Cory's Story

We went camping over the 4th of July weekend.  Cory got to swim in a lake and dry himself off by the campfire.  He was delighted to be strong enough to do the things he loves to do the most!

Canine Epilepsy: An Owner's Guide to Understanding & Living with Canine Seizures

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It snuck up on me.  One day I looked at my dog and thought to myself, “when did you get old?”   Wasn’t it just last week you were pulling me all over the neighborhood on our walks, with me pleading with you to slow down?  When exactly did you stop jumping up onto our bed for your morning hugs and cuddles?  When was it that you decided not to jump into the back of the SUV to go for a treasured ride?  I remember researching dog ramps and ordering one online, but that was because I thought you might need one “someday,” and now you cannot get into the car without it.

That’s the way it is when our beloved dogs gain senior status.  It is wise to prepare for that inevitability emotionally and to educate yourself so that you will be ready and able to help them when they need you.  Of course, you cannot predict when your dog is going to officially become a senior.  It is certainly not at a specific age.  In fact, generally the smaller the dog, the longer the expected life span.  For example, if you look at two dogs who are both 10 years old, the one who weighs under 20 pounds is roughly 56 years old in human years, and the dog who is over 90 pounds is about 78 years in human years.  That’s a 22 year difference!  A lot will have to do with your dog’s overall health to begin with.  But if you are able to make yourself aware of the subtle changes that come with aging, you will be in a better position to get help for your dog’s health problems when they might be easier to treat.

Common signs of aging:

• Tiring more quickly;
• Reluctance to jump into the car, or falling when attempting to jump onto something that used to be easy for the dog;
• Graying hair, especially on the face;
• Difficulty getting up from or lying down on the floor;
• Sleeping for more hours of the day than before;
• Increased dream activity, shown by the dog moving his legs as if running while sleeping;
• Problems with vision or hearing;
• Excessive sneezing, where the dog’s nose sometimes hits the floor with the explosion of the sneeze;
• Dragging hind legs over the knuckles during a walk;
• Tumors, especially fatty tumors that form under the skin;
• Growths like warts that form on the dog’s skin, often on the face;
• Incontinence, resulting in accidents in the house.

What can you do?

• Be vigilant to the changes your dog is going through and educate yourself about the therapies that are available for aging dogs;
• Adjust exercise so your dog remains confident and does not get stressed by overdoing it;
• Keep excess weight off if at all possible.   I found that this is easily accomplished by feeding an all raw, natural diet.  Obesity is probably the most common reason for stress on the overall health of your dog;
• Have a geriatric work up done by your veterinarian about every 6 months to screen for common ailments in senior dogs such as a thyroid imbalance, kidney, heart or liver diseases, arthritis and diabetes;
• Keep your dog’s teeth clean, (periodontal disease is one of the most common problems seen by vets in their senior patients).

What Therapies and other Aids are available for aging dogs?

In addition to traditional medicines, such as the commonly prescribed  Rimadyl for arthritis pain in dogs, there are a host of “alternative” therapies that are becoming popular to the great relief of owners of senior canine citizens.  They include holistic therapy and homeopathic remedies.  Here are some examples:

• Arnica Montana, is a homeopathic remedy that you can buy in any health food store.  It works wonders for dogs with aches and pains, and there is absolutely no danger of any unpleasant side effects.  It especially provides relief from sore muscles after exercise.  (This remedy is actually made for humans, so you won’t find it at the pet store);

• The following must be done by licensed professionals, but the benefits can be well worth the cost:

Hydrotherapy;
Acupuncture;
Massage, (often combined with the      hydrotherapy in the same session);
Chiropractic treatments.

Other Aids:

Life Jackets, if your dog is a swimmer;

A harness may help if the dog’s rear end is weak and he needs assistance walking   or using the stairs;

Portable Steps to allow the dog to get up on the furniture; (did somebody say “to help dogs get up on the furniture”?)

A sturdy telescoping ramp to allow the dog to easily get into and out of the car or RV;

Carts (See K-9 Cart Company.  They make custom carts for dogs, tailored to their specific needs).

