Epilepsy in Dogs: How to Protect Your Pet
Did you know that epilepsy in dogs can only be diagnosed after a seizure? And because seizures may be caused by any event that disrupts normal brain function, a precise diagnosis can be acquired only after a physical examination, a detailed history and the findings of medical and / or sophisticated imaging (CT or MRI) diagnostics, if required.
Once a diagnosis has been made, the vet may devise a strategy for managing and treating the canine.
But what should you know about canine epilepsy? Is there any way to protect your dog against it? Well, below we will examine the latest research into this topic.
Table of Contents
- What Should We Know About Epilepsy in Dogs?
- How to Diagnose Canine Seizures?
- Seizure Classification
- Describing Seizures
- Types of Epilepsy in Dogs
- The Genetics of Canine Epilepsy
- The Etiology of Epilepsy
- Medical Management Options
- The Takeaway
- Nutrition Strength Dog Seizure and Epilepsy Support
Check out our Nutrition Strength Dog Seizure and Epilepsy Support here.
What Should We Know About Epilepsy in Dogs?
Epilepsy in dogs is canines’ most frequent neurological condition, affecting roughly 0.75 percent of the population.
The word epilepsy refers to a diverse disorder defined by the occurrence of repeated, unprovoked seizures caused by a brain malfunction.
The disorder might be inherited (genetic or idiopathic epilepsy), caused by structural issues in the brain (structural epilepsy) or induced by an unknown source (epilepsy of unknown cause).
The second type is not pretty common among dogs. So the answer to the question “what causes epilepsy in dogs” is pretty hard.
An effective treatment regimen for canine epilepsy depends on a precise diagnosis of the kind and origin of seizures. That can only be done once viable therapeutic alternatives being discovered in the last years.
How to Diagnose Canine Seizures?
Although categorization schemes for human seizures exist, there is no generally acknowledged classification system for dog seizures.
Canine attacks are occasionally described using human methods, which might be problematic.
Human categories are not always clearly relevant to dogs and there is sometimes uncertainty concerning the meaning of particular terms in the veterinary context.
This is especially true for categorization criteria that need subjective reporting of symptoms.
For example, whereas dog owners may detect a particular behavior that generally precedes a seizure and is suggestive of a behavioral shift, there are no straightforward means to establish the existence of a pre-seizure episode in humans.
The scientists have suggested a similar veterinary seizure categorization scheme that is not identical to the present human classification system.
So, that is why when we talk about epilepsy in dogs, symptoms should be interpreted using this.
A seizure is characterized chiefly based on where it originates in the brain, with particular elements of the episode utilized to further classify the occurrence.
Seizure Classification
The description of seizures is the most critical information required to diagnose canine epilepsies. Seizures are classified into two types: generalized and localized.
At the outset, generalized seizures affect both sides of the brain. They are defined by clinical indications on both sides of the body.
Most generalized seizures are characterized by bilateral involuntary muscular movements or abrupt changes in muscle tone.
An individual’s awareness of the surroundings is often diminished during a generalized seizure, and salivation, urine, and / or feces may occur.
Focal seizures begin in a particular location of the brain. They are defined by symptoms that affect just one side or section of the body.
Focal seizures may be characterized by aberrant motor activity (facial twitches, chewing motions, limb paddling), behavioral symptoms (fear, attention seeking) and / or alterations in autonomic processes (pupil dilation, salivation, vomiting).
During focal seizures, awareness may or may not be disturbed. A focal seizure might become generalized if it spreads to both sides of the brain.
Describing Seizures
When witnessing seizures, dog owners should maintain a detailed list of facts such as:
- Afflicted body parts, also known as epileptic fits in dogs.
- When seizures occur.
- How often seizures occur.
- How long they persist (see attached diary template for record-keeping).
Veterinarians and owners should also observe how dogs act immediately after a seizure. Although some animals may rapidly return to normal, others will have difficulty standing or moving or suffer from blindness, drowsiness, nervousness or other behavioral abnormalities during the postictal interval.
These signs of epilepsy in dogs might linger for varying lengths and can influence treatment options.
Seizures may occur due to a particular stimulus, such as disease, exposure to a toxin or metabolic issues (reactive seizures).
Any potentially triggering events should be reported to the attending veterinarian since reactive seizures are not often treated with regular anti-epileptic medications.
Dogs have also been known to develop reflex seizures regularly following a specific stimulus, such as a loud noise, a flashing light, or a more complicated movement or activity.
Types of Epilepsy in Dogs
Although determining the origin of seizures in dogs is not always achievable, canine epilepsies may typically be divided into one of three groups depending on etiology.
