Sweetgrass Animal Hospital Pet Care Articles

Epilepsy is a condition of recurring seizures, regardless of the cause. Epilepsy is a common disorder of dogs, however it is rare in cats. It is estimated that between 2 percent and 5 and a half percent of the general dog population is affected with epilepsy.

Primary epilepsy, known as idiopathic epilepsy, accounts for about 80 percent of all cases in dogs. This appears to be related to an inherent imbalance in the brain's neurotransmitter levels. The underlying cause of the imbalance is not understood. The first seizure in a dog with primary epilepsy usually occurs between the ages of six months and five years. The breed, the age, and the history may suggest a genetic basis for primary epilepsy if there is a familial history of seizures.

Secondary epilepsy refers to a condition for which a cause can be determined. An injury to the brain can result in recurring seizures. Metabolic disorders can also cause epileptic seizures. When the underlying cause of the metabolic disorder is corrected, the seizures do not recur.

There are 3 basic stages to a seizure:

1. Aura - This is the period that precedes the seizure. It is characterized by behavioral changes or changes in mood. Restlessness, trembling, salivation, affection, crying, and hiding are common.
2. Ictus - This is the actual seizure. The stage is usually relatively brief, lasting from 1-3 minutes. Altered sensation and behavior, abnormal consciousness, and an increase in tone of all muscle groups is characteristic of this stage.
3. PostIctus - This is the period that follows the seizure. Very often, this is the only stage that the owner sees. The length of this stage is variable, but usually lasts less than 1 hour. Dogs appear confused, disoriented, weak and restless. Some dogs remain confused for several days after the seizure.

Seizures are classified according appearance.

Partial Seizures: Movements are restricted to one area of the body. They may progress to a generalized seizure. Partial seizures are often associated with secondary epilepsy.

Complex Partial Seizures: These are associated with bizarre or complex behaviors. Fly biting, chewing, aggression, and hysterical running are the signs of this type of seizure. This behavior can last minutes or hours and is often followed by a generalized seizure. Complex partial seizures are often associated with secondary epilepsy.

Generalized Convulsive Seizures: These seizures are always characterized by a loss of consciousness and have no localizing signs. They are usually tonic-clonic seizures that involve the entire body. This is the classic epileptic seizure, also known as "grand mal seizure".

Status Epilepticus: This is a constant seizure state. It can occur as one continuous seizure, or as a series of multiple seizures, with one seizure immediately following another. Most animals experiencing status epilepticus suffer from generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Status epilepticus is a medical emergency and a Veterinarian must be contacted immediately.

If a pet is experiencing an epileptic seizure, it is important that the owner notes all the details. The frequency (if more than one seizure), duration, and severity, as well as any behavioral abnormality associated with the seizures, should be noted and recorded. Since epilepsy can mimic symptoms of other diseases, it is necessary to obtain an accurate description.

A complete neurological examination, plus blood tests, are necessary to diagnose epilepsy.