I realize that there is much more that can be said about health considerations for the older dog, but it is not my intent to write a book on the subject.  I hope that the things I mentioned to watch for and the suggestions for what you can do will help you with a place to start.  It is a sacred journey we share with our canine companions and a special honor to have them live long enough so that we can care for them in their golden years.

Canine Epilepsy: An Owner's Guide to Understanding & Living with Canine Seizures

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It is possible for any pet to experience a seizure during their lifetime, but epilepsy is diagnosed when seizures happen repeatedly. Epilepsy indicates that there is some sort of problem occurring within the brain. Seizures are actually like an electrical storm within the brain for the epileptic dog.

The problem is not uncommon; in fact, up to four percent of all dogs may experience seizures during their lives. These percentages are even higher with certain breeds as the condition is known to be hereditary. The percentages are much higher for certain breeds; as high as fourteen percent in some cases.

Inherited epilepsy is caused due to a specific gene mutation. The Canine Epilepsy Project is a research project supported by grants from health foundations, breed clubs and private donations. Their research is to determine the specific gene that is responsible for the disease.

Dogs that inherit this gene tend to begin having seizures between one to three years of age. The disease is unpredictable and seizures may be related to specific events that occur. Many suffer from regular occurrences, but the patterns remain hard to predict.

If the condition is either inherited or due to trauma and no tumor is responsible for the seizures, then they will most likely be controlled with particular medications. Controlling the number and severity of the seizures is the most important goal. Cluster seizures can be life-threatening to a dog as they frequently lose consciousness.

While there are side effects associated with many types of the medications prescribed, they must be compared to the severity of the condition. If the pet is having a seizure more frequently than one time for every couple of months, then medication becomes necessary. The possibility of brain damage is more likely the more seizures that they experience.

Phenobarbital is the first choice of medication for most dogs and very few have adverse reactions. There are some problems with long-term use of this particular drug and the damage that it may cause the liver. Liver functions will need to be monitored on a regular basis while the drug is being taken.

If the time comes when a pet is no longer able to take Phenobarbital due to liver problems, then bromide will most likely be the alternative course for treatment. Veterinarians have special approval from the FDA for its use and it has been used for epilepsy for many years with success. Too much salt in the diet can be a problem when taking bromide and it should be monitored.

A healthy diet can greatly benefit the dog suffering from epilepsy. Many times the preservatives in their food can be just the thing that may cause the seizures. Do some research and keep them on a low-sodium and preservative free diet to make having seizures less likely, especially in breeds that are more prone to the condition.

It is a fact that the pet will remain on medications to prevent seizures throughout their life. An important point to remember is that the dosage should never be altered without the permission of the veterinarian. There systems become very dependent on the medications they take and any change can actually cause a seizure to occur in the epileptic dog.

Canine Epilepsy: An Owner's Guide to Understanding & Living with Canine Seizures

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When people see their beloved canine companions suffering from a fit, it can be scary and frustrating, especially when you aren’t sure how to help them and where it may lead. Epilepsy in dogs can be fairly common, however, but it also can be manageable to some degree, as well as slightly less frightening once you understand its causes and symptoms.

Canine epilepsy is a chronic condition that is primarily marked by the reoccurring seizures, even though not all cases of seizures are always due to a dog having epilepsy. This disorder is caused by abnormal electrical activity triggers in the brain, bringing on an uncoordinated transmission of the nerves. As a result, this can cause the brain signals to send out chaotic or misinformed messages to the rest of the body and its muscles.

Since there are many causes for seizures, canine epilepsy cannot be defined as one singular or specific disease or cause. Instead, it is more rather a category within a series of disorders, and it is divided into two different types of disorders or subcategories known as idiopathic and symptomatic disorders.

Symptomatic epilepsy, also referred to as secondary epilepsy, can be consequential to identifiable lesions or other specific causes such as canine distemper, kidney or liver disorders, toxins, tumors, brain damage or low oxygen to the brain and so forth. It is strongly believed or suspected that idiopathic, or primary, epilepsy is due to genetics and generally sprout up between the ages of one and five years old, often due being something that’s particular in specific breeds. Idiopathic seizures often entails the lack of identifiable brain abnormalities other than the seizures themselves.

