What Are The Types Of Dogs Seizures

There are six types of dogs seizures. Seizures are unpredictable and can happen at any time. They are distressing to the dog, of course, but to their family as well. Nothing can be done but to witness it and offer some comfort. Do not panic, offer soothing words and sounds and if possible, rub their back to let them know you are there.

It is frightening to be in the throws of a seizure. Your pet has no control over the muscles of their body. Sometimes they can have brief periods of being unable to breathe. Control of the bladder and bowels can be lost. Remove as many items as possible that they may hurt themselves on. Have children stand at a distance so their are not injured by accident.

Veterinarians do not believe that a seizure causes pain. The owner should stand back and observe an episode then record everything. From what happened just before it began to how the dog behaved when it was over. This information will be used by the veterinarian to determine what kind of seizure it was. The cause of them and what treatment should be given, will also be determined at least in part based on the observations of the pet owner.

The various types of seizures are identified by their symptoms. The generalized seizure may be a grand mal or mild seizure. The mild has few symptoms and the pet will remain conscious during it. There could be some mild movement of the limbs and head. The grand mal seizure also affects the entire body but will include further loss of bodily functions. Uncontrolled salivating, and the release of the bladder and bowels my occur.

Petit mal seizures involve just moments of unconsciousness, their eyes may rotate up or they will have a blank stare. This type is considered very rare. Partial seizures affect one area of the body. It may be twitching of the facial muscles or a single limb jerking. These can progress to a generalized seizure and it should be noted if one area was affected first.

A different type of seizure is the complex partial seizure. It shows as unusual behaviors that may last just a few minutes or many hours. The dog remains aware through it all. They may hide and cower, become excessively thirsty or hungry. They may smack their lips and chew uncontrollably. The dog may even experience blindness during that time.

The more serious seizures that can be fatal are the cluster and status epilepticus. The status epilepticus seizures will be either one long episode or a series of episodes without any awareness during them. Either can last for up to 30 minutes. The cluster seizure is a series of seizures while fully conscious.

Since there are periods when the dog may not be able to breathe during any of the seizures, it is easy to see why these are considered life threatening. There are prescriptions available to help control dogs seizures. Working closely with the veterinarian may help your pet find relief or control of the symptoms.