If you have seen your dog have a seizure it can be quite frightening and you may not know what to do. However, knowing dog seizure symptoms can ensure that your vet can make sure your dog gets appropriate treatment. It is also important to keep calm and make sure your dog does not panic.
Making sure dog does not panic can be difficult, especially if this is the first time that the seizure has occurred. There are ways you can prevent this. If you are in a park, make sure you keep the dog away from any poisonous berries. If you have children, do not let them feed the dog chocolate as this is toxic for dogs. When there are firework displays outside, keep your dog inside. Measures like this will help prevent seizures caused by outside influences.
One common misconception when dealing with a dog seizure is that you need to make sure that you need to grab their tongue to ensure they do not swallow it. Not only is this inaccurate but can be potentially very dangerous. This is because the dog is likely to react and bite you, causing you a serious injury.
With any seizure the best thing to do is remain calm. While this may not always be easy, this is a vital part of making sure your dog does not panic. Talk to your dog in a calm and reassuring way. Keep away from holding the paws as you may get clawed. Note the time of the seizure and how long it took the dog to return to normal. This is the kind of information the vet will want to know as well as any unusual occurrences such as fireworks or excessive playtime.
A serious seizure to look out for is status epilepiticus. This either consists of a single seizure lasting up to half an hour or a series of repetitive seizures. It often occurs with dogs who have had a history of milder seizures or who have had suffered an injury to the brain or eaten toxic substances. It is important to check this with your vet as they can sometimes be mistaken for cluster seizures. The difference is that dogs will often be conscious between seizures.
Two types that are often confused are status epilepticus and cluster seizures. Status epilepticus can be potentially life threatening and is characterized by either one half hour length seizure or several on a loop. The difference between that and cluster seizures is that between seizures the dog will be conscious.
Take a note of when the seizure occurred and contact the veterinarian immediately, especially if this is the first time this has happened. They will usually ask if there was any outside influence such as fireworks or excessive play time. You should also note how long before the dog appeared to be acting normally. For some time after your dog may appear to be in an almost drugged state and take longer to respond to commands.
Once you have reported a dog seizure to a vet, they will usually look at the symptoms to see what kind of seizure has occurred. In some cases they may suggest waiting and seeing if there are any further developments. They will often seem groggy after the seizure and be slower to respond to commands. If necessary, the vet may then do blood tests to check factors such as glucose and calcium levels. If spotted early enough, this will allow the dog to get the best treatment to lead a happy and healthy life. If you have any concerns about your dog or want more information speak to your local vet.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
What Options Are Available For Dog Seizures Treatment?
Many dog owners will never worry about the effects of a seizure on their beloved dog. These are more common than a person might think that they are, there are several different dog seizures treatment options that can be used in the effective treatment of a dogs seizures. There is the issue of dealing with these when they occur. If this is a first time, then this can be a gut-wrenching experience for a dog owner to have to watch.
There are certain dog breeds that are naturally susceptible to have seizures occur in their life. These dog breeds range in size and type. The other leading cause of these seizures is the presence of epilepsy, while it may sound strange, dogs are able to have these seizures as much as a person.
There are several treatment options that can be used in order to take care of these issues for a dog owner. Many of these may involve your vet giving you something that is designed to lessen the effects of the seizure if not eliminate them altogether. You will need to make sure that you talk with them to design a treatment option for your dog.
There are also several natural treatments that are safe for a dog to use that will also help to reduce the number of seizures that they have on a regular basis. These can be bought at a large number of pet stores and great taste and the dog will never know that it is medicine. The easier that it is for a person to give the do its medicine, then the better this will be for the both of you.
There will however be that one seizure that you will not be able to avoid, this is the one that lets you know that there is an issue. There will need to be several things that you need to make sure and do during the seizure that will allow you and the pet to get through the event with little to no trouble at all.
The first thing is to make sure that they are not around anything that they can hit their head on. This will help to make sure that there is no more damage done to the dogs head. Try to get the dog to an area that has a lot of padding, such as a couch or chair. If this cannot be done, the grab some of the pillows and cushions from the couch and try to pad the dog during the seizure.
Make sure to never try to do anything with their mouth during the event, this can lead to them clamping down during the seizure and cause serious injury to you as a result. Let the dog be and just allow things to take their course. This will help you and the dog from being injured any further.
Never try opening their mouth, this is a very bad idea as often times this will lead to there being damage done to the dog as well as them biting down during the seizure and injuring you in the process. Following these tips will assist a person to get the best dog seizures treatment option for their dog.
There are certain dog breeds that are naturally susceptible to have seizures occur in their life. These dog breeds range in size and type. The other leading cause of these seizures is the presence of epilepsy, while it may sound strange, dogs are able to have these seizures as much as a person.
There are several treatment options that can be used in order to take care of these issues for a dog owner. Many of these may involve your vet giving you something that is designed to lessen the effects of the seizure if not eliminate them altogether. You will need to make sure that you talk with them to design a treatment option for your dog.
There are also several natural treatments that are safe for a dog to use that will also help to reduce the number of seizures that they have on a regular basis. These can be bought at a large number of pet stores and great taste and the dog will never know that it is medicine. The easier that it is for a person to give the do its medicine, then the better this will be for the both of you.