Seizures are classified as being two types: petite mal seizures and grand mal seizures, with grand mal seizures often being the most common. Common seizures generally result in the dog falling onto their side and/or showing signs of uncontrollable muscle spasm or convulsions. Other behaviors may appear as if the dog is drunk, swimming in place or paddling, excessive salivating, and the occasional defecation and urination. Petite mal seizures often do not result in convulsions, but may bring on the loss of consciousness.

Common beginning phases of a seizure may be where the dog acts oddly such as pacing, salivating, hiding, overly affectionate, whining or restless. During the actual seizure, you will note uncontrolled muscle spasms, vomiting, running in circles and so forth. After a seizure, symptoms usually result in the dog appearing disoriented, lethargic, uncoordinated and, in some cases, may suffer temporary blindness.

Whenever you see your pet having a seizure, it’s important to keep an eye on them and to calm them as much as possible. However, since the dog will be disoriented, it’s best to avoid touching them directly in case they bite by accident. In most cases, comforting the pet at the end has the most benefit, since they may not be aware of your efforts during the fact.

If you feel that epilepsy in dogs is part of the problem, or if you’re seeing signs of poor health or seizures, it’s always important to seek professional help from your veterinarian, so that they’re able to give a proper diagnosis. They will generally perform lab tests, x-rays, a neurological and physical exam in order to gain a diagnosis, as well as ask you about any previous health issues or history. While there are no exact tests to determine epilepsy, certain exams can help to determine the cause for the seizures themselves. They may be able to prescribe treatment or medication to help manage these fits, as well advise you properly on how you and your dog can cope with them in the future.

Canine Epilepsy: An Owner's Guide to Understanding & Living with Canine Seizures

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Dealing with epilepsy dogs often have is a disease that is characterized by recurring seizures. It is important to note that not all seizures are indicative of epilepsy. The disease is caused by abnormal brain function where electrical impulses malfunction and cause the well-known seizures. It is a disease that occurs in all breeds of dogs, and is thought to be genetic.

The disease is broken down into two categories. The first, and most common, is idiopathic. Idiopathic epilepsy means that it is a genetic condition. There will often be a history of the disease in the dog’s lineage.

The second type of epilepsy can be traced to some environmental or nutritional aspect. In the second form of epilepsy there are often causes such as toxins in environment or nutritional deficiencies.

The primary symptoms of epilepsy are the seizures. There are many types of seizures. People familiar with epilepsy in humans will recognize these categories. There are the grand mal seizures. In the grand mal seizure the dog might collapse, lose consciousness and exhibit other extreme behaviors. This type of seizure is associated with the first form of epilepsy.

There are lesser degrees of seizure; some may be very limited in outward signs. In some cases the dog may seem to twitch, or become hazy. Some people may not even recognize a seizure when it occurs.

Having a dog with epilepsy can present many problems, however you can find ways to help treat the dog. While there is no cure for epilepsy there are medications that can treat it. These medications can limit the amount of seizures or limit the degree to which the seizures occur. Some of the medications are the same medications that humans use. Valium is used in some instances, as well as neurontin, are some of the medications.

If your dog exhibits the signs of a seizure you should do several things. First, observe their behavior so that you may inform the veterinarian how they were acting before and after the event.

You will also want to observe what your dog has been eating and what materials they have been exposed to. Being observant will help determine if the dog has primary Epilepsy or if perhaps the seizures are caused by some secondary environmental factor.

Once the seizure has occurred, your veterinarian will conduct a series of tests. These tests will determine if your dog has epilepsy. These tests will range from determining the level of lead in your dogs blood, to taking advanced imaging tests of the dogs brain.

It is important to keep the dog’s environment as clean and free of toxic substances as possible. Also, once the dog is put on medication, there are concerns about side effects that must be watched. Certain drugs that treat epilepsy can lead to side effects and live damage.

