Our dog has started having fits which are focal seizures at present lasting no more than 30-40 seconds.
At present hes only had 2 that we know of and there are a myriad of possible causes including head trauma, liver and/ or kidney disease. So hes booked in for blood test of Friday.
Its worth noting that 2 drugs our dog is taking for pain relief are on a suspect list of drugs causing seizures tramadol and gabapentin, according to one website. Conversly gabapentin is used to treat seizures, Hmmm. Tramadol is listed as having seizures as possible side effect
Focal seizures
These only occur in one half of the brain and within a particular region. How these types of seizures present themselves depends upon where in the brain the abnormal electrical activity started, and the function of that part of the brain. Focal epileptic seizures can present as:
- Episodic movements ("Motor" signs) e.g. facial twitches, rhythmic blinking, head shaking or repeated muscle contractions of one extremity
- Autonomic signs (arising from the autonomic nervous system) e.g. excessive salivation, vomiting, dilated pupils
- Behavioural signs (episodic changes in the dogs behaviour) e.g. restlessness, anxiety, attention seeking, unexplainable fear behaviour
What can trigger my dog's epilepsy?
Some dogs may appear to have 'triggers' that lead to a seizure, while others do not. Identifiable triggers may differ from dog to dog. In people with epilepsy, common triggers include tiredness and lack of sleep, stress, and not taking medication. Stress is a trigger commonly reported by owners, and may be caused by a variety of situations including changes in the environment, changes in routine, car rides, thunderstorms, and visits to the vets to name a few. Other owners report certain foods or medications seem to trigger seizures in their dog. Keeping a seizure diary may help identify triggers in your dog.
Is a seizure painful or dangerous to the dog?
"Dog may feel confusion and perhaps panic."Despite the dramatic and violent appearance of a seizure, seizures are not painful, although the dog may feel confusion and perhaps panic. Contrary to popular belief, dogs do not swallow their tongues during a seizure. If you put your fingers or an object into its mouth, you will not help your pet and you run a high risk of being bitten very badly or of injuring your dog. The important thing is to keep the dog from falling or hurting itself by knocking objects onto itself. As long as it is on the floor or ground, there is little chance of harm occurring.
A single seizure is rarely dangerous to the dog. However, if the dog has multiple seizures within a short period of time (cluster seizures), or if a seizure continues for longer than a few minutes, the body temperature begins to rise. If hypothermia or an elevated body temperature develops secondary to a seizure, another set of problems may have to be addressed.
Possible Triggers (to qualify as a trigger, it has to have happened within 30 hours of your dog’s seizure, except after vaccination)
- Lawn treatments and fertilisers
- Herbicides and insecticides
- Cedar shavings
- Many flowers and plants are poisonous to dogs, which can also cause a seizure. The ASPCA has provided a list of plants that are toxic to dogs.
- Barometric pressure changes and extreme heat or cold are thought to be potential triggers.
- Bee and wasp venom and toad poisoning
- Photo sensitivity, Photo sensitivity refers to flashing or bright lights.
- Scented candles
- Perfume
- Loud music
- Cigarette smoke
- Pine Sol or any other cleaners with pine oil,
- Kerosene
- Camphor
- Eucalyptus
- Borax or boric acid
- Deck and wall stains,
- Polyurethane fumes,
- Paint fumes and Swiffer chemicals.
- A diet too high in sodium
- Processed, low grade dog foods.
- Fruits, including tomatoes and carrots, can actually trigger a seizure in some dogs
- Certain dairy products, like cheese (particularly if it is mouldy), cottage cheese and milk are also danger foods.
- Unclean or uncooked pork products can be problematic as well as turkey
- Rosemary, sage, fennel and saffron
- Walnuts are generally thought of as harmful to dogs, and caffeine can also be a trigger
- Foods or treats with ethoxyquin, BHA or BHT of foods with MSG can also be potential triggers. MSG is often referred to in food products as “natural flavoring” or “smoke flavouring,” etc.
- Uncleansed rawhide treats and pig’s ear or feet, Several commercially produced dog chews are bleached. Flavoured chews will often have some chemical additives listed above.
- A dog’s medications can sometimes trigger seizures as well. These include vaccinations, heartworm medications, flea and tick preventative medications and some other prescription medications.
- The lights of a television, Christmas lights, or even lightning can trigger a seizure.
- Changes in barometric pressure and extreme hot or cold weather
- Thunderstorms also can spook a dog enough to be a trigger.
- Sudden changes to your dog’s diet or routine can also cause stress that may trigger a seizure. Dogs run on a very strict internal clock, and know when it is time to eat or go outside or when you get home from work. Changes in their routine can be caused by visiting friends or family members, a new baby joining the family, construction around the home and more.
- Missing, skipping, or going too long in between meals can also cause low blood sugar, which can be a trigger of seizures as well.
- Being left alone for too long can cause a dog a great deal of stress and can trigger a seizure.
- On the flip side, a prolonged period of activity and excitement can also trigger a seizure.
- Another stress trigger to avoid is loud arguments or angry voices. When people fight around a dog, the dog will often think that the people are angry at them. This is actually the worst kind of stress for a dog. Other causes of emotional stress to dogs include long car rides, visits to your vet, general nervousness, and anxiety.
LINKS
https://canna-pet.com/triggers-seizures-dogs
https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/health/for-owners/epilepsy
https://www.rvc.ac.uk/news-and-events/rvc-news/rvc-pet-epilepsy-tracker-app
https://www.cesarsway.com/dog-care/health-and-care-issues/how-to-recognize-and-handle-dog-seizures
https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/canine-epilepsy-and-seizures-dogs
https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/neurological/c_dg_seizures_convulsions
https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/3-natural-treatments-for-dog-seizures-and-epilepsy
https://pethelpful.com/dogs/Warning-signs-of-neurological-disorders-in-canines
http://dogtime.com/dog-health/53089-gabapentin-dogs-uses-dosage-side-effects
http://dogtime.com/dog-health/59541-tramadol-dogs-uses-dosage-side-effects
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