Cory's Story

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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