Many of the drugs that are used to treat epilepsy can cause damage to your dog if they are suddenly stopped. For this reason, it is advisable that if you decide to switch medications consult your veterinarian. They will usually suggest slowly lowering the dosage.

While a dog that has epilepsy can never be cured, there are many things that can be done to make the dogs life more comfortable. Just because a dog has epilepsy doesn’t not mean that your life and the dogs will be unpleasant. There are medications and ways to make the disease more tolerable.

Canine Epilepsy: An Owner's Guide to Understanding & Living with Canine Seizures

Ready to read Cory's Story? Read Chapter 1 Now.

The different types of dogs seizures may occur at any time. They are unpredictable and a source of distress that affects not only the dog but the owner as well. The owner can be a source of comfort for their pet by remaining calm and speaking to them in soothing tones. Gently rubbing their back will also be comforting.

They are in a state where they have absolutely no control over their muscles. They can loose control of their bowels and bladder and have period where they are unable to breathe. Under no circumstances should the dog be restrained or even held. Try to remove anything that is around them that they could injure themselves on. Other pets and children should stand back as well.

Hands must remain away from the dogs mouth as they can snap or attack without meaning to. The dog owner should also take the time to make notes of all of what is occurring with their pet. It will be difficult to remain calm but it may help to know that there is no pain associated with the seizures. Those notes will help the vet identify the cause and a treatment plan. Try to note as well what occurred just before the most obvious symptoms and after.

The different types of seizures each have their own set of symptoms. One type is the generalized seizure. Within this type there is the grand mal seizure which displays itself as the pet falling and rigidly extending its legs. Then there may be a paddling movement, chewing, salivating and loss of bowels. The mild type has a little paddling but the dog is conscious.

Petit mal seizures involve just moments of unconsciousness, their eyes may rotate up or they will have a blank stare. This type is considered very rare. Partial seizures affect one area of the body. It may be twitching of the facial muscles or a single limb jerking. These can progress to a generalized seizure and it should be noted if one area was affected first.

Complex partial seizures are associated with unusual repetitive behaviors. They can last for minutes or hours. Consciousness is not lost but the symptoms are disturbing. There may be temporary blindness, excessive hunger or thirst, they may bite themselves or become aggressive. They may cower and hide in fear. Lip smacking and chewing may also occur.

The potentially life threatening types of seizures are the status epilepticus and cluster seizures. The cluster type is a series seizures that have small periods of consciousness between them. The status epilepticus can be one seizure that lasts up to 30 minutes. It may also be a series of seizures like the cluster type, without the period of consciousness.

Since there are periods when the dog may not be able to breathe during any of the seizures, it is easy to see why these are considered life threatening. There are prescriptions available to help control dogs seizures. Working closely with the veterinarian may help your pet find relief or control of the symptoms.

Canine Epilepsy: An Owner's Guide to Understanding & Living with Canine Seizures

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It is the one thing that a pet owner never wants to have to deal with this is the topic of a dog having a seizure and the pet owner feeling like they are unable to do anything to help their beloved pet. There is however several dog seizures treatment options that you will want to consider. For a pet in the case of this.

The first thing that you need to do is to understand what exactly causes a seizure in a dog. The number one cause of these is due to epilepsy; this is a condition that can affect a dog as much as it does a human. As with a person, there are several varying degrees of the seizure that a person needs to know about.

These tips will assist a person in making sure that you and the dog are able to get through the ordeal in a manner that will make it easy on the both of you. Know that your vet is able to prescribe medicine that you can give your dog that will help to prevent them from having a seizure.

There are also several natural treatments that are safe for a dog to use that will also help to reduce the number of seizures that they have on a regular basis. These can be bought at a large number of pet stores and great taste and the dog will never know that it is medicine. The easier that it is for a person to give the do its medicine, then the better this will be for the both of you.

In the event that you dog does have a seizure, then you need to take some steps in an order to make sure that the dog does not injure themselves any further. These steps will help to ensure that you pet is safe and taken care of during the seizure.

