Cory's Story

One of the most common things I hear from people, when I explain that my dog is epileptic, is “Oh, I didn’t know that dogs could have that disease!”  How I wish it weren’t true!  Dogs can and do have seizures. There are many causes of seizures, such as epilepsy (which is often an inherited disease with no known physical cause), brain tumors, toxins, or illness such as distemper or tick induced diseases, to name just a few. The purpose of this article is to briefly visit some of the most common symptoms of a dog seizure. It is possible for a dog with a seizure disorder to experience all of these symptoms at different times.

What just happened to my dog?  Was that a seizure?

The following symptoms are associated with these various kinds of seizures.

ABSENCE SEIZURES a/k/a PETIT MAL SEIZURES. These seizures are the most difficult to assess, because nothing dramatic happens; you just get the sense that your dog is somehow “off.”  These seizures are also sometimes called “focal seizures” because the dog has a blank stare and may lose control of its bladder or bowels. If this is the only kind of seizure your dog experiences, you will likely not recognize it as a seizure.

PARTIAL SEIZURES. These occur when your dog has seizure activity in only one part of the body, such as in the face or just on one side of the body.  Typical symptoms are ataxia (i.e., the dog will try to walk but is unable to because the legs cross themselves causing stumbling, as if the legs have had their blood supply cut off putting them to sleep) or muscle spasms. The dog may fall over on its side and lie still until the seizure passes.

COMPLEX PARTIAL SEIZURES.  The behavior of the dog is suddenly erratic. He may run around the house as if being chased by an unseen demon, or he may appear to be frightened or even frantic and then fall down. Some dogs may find themselves stuck in a corner, unable to get out.  He may bite at the air as if he sees flies, or stand rock solid with his eyes fixed on nothing and drool.  He may stare into space as if he can see into the next dimension, and be unresponsive to your voice or even your touch. Dogs who experience these kinds of seizures will be unable to hear or see you while they are in the midst of the seizure. Complex partial seizures can escalate into Grand Mal seizures, or they can just as easily leave without a trace, and the dog will appear as if nothing happened, leaving you wondering if you can trust your own senses as to what you think you just witnessed.

GRAND MAL SEIZURES, a/k/a TONIC-CLONIC SEIZURES. These are the seizures that can be mistaken for a heart attack or a stroke, but there can be no question that something horrible is happening to the dog. The dog loses complete control of its body, falls to the ground and may lose consciousness. The dog may actually stop breathing for a few seconds. When breathing resumes, the dog’s body will convulse and the dog may lose control of its bladder or bowels. These kinds of seizures involve the entire body, whereas partial seizures affect just one part or side of the dog’s body. These seizures can become either STATUS EPILEPTICUS or CLUSTER SEIZURES. The status epilepticus seizure is a GRAND MAL that is not over after five minutes, and it can be life-threatening. Dogs experiencing cluster seizures will come out of one seizure for a time, only to have another a short time later.

After the seizure is over, depending upon its intensity, a dog may appear to be drugged, confused or very tired. If the dog did not lose bladder or bowel control during the seizure, he may need to relieve himself urgently. Some dogs experience temporary blindness, and pacing is also common following a seizure. Many dogs will be ravenous or thirsty because the massive neural and physical activity during a seizure releases hormones and consumes glucose.

Once you have determined that your dog did have a seizure, it is important to get the dog in to see a veterinarian in order to have a full examination done. The exam should include a full panel blood work-up to check for a possible thyroid imbalance, hypoglycemia, low serum calcium levels in the blood, tick borne diseases such as Lyme or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever disease, distemper, and kidney or liver diseases. If everything is ruled out, then you will likely get a diagnosis of Idiopathic Epilepsy, which usually has a genetic link in the dog’s ancestral chain, and should be brought to the attention of the breeder, if known. With proper canine nutrition and under the care of a veterinarian who is experienced in treating epilepsy, the odds are in your favor that your dog will be able to live a long and happy life despite the seizure disorder.

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

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

Good morning! Here’s part 2 of yesterday’s article:

The Aura. This is the period of intensity of the pre-ictal symptoms, just before the seizure starts.  The dog may be restless, apprehensive, begin pacing, or even try to hide.

The Ictal Phase, also known as the “Ictus.” Ick is the word indeed, as this is a period of intense neurological spasming resulting in a disruption of brain activity that explodes in a chaos of mixed signals flooding the dog’s body.  Most seizures last for 1 to 5 minutes.  Any longer than 5 minutes and you have a prolonged seizure that may require medical intervention.  During this phase most dogs fall onto their side and are either stiff-legged with rigidity, or paddling uncontrollably while convulsing.  Sometimes the dog will lose control of its bladder or bowels during this phase.  The best thing you can do for your dog is to act like you are remaining calm, turn off the lights and any noise, keep the dog from hitting his head on something, and perhaps ocular compression will help lessen the duration or intensity of the seizure.  If your dog has already been diagnosed as having epilepsy, your vet will probably have given you several syringes full of valium which you can use if the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, or if one seizure quickly follows another.

