What Can Give Rise To Dog Seizures?

A dog is one of the most widely cared for pets. Considered as man's best friend, a dog owner would treat it like a true family member. He would spend money, time and effort in ensuring the well being and happiness of the dog. And as such, if a dog gets sick, the owner would do all that it takes to make it well.

One of the most dreaded sights for dog owners is his pet having seizures. But in order for one to handle the situation properly, he has to be prepared. To effectively manage this condition, one should be educated with the causes of dog seizures so that appropriate precautions and treatments can be applied.

There are many reasons why canine seizures occur. One of the most common is epilepsy which is a chronic neurological disorder, marked by recurrent seizures. Another cause is canine distemper which is a viral disease that normally occurs in young dogs. This viral disease can worsen and reach the nervous system, thus resulting to the weakening of muscles, loss of basic motor skills and seizures. But if your dog has received distemper vaccination, most probably this is not the reason for such condition.

Another reason why seizures in dogs can occur is toxin ingestion. Dogs may be exposed to household products like pesticides which can be poisonous as well as toxic substances in trash, that can all lead to seizures. Lead poisoning is regarded as a common factor in toxin related canine seizure. If you have lead based paint at home, this should be stored securely to prevent it from causing health risk.

Other reasons why seizures occur are brain tumor, head injury and metabolic problems. Brain tumor can cause seizures because the abnormal growth in the brain disturbs that normal brain functions. A head injury can damage the dog's cranium and consequently the brain tissues resulting to incidents of seizures. Metabolic problems such as low blood sugar level can also trigger canine seizures.

An understanding of the causes of seizures is essential in effective management of the condition. In all circumstances, a pet owner should be calm so that he can clearly plan his actions. One should be quick to move anything that can harm the dog while it is having seizures. He should not try to interfere with the seizure, much more open the dog's mouth as he could be injured.