The first thing is to make sure that they are not around anything that they can hit their head on. This will help to make sure that there is no more damage done to the dogs head. Try to get the dog to an area that has a lot of padding, such as a couch or chair. If this cannot be done, the grab some of the pillows and cushions from the couch and try to pad the dog during the seizure.

Make sure to never try to do anything with their mouth during the event, this can lead to them clamping down during the seizure and cause serious injury to you as a result. Let the dog be and just allow things to take their course. This will help you and the dog from being injured any further.

These tips are designed to help ensure that you and your pet are able to enjoy many years together. There dog seizures treatment options that can be used with a dog, make sure that you discuss these with your vet and see what is the best option for your dog.

Canine Epilepsy: An Owner's Guide to Understanding & Living with Canine Seizures

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If you own or look after a dog you want to do all you can to look after it. However if you have seen your dog have a seizure you may not know what to do. Learning how to recognize a dog seizure and how to treat them can save you and your dog unnecessary pain.

Seizures can be caused by a number of factors, such as primary or secondary epilepsy. It can also be the result of injuries to the head or eating toxic foods. In some cases it can be hereditary so you should ask this when buying a dog to check their medical history.

One common misconception when dealing with a dog seizure is that you need to make sure that you need to grab their tongue to ensure they do not swallow it. Not only is this inaccurate but can be potentially very dangerous. This is because the dog is likely to react and bite you, causing you a serious injury.

Recognizing the symptoms is important. There are various types of dog seizure and you should give your veterinarian as many details as you possibly can. For example a partial seizure will occur in only one part of the body whereas a grand mal seizure will include other symptoms such as paddling motions and dilated eyes.

A serious seizure to look out for is status epilepiticus. This either consists of a single seizure lasting up to half an hour or a series of repetitive seizures. It often occurs with dogs who have had a history of milder seizures or who have had suffered an injury to the brain or eaten toxic substances. It is important to check this with your vet as they can sometimes be mistaken for cluster seizures. The difference is that dogs will often be conscious between seizures.

When a seizure occurs you should do your best to take a deep breath and stay calm. Remember even if your dog is conscious they may not necessarily be aware of what is wrong and they will be reassured by a quiet and calm tone of voice. If possible, move furniture to prevent the dog knocking against it.

Take a note of when the seizure occurred and contact the veterinarian immediately, especially if this is the first time this has happened. They will usually ask if there was any outside influence such as fireworks or excessive play time. You should also note how long before the dog appeared to be acting normally. For some time after your dog may appear to be in an almost drugged state and take longer to respond to commands.

Depending on the severity of the seizures, the vet may also look at blood tests to check for factors such as glucose and calcium levels. It is vital to observe your pet after the seizure and pass any information on. If the symptoms are spotted early enough, a dog seizure can be treated and they can lead a normal, happy life.

Canine Epilepsy: An Owner's Guide to Understanding & Living with Canine Seizures

Ready to read Cory's Story? Read Chapter 1 Now.

When someone picks out a pet and brings it home, they may be surprised to learn that it has dog epilepsy. This is a condition that the dog will have for the rest of it’s life. It is up to the dog owner to find out everything they can about it, in order to keep the dog safe and living a long life. The first thing a dog owner should do is visit a vet.

If a pet has had a seizure, a quick trip to the vet is in order. The vet will inspect the dog and run some tests. When the test results come back, the doctor will be able to tell for sure, if it was in fact a seizure or not. The vet will also ask the patient about the symptoms of the attack and what happened just before it took place.

Sometimes a dog owner will know what a trigger is for their dog’s attacks. It could be a certain food, or noise that triggers it. Some dogs have seizures when they travel in cars or get into something they shouldn’t have. For some owners they have no idea what may trigger it and do not know when it will happen again.

Some dogs will have an epilepsy episode once in their lifetime, and then never experience it again. While some pets have few and far between symptoms, others have attacks a few times a week. This can be scary for the pet owner and the pet. The first attack could leave a pet and owner in a frantic situation. The best way to get through it, is to stay calm and assured. A dog will get through the attack and it will be short lived.

