Dr. Laura Hady
Seizures occur in 0.5% to 5% of dogs at least some point in their lives, with the most common form being idiopathic, which means from an unknown cause. Only about 2% or fewer of all cats will have observed seizures in their lifetimes. Even though this statistic may not seem scary, observing a seizure in one of our beloved friends can frighten us and our entire household.
The plainest definition of a seizure that I have heard from a veterinary neurologist is that it is as if your pet is having a lightning storm in their brain, during which some of the normal activities of the body go out of control. Your pet may experience a period of inattention before they fall to the ground on one side, paddle their limbs uncontrollably, and/or lose control of their bladder and stool.
Your family veterinarian can best diagnose and treat seizures in your pets. However, seizures often occur at night when most clinics are closed, and in that case, it is best to call an emergency veterinary clinic or on-call doctor. Dogs and cats with seizures can often go on to live a good quality of life with the proper medication and homecare routines. Below are some breed differences in causes of seizures in pets, as well as tips for what to watch for after your pet starts medications.
- Epilepsy, or seizure disorder, may be inherited in several breeds, including the border collie, German shepherd, collie, Labrador retriever and schnauzers. The Yorkshire terrier breed has more seizures linked to a congenital liver malformation called a shunt. Chihuahuas can have seizures at a young age due to too much fluid on the brain, called hydrocephalus. If a dog starts having seizures at a young age, it can be due to a structural issue, an infection while in the womb or shortly thereafter, or even an abnormal issue with their metabolism of food or certain drugs. If a dog begins to have seizures during middle age, sometimes a cause is not found. Older dogs that begin to have seizures may have cancer, kidney disease, low blood sugar, or another type of disease that involving hormones, such as diabetes. Head and neck trauma can also increase the chance of seizures in any breed of dog. Parasites and toxins such as snail bait can cause seizures in any age of animal.
- Unlike dogs, most cats with epilepsy, tend to start having noticeable seizures between ages 3 and 6. Our instinct is to touch a cat having a seizure to provide them comfort, but a cat can accidentally bite or scratch in the middle of a full-blown seizure and not even be aware of it.
- A good place to start for a diagnosis of seizures is to have the family keep a log of when the seizure started, how long it lasted, and if there were any food or environmental changes that may have occurred before the event. It’s also helpful to video the pet having a seizure so the doctor can see it. Some health issues that may appear like a seizure are weakness, a heart issue, obsessive compulsive disorders like fly biting, and/or extreme stress and agitation. A physical exam, lab testing (including blood and urine), as well as X-ray images are the cornerstone to ruling in or out a metabolism disorder, blood glucose issues, liver malfunction, and/or kidney disease. Your family veterinarian may refer your pet to a veterinary neurologist for a more comprehensive exam, further bloodwork, and/or CT or MRI imaging while your pet is under anesthesia. Keep in mind that stress, whether it be emotional or physical, can make seizures worse and any therapy less effective.
- Newer anti-seizure drugs can help to reduce the chance that your pet will gain weight, have increased liver values, sensitivity to certain drugs, and sedation. However, the first line medication for cats is still the older phenobarbital because of its efficacy. Dogs may be started on phenobarbital and then weaned off of it if side effects outweigh the benefit or if breakthrough seizures are occurring. Your family veterinarian may prescribe levetriacetam because it does not require a large initial dose to reach effective anti-seizure levels in the bloodstream. Zonisamide is another human drug that may be added to your dog’s regimen. Potassium bromide can be used with phenobarbital, and now comes in flavored chewables for pets instead of the old solution that was very bitter.
My biggest piece of advice for any owner is not to believe everything you may find online. Your family veterinary staff can be your most valuable resource because of the number of cases of seizures they see. So go ahead and give your pet a relaxing massage and find a good boarding situation that is as stress-free and safe as possible if you need to go out of town.
