileptic dog as free from chemical pollutants as possible. Pine scented cleaners, lawn sprays, flea and tick preventatives all have been know to trigger a seizure. Avoid heart worm products with Ivermectin this has been known to cause seizures in some breeds. There are many things that can lower a dog's seizure threshold. Keeping a diary of the dog's seizures is helpful . Note down anything that has been done or that the dog could have come in contact with that day which could have contributed to seizure. It is also a known phenomenon that some dogs may seizure around the full moon.
A diet free from added chemicals and dyes is preferred over a "supermarket" kibble. A raw diet has been found to be helpful in the management of canine epilepsy.
Canine epilepsy is a frightening and traumatic condition for the pet owner to witness. Visit
http://www.canine-epilepsy.com and join the Epil-K9 email list. Instructions on how to join are on the web site.