The Post-Ictal Phase. Once the seizure has ended, the dog may appear to be dazed for several minutes to several hours.  Many dogs pace frantically.  Some are temporarily blind and will bump into walls.  Your dog will most likely need to go outside to eliminate, and then you should help replace the glucose that will have been depleted by the seizure.  A spoonful of honey on top of some natural, preservative-free vanilla ice cream will help restore the blood sugar levels quickly, and your dog will appreciate lots of fresh, filtered water to drink.

I hope you’ve found this information helpful! To see other resources I’ve written about dog seizures, visit the resources page. Stay tuned for more posts soon, including an update on the progress of the book!

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

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

Epilepsy in dogs can be an inherited trait or it may be brought on by preservatives in the type of dog food they are eating. Certain breeds have a slightly higher percentage for risk of the condition than others. It is possible that a dog may have one of three different types of the condition. Most canine epilepsy can be treated with diet change, the proper medications and periodic liver enzyme testing.

A certain genetic basis for seizures has actual been proven in the breeds of Beagles, German Shepherds, Dachshunds, Belgian Tervurens and Keeshonds. There is some evidence that suggests that the English Springer Spaniel may also be predisposed genetically. The condition is quite common in dogs and even when not inherited, they may develop it over the course of their lifetime. Seizures have been linked to conditions related to the thyroid as well and this should be tested initially at diagnosis.

Food preservatives put dogs at a higher risk for this condition so a change in diet is frequently necessary for the treatment. For breeds that are at higher risk purchasing brands with no preservatives from the beginning may help in preventing the onset. Read labeling carefully when shopping and markings regarding preservatives will be clear.

Three specific types of epilepsy can occur in dogs including reactive, secondary and primary. Reactive seizures are related to issues dealing with the metabolic system. These can be things like liver failure, kidney failure and low blood sugar.

Secondary is also known as symptomatic and can be caused by problems such as stroke or tumors in the brain. Trauma is also known to bring on this type of epilepsy. This type is labeled due to a particular known cause.

Primary or otherwise called idiopathic is labeled as such because there is no diagnosed cause. The diagnosis is actually reached by eliminating all other possibilities for seizure. This is more likely to occur in dogs that are between the ages of one and three.

There are several types of seizures that may occur lasting from momentary periods to repetitive occurrences. Petit mal are mild and may only be staring for a brief period of time. Grand mal are moderate and may last for as long as three minutes with the animal losing consciousness. Status epilepticus and cluster seizures can both be life threatening and it is difficult in some cases to differentiate between the two; lasting up to more than ten minutes with a loss of consciousness and repeating.

Several excellent medications are used to treat the condition including Phenobarbital, Valium and potassium bromide. Continual monitoring of the liver function is necessary when the animal is being treated with Phenobarbital. If the liver becomes damaged at some point due to medication, the animal is likely to be switched to only potassium bromide as treatment. Valium is most often used to treat status epilepticus and cluster seizures and can be given by injection, orally or rectally. There are some over the counter remedies that will assist with faster recovery for pets after experiencing a seizure, so consult with the veterinarian about using these substances for the treatment of canine epilepsy when necessary.

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

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

The first time Cory had a seizure he was only about 5 months old.  I woke him up from a sound sleep and he started walking as if his legs had gone to sleep, crossing over each other in the front and wobbling as if he’d been drinking alcoholic beverages.  We laughed, thinking it was funny.  I checked in with Cory’s vet a few days later, who shrugged it off as nothing to be concerned about.  This incident happened a few years before Cory had his first grand mal seizure, when we finally understood that the curious symptoms leading up to it meant that he had been having small seizures and suffering from epilepsy all along.  I wish I had been better educated about what to watch for, as I believe if I had known to suspect that Cory was having pre-epileptic episodes we might have possibly avoided that horrific grand mal seizure which I describe in the first chapter of Cory’s Story.

The following article is to help educate you in knowing what to look for in your dog’s behavior, in order to assist your veterinarian in making an accurate diagnosis with the information which you observe.

Cory’s seizures began as curious moments when he would lose muscle control and be unable to walk correctly, or he would assume a blank look and stand as if he were a statue, staring into space with drool running out of his mouth.  Those periods did not last long enough to cause us much concern, especially when we’d get the assurance from various veterinarians that nothing was wrong.  Unfortunately, seizures can gradually worsen over time and eventually become serious to the point of being life-threatening to the dog.  All seizures should be taken seriously, because whatever is causing them is not likely to disappear on its own.  With the increased frequency of the seizures comes the potential for the stage which is known as status epilepticus, a state of continuous seizures with infrequent or no periods of consciousness, which can lead to death without medical intervention.  Therefore, you need to know about the four basic stages to a seizure.  They are:

The Prodome, or “Pre-Ictal” Phase. This is a period of time which may begin moments before a dog’s seizure or even as much as 24 hours prior to a seizure, where your dog’s behavior will be markedly changed from what it is like normally.  In Cory, we saw him become worried and he would run to one of us and want to cling to us for reassurance.  You may also see the vacant look I described above, and excess salivation or drooling.  Your dog may start to tremble or whine, as if knowing that something dreadful is about to happen.  There are two things you can do during this phase – administer Rescue Remedy or give your dog a small amount of preservative-free vanilla ice cream, and give your dog as much assurance and comfort as you can.  With Cory’s early episodes, this phase did not progress on to the next stages for several years.