Idiopathic epilepsy is described as epilepsy with no apparent structural cause and is thought to be genetic.
Repeated seizures in 1 – 5-year-old dogs with regular neurologic examinations and no known anatomical abnormalities of the brain, metabolic disorders or toxic exposures are often considered idiopathic epilepsy.
Idiopathic epilepsy implies that the actual origin of the seizures is unclear, yet the illness is thought to be hereditary.
However, the source of such epilepsies may be established in some instances, such as when seizures are caused by a particular genetic abnormality in certain breeds.
Seizures caused by visible damage to or abnormalities of the brain are diagnosed as structural epilepsy. For example, structural epilepsy might develop as a result of a brain inflammatory illness, the formation of an intracranial tumor or head trauma.
It may also be caused by congenital abnormalities or a vascular disease like a stroke. The brain abnormalities identified in structural epilepsies may occasionally be diagnosed with an MRI or cerebrospinal fluid study.
Testing for structural epilepsy may be necessary if a dog has neurologic abnormalities between seizures or if the dog’s start age falls outside the standard range for idiopathic epilepsy.
Interictal alterations in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy are less prevalent.
The term “epilepsy of unknown cause” refers to a situation in which a structural cause is hypothesized but has not been discovered through diagnostic investigation.
Reactive seizures, which occur in reaction to particular stimuli (such as a metabolic imbalance or a toxin), are not termed epilepsy since they are not caused by a brain defect.
The Genetics of Canine Epilepsy
In both humans and animals, a substantial number of genetic alterations have been linked to epilepsy. The inheritance of epilepsy in humans is often complicated, including interactions of one or more genes with each other and possibly with environmental variables.
This is likely true of epilepsy in dogs as well. However, because of the level of inbreeding among dog breeds, it has been possible to identify specific animals at a very high risk of seizure development.
Many gene mutations have been found, and many of them are associated with a category of disorders known as neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinoses.
These are storage diseases in which mutations cause an aberrant accumulation and storage of a biological product inside cells, ultimately resulting in neuron malfunction or death.
Research into possible parallels between canine and human epilepsies has also resulted in discovering many candidate genes predicting the efficacy of anti-epileptic therapy in particular breeds.
The Etiology of Epilepsy
Although seizures are known to originate from disruption in the brain’s electrical activity, the particular biochemical pathways that create them in either dogs or humans are not entirely understood.
Epileptic seizures are thought to be triggered by an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory activity in specific brain parts, resulting in excessive or abnormally depressed brain activity.
However, the origins of such dysfunction remain unknown in the absence of structural damage or metabolic insults.
There is evidence that dysfunctional neurons and significant changes in ion channels, essential for the electrical activity of cells, can lead to abnormal excitatory processes.
However, that explanation will likely apply only to a subset of idiopathic epilepsies. More study into the particular causes of distinct types of epilepsy is required, as existing knowledge is insufficient.
Medical Management Options
Anti-epileptic medications (AED) typically operate in the brain by suppressing excitatory neurotransmitter activity, boosting inhibitory pathways or modifying ion channel function.
Not all medicines act the same way in all animals, and their safety profiles vary. A single, isolated seizure is not usually considered a justification to initiate AED medication.
Treatment with these drugs is generally recommended when a dog has had a lot of generalized seizures in the past 24 hours, at least two seizures in the past six months or unusual or severe postictal symptoms.
Once therapy is determined to be required, the process of selecting the best medicine necessitates balancing efficacy and tolerability.
Although many short-term adverse effects may be handled by adjusting drug doses, certain AEDs might have serious side effects.
As a result, medicines must be carefully selected and evaluated. It is crucial to note that not all epilepsies are treatable with drugs.
Anti-Epileptic Drugs
Because it is efficacious, relatively affordable, well-tolerated and readily dosed, phenobarbital, a first-generation AED, is one of the most often used medications in veterinary patients.
Blood cell loss (cytopenias) and liver damage are serious adverse effects. Sedation, ataxia, increased hunger and water intake is other adverse effects.
Dogs may acquire tolerance to phenobarbital over time and are vulnerable to withdrawal symptoms as physical reliance develops.
Potassium bromide, sometimes known simply as bromide, is another first-generation AED commonly used to treat canine epilepsy.
When used with phenobarbital and other AEDs processed in the liver, the dose of those medicines may be reduced to lessen the risk of liver damage.
Bromide may also be beneficial in treating epileptic patients who do not respond to phenobarbital monotherapy. Sedation, ataxia, vomiting and increased food and water intake are side effects of bromide.