When a dog does have an attack, they could respond in two different ways. They may drop and lay on their back panting, or they could just zone out and seem to lose what they are doing. In both situations there are certain things that an owner can do.

The dog’s owners can quickly help the dog get back to reality. They can do this by calling their dogs name and ensuring that the pet is safe. There is no need to touch the dog or play with the tongue. An attack should not last more than one minute. If it does, an owner can take their pet to the vet clinic for further advice.

A vet could suggest daily medicine to help with the issue. There could be different medical ways to handle the epilepsy in a dog. The vet can also offer suggestions and tips for the owners of the pet. They can offer some great ideas for helping a dog through the attack and ensuring their comfort.

When a dog epilepsy situation has become part of your life, the best way to cope is to gather information. The more informed and prepared you are as an owner, the more success your pet will have. These dogs will last many years and be able to have a healthy and normal life, regardless of their seizures and troubles. These dogs may have a trigger that is known to cause attacks and have these things avoided. When there is no cause, an owner can just treat the dog like a normal pet and deal with the attacks as they present themselves.

Canine Epilepsy: An Owner's Guide to Understanding & Living with Canine Seizures

Ready to read Cory's Story? Read Chapter 1 Now.

There are several different types of canine seizures that you may want to know about. A partial only affects a small area or just one side of the body. The most common type is a grand mal. The dog will fall over, go into convulsions, salivate, urinate and defecate involuntarily, and be unaware of surroundings. In a petit mal, the animal looks like it simply passed out, as there is no convulsing.

A seizure has three recognizable phases that you will notice if you observe closely. In the pre-stage, also called the aura, dogs appear restless, whine, salivate, or try to hide. The ictus is the episode itself. Collapsing, convulsing, salivating, and vomiting may occur. The postictal phase is the recovery and can last from minutes to days. They may appear uncoordinated and disoriented. Temporary blindness can sometimes set in.

The exact trigger of episodes such as these is still unknown. However, it has been noticed that a state of excitement tends to set off an attack in many pets. This could be anything from playing to greeting visitors or even yourself when you come home from work at the end of the day. Some dogs also appear to have their seizure while sleeping, but should not be confused with simple dreaming. You cannot awake a seizuring animal.

Many various conditions can be the cause of episodes of this sort. One of these culprits is called diabetes mellitus. Like humans, canines can have this metabolic disease. The pancreas doe not produce enough insulin, causing dangerously elevated glucose levels. Or sometimes they’re too low, which is called hypoglycemia.

The consumption of certain toxic substances may also be to blame. Chocolate is a toxin to dogs and should never be given to them. Something else to watch out for is antifreeze. Animals are attracted to its sweet smell and taste. However, it only takes a small amount to kill a pet, as it slowly shuts down the kidneys through crystallization.

Canine distemper, an extremely dangerous virus, can sometimes also cause seizures. This particular disorder completely ravages nearly every area of the dog’s body. It’s very contagious and also has an incredibly high death rate. The suffering of the animal during the process is great. Avoid contraction of this deadly illness by having your pet vaccinated against it each year without fail.

If your veterinarian cannot find an exact cause, either one that was mentioned or one of several others, he will most likely diagnose the dog as epileptic. Epilepsy simply means recurring seizures not associated with another condition. Caused by random firing of neurons in the cerebrum, they’re most likely due to a chemical imbalance. It most commonly appears from ages of six months to five years.

Should your animal have a seizure, there are things you should be prepared to do. First, try to stay calm. If he’s not on the floor, put him there so he can’t get hurt from a fall. The dog will not swallow his tongue, so don’t put your hand in his mouth; you may be bitten. Clear the room of other pets and children. Carefully observe the dog so you can accurately report it to your vet. If it lasts more than three minutes or immediately repeats, call your vet immediately.

Canine Epilepsy: An Owner's Guide to Understanding & Living with Canine Seizures

Ready to read Cory's Story? Read Chapter 1 Now.