This archive article (written 2009–2016) contains advice that may be out of date and is waiting for veterinary review. Please check with your vet before acting on it. About our articles
| Epilepsy |
| Epilepsy is an
abnormality of electrical impulses in the brain that causes a seizure of
muscles, or loss of motor control in the body. While epilepsy is a
common disorder in dogs and fairly unusual in cats, the disorder can
occur in any breed of dog or cat. The majority of epileptic pets are between one and five years of age and act normally between episodes. This form of the disorder is termed idiopathic epilepsy and the cause is unknown. A pet greater than six years of age is more likely to have a brain tumor or heart, kidney or liver disease that is causing the seizures. The main symptom of epilepsy is a seizure, which can also develop as a result of head trauma, poisoning, disease or an unknown cause. Recognizing a seizure is sometimes difficult. A minor seizure, or petite mal seizure, may cause only a slight loss of motor control. On the other hand, a grand mal seizure is severe, causing an animal to fall to the ground and convulse uncontrollably. In general, a pet will lose bladder and bowel control during a seizure, be unaware of his surroundings and appear abnormal for a period of time after the seizure. Seizures are characterized by three phases:
Post seizure: The convulsions stop but the pet acts exhausted or
confused. Complete recovery to a normal state varies; some pets return
to normal within minutes, while others may act disturbed for hours. |
| If you need to take
your pet to your veterinarian while he is seizing, lay a blanket by him.
Holding his paws, roll the pet over onto the blanket and beware of his
teeth. Have another person help you lift your pet by all four corners of
the blanket and place him in the back of the car. While epilepsy cannot be prevented or cured, cases can be controlled with medication. Pets that have only occasional epileptic episodes may not require medication. If needed, your veterinarian will prescribe an oral anticonvulsant medication that you can administer at home. Treatment is designed to change the pattern of epileptic episodes by reducing the frequency and severity of the seizures, and may stop them altogether. Treatment is often considered a success if the frequency of seizures is limited to one or two per month. Side effects of medication may include sedation and increased thirst, appetite and urination. If your veterinarian prescribes medication, it must be administered consistently. Skipping medication may trigger a seizure. If your pet has infrequent seizures, your veterinarian may suggest that you keep a record of the episodes rather than immediately prescribing medication. Include the following in your record:
The record will indicate if the symptoms and/or frequency of seizures
become more severe over time and if medication is necessary. Some pets
that have been treated for epilepsy over a period of time can gradually
be taken off medication and eventually may not require any medication.
Consult your veterinarian before making any changes to your pet's
medication. |