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A nightmare for every dog owner: your beloved pet suddenly collapses and starts having seizures. Your dog is having an epileptic fit. This article provides essential information on epilepsy in dogs.
Epilepsy in dogs is a common neurological condition caused by disruptions in the creation and transmission of nerve impulses in parts of the brain. Entire groups of nerve cells discharge electricity uncontrollably at the same time, leading to a seizure.
Typically, an epileptic seizure in dogs progresses through four phases:
Prodromal Phase: the affected animals display restlessness for several hours to days before the actual seizure
Aura: most dogs seek increased proximity to their owner and may exhibit other behavioural changes
Ictus: the dog shows the main symptoms (see below)
Postictal Phase: recovery phase
A dog is defined as having epilepsy if it experiences at least two epileptic seizures more than 24 hours apart. An epileptic seizure refers to the disease’s manifestation at a specific time.
Symptoms: How to Recognise Epilepsy in Dogs
During the different phases of an epileptic seizure, the following symptoms may occur:
Sudden collapse
Tonic (highly tense muscles) and clonic (convulsive twitching muscles) seizures
Involuntary urination and defecation
Loss of consciousness
Chewing movements
Hallucinations (e.g., snapping at imaginary flies, frenzied behaviour, barking or tail chasing)
Excessive saliva production (salivation)
Changes in personality
Epileptic seizures vary in severity and are classified into different forms based on duration and symptom presence. Notably, there are two special forms of epileptic seizures:
Status Epilepticus
A status epilepticus seizure lasts more than 5 min. or involves two or more seizures in which the dog does not regain consciousness between episodes. If your dog is in status epilepticus, seek a veterinarian immediately, as this is life-threatening.
Cluster or Series Seizures
If your dog has two or more seizures within 24 hours, it is experiencing cluster seizures. Frequent seizures may indicate that medication needs adjustment, so you should also consult your veterinarian.
Causes: What Triggers Epilepsy in Dogs?
Many conditions can cause epilepsy in dogs. Vets distinguish between symptomatic epilepsy with a known cause and idiopathic epilepsy. Symptomatic epilepsy can be triggered by various conditions:
Idiopathic epilepsy, however, is far more common. Affected dogs are usually between 1 to 5 years old when their first seizure occurs, and initially, the seizures occur at long intervals. Breeds like Schnauzers, Cocker Spaniels and Poodles are particularly prone to idiopathic epilepsy.
Diagnosis: What Examinations Does the Vet Perform?
Diagnosing epilepsy in dogs is essentially done by excluding other conditions. The vet first eliminates other differential diagnoses. An extensive history from the owner (anamnesis) provides crucial insights into the illness. Details like prior medication, ingestion of toxic substances or hereditary predispositions speed up diagnosis. Video recordings of the incidences can be very useful.
Following a general and neurological examination, additional tests may be conducted:
Blood tests: to exclude organic causes
X-rays of the chest and abdomen: to detect potential metastases or tumours
After an epileptic seizure, dogs need calm and rest to recover safely
Therapy: How is Epilepsy in Dogs Treated?
As distressing as witnessing your pet’s seizure can be, there’s not much you can do at that moment. If your dog shows clear signs of an impending seizure, move it to a safe area with minimal injury risk and try to keep the environment calm.
Do not attempt to pull your dog’s tongue out of its mouth. In this situation, your feline friend has no control over its jaw muscles, and you risk being bitten.
Document the seizure as precisely as possible. A video or detailed description often provides valuable information to the vet. Note the duration of the seizure.
If it is not a status epilepticus, avoid rushing your pet to the vet during the seizure. You are likely to arrive after the seizure, and recovery is easier for your dog in a familiar environment.
What Long-Term Therapy is There for the Idiopathic Form?
If your dog is diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy and the frequency of seizures increases, the vet will initiate long-term therapy. This aims to reduce the frequency, duration, and severity of the seizures.
Various medications may be used, possibly in combination, until the correct dosage is found. Follow-up examinations with your vet occur at increasing intervals.
For particularly severe seizures, your vet will discuss administering emergency medication with you.
What Therapy is Available for the Symptomatic Form?
Treatment for symptomatic epilepsy depends on the underlying cause. Some conditions may be treatable, while others may not be curable.
Prognosis: What are the Chances of Recovery?
While idiopathic epilepsy in dogs is not curable, it is usually well-managed with proper medication by the owner and the vet.
The prognosis for symptomatic and extracerebral epilepsy depends heavily on the underlying condition.
Good therapeutic outcomes rely on an appropriate treatment method, collaboration between the dog owner and vet, timely recognition of early signs, and correct medication administration.
Prophylaxis: Can I Prevent Epilepsy in Dogs?
Unfortunately, you cannot prevent epilepsy in dogs through prophylactic measures. However, good cooperation with your vet reduces the occurrence of further epileptic seizures.
Important Note: The content provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional veterinary advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your pet's health, please always consult a licensed veterinarian.
Franziska G., Veterinarian
At the Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen I was extensively trained as a veterinarian and was able to gain experience in various fields such as small animal, large animal and exotic animal medicine as well as pharmacology, pathology and food hygiene.
Since then, I have been working not only as a veterinary author, but also on my scientifically driven dissertation. My goal is to better protect animals from pathogenic bacterial organisms in the future.
Besides my veterinary knowledge, I also share my own experiences as a happy dog owner and can thus understand and enlighten fears and problems as well as other important questions about animal health.
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