Seizures In Dogs And What They Mean

A seizure, also known as a fit, is an episode of abnormal and excessive activity in the brain. In a human, a fit can have a large number of different effects that range from fainting, uncontrollable thrashing, muscle spasms, and loss of awareness. Seizures in dogs are no different and generally occur in similar manners. A number of things can cause them but due to the fit's numerous and unspecific symptoms they can be difficult to notice when a canine is experiencing them. Therefore it is very crucial that an owner ensures that their dog is seen by a vet immediately after exhibiting a new and odd behavior.

Just like with human being people who experience seizures, dogs with regular shaking and blackouts are usually diagnosed with epilepsy. Although not all animals who suffer from fits are actually epileptic. Merely one to two percent of canines will suffer from a fit during its life and about a fraction of that number really have epilepsy. It's still critical, however, to make sure your canine receives proper medical treatment anyway.

Signs of a dog's impending fits can include instances of moaning or growling. The animal may seem to be scared or stressed and try to get comfort from his or her owner. Other symptoms include trouble peeing, pacing back and forth, and convulsing. After the dog has progressed into a full out epileptic fit, it might black out, become uncontrollably frightened, begin shaking, or seem to be in a strange state of mind.

Many different factors can cause a dog to seizure as well as effect the progression of ones in the future. These can include the dog's genetic history, breed, and even age. The types of fits canines experience usually can accurately predict the severity and types of other attacks.

Because a seizure is a brain disorder, any signs of one you witness in your pets should be taken seriously. Appointments should be immediately made with a vet who likely, depending on his or her age, will run batteries of tests on the dogs. If the dogs are older than ten years old, you should mentally prepare yourself to deal with the fact that your pet's best option may be to be humanely put down.

In most cases the exam will consist of blood pressure tests, blood work, X-rays, CT-scans, and vision checks. And despite the numerous types of epileptic episodes, the symptoms are usually very similar. In most cases, the tests and lab work will reveal either tachycardia, kidney failure, low blood pressure, swelling of the brain, infectious disease, or a weak pulse is present.

It is very important to remember that just because your beloved pet has received a diagnosis of neurological fits doesn't necessarily mean it will die. With proper care and treatment, most forms of epileptic seizures are fairly manageable. In fact, the sooner that the condition is diagnosed, the better the prognosis will be.

Make sure to consult your veterinarian the moment you begin noticing any new behavior in your pet as he or she will have the tools and the information needed to come up with the best possible course of action.