Levetiracetam, zonisamide, felbamate, gabapentin, pregabalin and topiramate are second-generation AEDs used in dogs. Levetiracetam and zonisamide are the most often utilized of these.
Levetiracetam is a relatively safe therapy option with many doses, although its effectiveness is unknown. Sedation and ataxia are the most frequently reported adverse effects.
Furthermore, phenobarbital co-administration may impact how long it stays in the bloodstream. Zonisamide is processed by the liver and may result in liver damage, albeit this is uncommon.
Sedation, ataxia, vomiting and inappetence are some of the other side effects. It is well absorbed, operates via several pathways and has been proven beneficial in humans against various seizure types.
As zonisamide interacts with phenobarbital, dosages should be raised when the two medications are administered together.
Because it might induce cardiac rhythms, the second-generation human epilepsy medication lamotrigine is not advised for use in dogs.
Several third-generation AEDs have recently been approved for human use and may be effective in treating canine epilepsy.
Lacosamide has been demonstrated to be well tolerated in humans and some evidence supports its usage in dogs.
Rufinamide, a new AED that is unlike any other AED on the market, may also be helpful in canine epilepsy treatment.
Finally, numerous additional medications are being researched for epilepsy therapy, including pharmaceuticals that reduce inflammation, modify neuronal connections and address other brain health issues. However, they are not yet suitable for widespread use.
Drug Dosing
The process of determining the optimal dosage for an AED is time-consuming. While starting dose is decided by weight, many medicines are metabolized differently in different dogs.
As a result, blood tests are often required to check serum medication levels over time. That is needed to ensure that levels stay high enough to be therapeutic but low enough not to be toxic.
Blood AED levels are an excellent way to keep track of a dog’s health. Still, they can’t replace a clinical evaluation to find the best type and amount of medication for each dog.
Refractory Epilepsy
Medication-resistant epilepsy provides extra therapeutic hurdles in terms of dose and drug selection.
Refractory epilepsy is diagnosed after two acceptable AEDs have failed, affecting 30 percent – 40 percent of all dogs with epilepsy.
It may sometimes be treated using second or third-generation medicines in a multi-drug regimen, such as gabapentin, zonisamide, levetiracetam or pregabalin. Seizure control may be difficult to achieve in particular dogs.
The Takeaway
Nowadays, dogs and epilepsy are very unknown, even though veterinary medicine is very much developed. There is no known method to prevent idiopathic epilepsy other than a specific breeding effort that sterilizes affected animals and as many of their relatives as the inheritance system allows (at least all first-degree relatives).
But seizures are often preventable by veterinarian avoidance of medicines that may lower the seizure threshold.
Some natural remedies can improve your canine’s health and might positively affect the development of seizures.
We should also highlight that many worried pet owners question whether they will be able to leave their dogs alone at home.
Even the most devoted pet parent may need to leave their pet at some time. If your dog has seizures, the best thing to do before you leave home is to place your pet in a secure and comfortable environment. This way, even if a seizure occurs while you are gone, your dog will be as safe as possible.
Nutrition Strength Dog Seizure and Epilepsy Support
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Nutrition Strength’s Dog Seizure Support, Supplement for Epilepsy in Dogs, with Organic Valerian Root, Chamomile and Blue Vervain, Plus L-Tryptophan Dog Stress and Anxiety Aid is specially formulated to help rebalance and strengthen your pet’s immune and nervous systems.
A natural way to protect against dog seizures and epilepsy, our tasty tablets helps your four-legged friends by:
- Supporting your pet’s defensive systems to make it less likely that they suffer from epileptic attacks.
- Assisting in controlling and manage epileptic seizures when they do occur.
- Facilitating a healthy recovery from epileptic fits and helping to limit the damage from them.
- Strengthening the immune system to ensure that your dog is properly equipped to cope with their condition.
- Providing l-tryptophan and organic passion flower to promote balanced behavior in your dog and to limit nervous outbursts.
A sudden and uncontrolled electrical disturbance in the brain, a fit of epileptic seizure can reveal itself in many ways ranging from uncontrolled jerking movements to a momentary loss of awareness.
Our safe, tasty herbal supplement helps to soothe your pet’s nerves, while simultaneously promoting a balanced nervous system, healthy brain functioning and stability to help them deal with dog seizures and stress-related issues, such as separation anxiety, thunderstorms, fireworks and other loud noises, trips to the vet, car rides, changes in routine, dog parks and crowded public spaces.
Image source: Wikimedia / Robert Larsson.