Come back tomorrow for Part 2 (of 2), in which I’ll describe the other 3 stages of seizures in dogs.

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

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

Just found another great informational video on dog seizures.

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

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

Hi everyone! Here’s the rest of the list of foods to avoid giving your dog to avoid dog seizures (and if you missed Part 1, read that first!):

• Mushrooms.  Some mushrooms contain toxins that can cause problems for a dog, especially wild ones.  I knew this and was alert to keeping Cory away from mushrooms on our walks.  “Leave it” is a great command to teach your dog early.

• Cat food.  Cory is not going to like it that I found out about this one, as he loves to lick the kitty’s plate after she finishes her canned food.  It turns out that cat food is too high in protein and fats for dogs to eat.  OK, maybe he can still lick the kitty’s plate, but don’t substitute cat food as meal for your pup.

• Apple seeds.  Apple seeds and other pits from fruit contain the poison cyanide, which can cause seizures.

• Grapes and Raisins.  When I first learned that grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs it was at the same time I was reading a training book for dogs that actually advocated giving raisins as treats!  I contacted the author with my concerns and she was very defensive, saying that she had always used raisins as training treats for her dogs.  All I can say is be aware of the risks and do more research before giving grapes or raisins to your dog.

• Egg whites.  It is OK to feed your dog a whole egg, but there is a danger in splitting the egg whites off and feeding them without the yoke, because they contain a protein known as avidin, which can actually deplete your dog of one of the essential B vitamins. Apparently the yoke contains the antidote to this protein, so if the egg is served whole, there is nothing to be concerned about.

I hope that this has been helpful.  I would love to know if anyone has anything to add to this list.  If you have something to add, please also tell us why the food is harmful to dogs.

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

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

As anyone who follows this blog already knows, I believe that commercial dog food is a culprit for many illnesses in a dog, and that it contributed to or may even have caused Cory’s seizures.  The reason I came to that conclusion is that Cory’s seizures gradually were reduced once we stopped feeding him kibble and canned dog food, until they stopped completely over 5 years ago, without ever putting him on anti-epileptic drugs.  But, did you know that there are other foods that can harm your dog’s health, even causing seizures?   Some of these caught me by surprise!

• Chocolate.  Almost everyone knows that chocolate can cause seizures and even death in a dog.  One day Cory got into Jayson’s stash of Halloween chocolate.  He had consumed quite a bit of it when Jayson discovered him, with Cory’s head deep inside the bowl of chocolate bars and his tail wagging with exuberant glee.  Jayson called poison control and was advised to pour Hydrogen Peroxide liquid down Cory’s throat, which made Cory vomit.  Happily I had Hydrogen Peroxide in the cupboard where I keep first aid supplies. Jayson took Cory outside for this messy task.  We were very lucky that Jayson found out about it soon enough so that no harm was done.  If you suspect your dog has consumed chocolate and you are not sure when it happened, call your veterinarian immediately.  If you catch your dog in the act, then try the Hydrogen Peroxide treatment.  Dark chocolate is more dangerous than milk chocolate.

• Onions or Products Containing Onion Powder.  These contain sulfoxides and disulfides which can cause damage to the red blood cells, resulting in the dog becoming anemic.

• Raw Fish.  Especially here in the Pacific Northwest, salmon and other fish often carry a fluke which in turn carries a bacteria which can cause seizures and death if consumed raw. The danger is completely eliminated if you cook the fish first, although you have to be careful to get all the bones out of the cooked fish before allowing your dog to eat it.  I’ve been told that freezing the fish at a certain temperature will also kill the fluke & eliminate the problem, but I’m not enough of a scientist to know what that temperature is or how long the fish would need to be frozen in order to be comfortable feeding raw fish to my dog.

• Nutmeg.  Not that it ever occurred to me to sprinkle nutmeg on Cory’s chow, but apparently it can cause tremors, seizures and death.  Just don’t share any of your cookies containing nutmeg with your pooch and you should be OK with this one.

Tomorrow I’ll post Part 2 of this series! I’m sure you’ll be surprised by some of the other foods that cause cause your dog to have seizures. Have you ever noticed a correlation between something your dog ate and a seizure? Leave a comment and let us know!

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

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

I just found this great video that explains what to do when your dog has a seizure. This is great information and it largely echoes what we’ve written in our articles:

• 5 Ways to Deal with Canine Epilepsy
• Canine Epilepsy Treatment

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

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

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

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

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

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