There will however be that one seizure that you will not be able to avoid, this is the one that lets you know that there is an issue. There will need to be several things that you need to make sure and do during the seizure that will allow you and the pet to get through the event with little to no trouble at all.
The first thing is to make sure that they are not around anything that they can hit their head on. This will help to make sure that there is no more damage done to the dogs head. Try to get the dog to an area that has a lot of padding, such as a couch or chair. If this cannot be done, the grab some of the pillows and cushions from the couch and try to pad the dog during the seizure.
Make sure to never try to do anything with their mouth during the event, this can lead to them clamping down during the seizure and cause serious injury to you as a result. Let the dog be and just allow things to take their course. This will help you and the dog from being injured any further.
Never try opening their mouth, this is a very bad idea as often times this will lead to there being damage done to the dog as well as them biting down during the seizure and injuring you in the process. Following these tips will assist a person to get the best dog seizures treatment option for their dog.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
How To Manage Dog Epilepsy In Your Home
When someone picks out a pet and brings it home, they may be surprised to learn that it has dog epilepsy. This is a condition that the dog will have for the rest of it's life. It is up to the dog owner to find out everything they can about it, in order to keep the dog safe and living a long life. The first thing a dog owner should do is visit a vet.
To first diagnose a condition such as epilepsy in a canine, an episode will have occurred. This traumatic event for both the owner and dog will have triggered a call to a vet office. The vet will then be able to run some tests on the dog to confirm the condition. If the condition is confirmed, a vet can also help to answer the questions that an owner may have. They can also give out various info packages and ensure that the owner knows what to do.
Sometimes a dog owner will know what a trigger is for their dog's attacks. It could be a certain food, or noise that triggers it. Some dogs have seizures when they travel in cars or get into something they shouldn't have. For some owners they have no idea what may trigger it and do not know when it will happen again.
Some dogs will have an epilepsy episode once in their lifetime, and then never experience it again. While some pets have few and far between symptoms, others have attacks a few times a week. This can be scary for the pet owner and the pet. The first attack could leave a pet and owner in a frantic situation. The best way to get through it, is to stay calm and assured. A dog will get through the attack and it will be short lived.
When a dog does have an attack, they could respond in two different ways. They may drop and lay on their back panting, or they could just zone out and seem to lose what they are doing. In both situations there are certain things that an owner can do.
Helping the pet out of a seizure may be different for each pet. They can try calling them by their name to see if the dog can come out of it. Another thing the owners can try, is to ensure that the dog is in a safe spot and free from harm. When the dog is done with the attack, they may be very thirsty and tired.
A vet could suggest daily medicine to help with the issue. There could be different medical ways to handle the epilepsy in a dog. The vet can also offer suggestions and tips for the owners of the pet. They can offer some great ideas for helping a dog through the attack and ensuring their comfort.
People cannot predict what dog they are going to own will have dog epilepsy. However, these dogs are still special and a part of a family life. Knowing how to best manage the attacks is key in developing a strong hold over the condition of epilepsy. The owner may want to keep track of the attacks and time then as they happen. This can be useful when medicine and vet appointments are made to discuss the progress or condition of the situation.
To first diagnose a condition such as epilepsy in a canine, an episode will have occurred. This traumatic event for both the owner and dog will have triggered a call to a vet office. The vet will then be able to run some tests on the dog to confirm the condition. If the condition is confirmed, a vet can also help to answer the questions that an owner may have. They can also give out various info packages and ensure that the owner knows what to do.
Sometimes a dog owner will know what a trigger is for their dog's attacks. It could be a certain food, or noise that triggers it. Some dogs have seizures when they travel in cars or get into something they shouldn't have. For some owners they have no idea what may trigger it and do not know when it will happen again.
Some dogs will have an epilepsy episode once in their lifetime, and then never experience it again. While some pets have few and far between symptoms, others have attacks a few times a week. This can be scary for the pet owner and the pet. The first attack could leave a pet and owner in a frantic situation. The best way to get through it, is to stay calm and assured. A dog will get through the attack and it will be short lived.
When a dog does have an attack, they could respond in two different ways. They may drop and lay on their back panting, or they could just zone out and seem to lose what they are doing. In both situations there are certain things that an owner can do.
Helping the pet out of a seizure may be different for each pet. They can try calling them by their name to see if the dog can come out of it. Another thing the owners can try, is to ensure that the dog is in a safe spot and free from harm. When the dog is done with the attack, they may be very thirsty and tired.
A vet could suggest daily medicine to help with the issue. There could be different medical ways to handle the epilepsy in a dog. The vet can also offer suggestions and tips for the owners of the pet. They can offer some great ideas for helping a dog through the attack and ensuring their comfort.
People cannot predict what dog they are going to own will have dog epilepsy. However, these dogs are still special and a part of a family life. Knowing how to best manage the attacks is key in developing a strong hold over the condition of epilepsy. The owner may want to keep track of the attacks and time then as they happen. This can be useful when medicine and vet appointments are made to discuss the progress or condition of the situation.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
A Guide To Canine Seizures For Worried Owners
These are common culprits of seizures but certainly not all of the possibilities. If a veterinarian runs multiple tests and still cannot find a direct cause, he will usually diagnose your pet as having epilepsy. This only means that the animal is repeatedly seizuring without it being caused by another condition. It is thought that a chemical imbalance in the brain leads to misfiring of neurons which causes the episode. It usually shows up between the ages of six months to five years.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Noticing The Signs Of A Dog Seizure And Helping Your Pet
When you first looked into those little puppy dog eyes, you knew it was love at first sight. She sleeps in your bed, eats every time you eat, rides in your car, and so far as you are concerned, this puppy is part of your family. You never want to see an illness overcome her but, grievously, sickness is a part of life. Discovering the possibilities that a dog seizure might happen, could give you the information you need to save her life.
There is no single reason for a seizure to occur. Drinking, or eating, anything poisonous, receiving an injury to the head, calcium inadequacies from a nursing mother to her pups, chemicals, toxic plants, and heartworm disease can be some of the contributing factors for convulsions. The first thing you must remember, should convulsions happen, is to remain calm.
You might never see an approaching convulsion. On the other hand, you may see the character of your pet differ from what you usually expect. There really is no reason to blame yourself because predicting these aberrations can be close to impossible. You may, or may not see any indications before hand, and the greatest insurance you have is staying knowledgeable on the subject.
Here are some signals, which may show, your dog is about to have a convulsive encounter: Whining, salivating, looking for a place to hide, trembling, seeking your affection, wandering from place to place, and showing signs of restlessness (or nervousness). In addition, being non-responsive to your commands, uncontrollable urination (or defecation, or both), chewing at paws or limbs, experiencing hallucinations, and involuntary tightening of the muscles (which can include the whole body, or only various parts) may show the oncoming of an episode.
Realize that your canine does not know what he, or she, is doing. They are not in control, of anything that happens, before, during, or even after a seizure. There is some kind of trigger which occurs in the brain, making the body unable to render itself useful, and just as a human would not be held accountable, for any problems which may happen, neither should your furry friend. You can, however, try to keep your friend, so comfortable as possible.
It has been proven, medically, that tongues will not be swallowed during a seizure. The belief seems to have stemmed from choking hazards which can occur during a convulsion. So long as your pet is on her side, there should be no trouble with choking. You may receive an injury, though, if you are near her mouth. Bites are an issue during a convulsive event. Keep your body parts away from her mouth, and you should have no problem.
You should, however, move anything from your friend's area if there is a chance he could get harmed. If moving the furniture will cause more harm, then leave it alone, and speak calmly to your pet. Gently say his name, and tell him it will be alright. Keep yourself behind him so that you will not receive injury from his movements.
A dog seizure is nothing to laugh about, and should be reported to your veterinarian so soon as possible. It may require some medicating, or no medicating, at all. Tell your animal doctor exactly everything you remember about the occurrences, and discuss what decisions you may have to make, to keep your pet cozy.
There is no single reason for a seizure to occur. Drinking, or eating, anything poisonous, receiving an injury to the head, calcium inadequacies from a nursing mother to her pups, chemicals, toxic plants, and heartworm disease can be some of the contributing factors for convulsions. The first thing you must remember, should convulsions happen, is to remain calm.
You might never see an approaching convulsion. On the other hand, you may see the character of your pet differ from what you usually expect. There really is no reason to blame yourself because predicting these aberrations can be close to impossible. You may, or may not see any indications before hand, and the greatest insurance you have is staying knowledgeable on the subject.
Here are some signals, which may show, your dog is about to have a convulsive encounter: Whining, salivating, looking for a place to hide, trembling, seeking your affection, wandering from place to place, and showing signs of restlessness (or nervousness). In addition, being non-responsive to your commands, uncontrollable urination (or defecation, or both), chewing at paws or limbs, experiencing hallucinations, and involuntary tightening of the muscles (which can include the whole body, or only various parts) may show the oncoming of an episode.
Realize that your canine does not know what he, or she, is doing. They are not in control, of anything that happens, before, during, or even after a seizure. There is some kind of trigger which occurs in the brain, making the body unable to render itself useful, and just as a human would not be held accountable, for any problems which may happen, neither should your furry friend. You can, however, try to keep your friend, so comfortable as possible.
It has been proven, medically, that tongues will not be swallowed during a seizure. The belief seems to have stemmed from choking hazards which can occur during a convulsion. So long as your pet is on her side, there should be no trouble with choking. You may receive an injury, though, if you are near her mouth. Bites are an issue during a convulsive event. Keep your body parts away from her mouth, and you should have no problem.
You should, however, move anything from your friend's area if there is a chance he could get harmed. If moving the furniture will cause more harm, then leave it alone, and speak calmly to your pet. Gently say his name, and tell him it will be alright. Keep yourself behind him so that you will not receive injury from his movements.
A dog seizure is nothing to laugh about, and should be reported to your veterinarian so soon as possible. It may require some medicating, or no medicating, at all. Tell your animal doctor exactly everything you remember about the occurrences, and discuss what decisions you may have to make, to keep your pet cozy.
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