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seizures canine

By Brian on Friday, May 7th, 2010 | No Comments

seizures canine 3 seizures canine

Canine Epilepsy: Implications For You And Your Pet

Epilepsy in a dog is not that uncommon. However, it is not the only thing that will cause seizures or episodes. Several other conditions can make your pet convulse, including ingestion of poisons, kidney & liver disease, infections and meningitis to name a few.  All other sources of seizures have to be ruled out before a diagnosis of epilepsy can be arrived at. There are many tests that may be necessary to rule out other conditions. MRI scanning has become available to help speed up the process of diagnosing epilepsy in dogs.

There are certain breeds that seem to have a predisposition towards epilepsy. Some of the breeds that seem to have a higher risk are Collies, Poodles and German Shepherds. However, it can occur in any breed and mixed breeds as well. The first seizure can happen at any age, but it is usually young to middle aged dogs who acquire this condition.

An epileptic seizure or fit is commonly described as an uncontrolled release of electrical discharge in the brain. It causes the animal to shake, tremble and salivate. Sometimes uncontrolled urination and defecation occurs. After a few episodes an owner will begin to understand and learn certain trigger factors that apply to their pet.

In most cases the episode doesn’t last very long, usually it is over before you can take action. There are a variety of medications on the market today which can help to make the seizures less frequent and less severe.

Here are some suggestions on things a person can do for their dog if they have canine epilepsy.

Educate Yourself

A person should learn all they can about canine epilepsy. There are many good and helpful books on this subject. You can search the internet for sites relating to this condition in dogs. There are web support groups and there may be local support groups in your area. These things will help a pet owner to understand the disease and also to give them a support system to lean on.

Record Everything

Keep a journal or diary on your dog’s seizures or any episode that you thought was a seizure. Make sure to record the date, time started and ended. Write down the symptoms and any factors that you think may have triggered the episode. These factors could include change in the dog’s diet, any loud noises and if the canine seemed stressed. If the dog had been ill or had a recent injury be sure to include that in your journal as well. Try to include as many details as possible because your records may hold clues to enable you to be prepared next time.

Pay particular attention to the dog’s behaviour prior to the seizure. Write down things like if the animal started pacing, was sleeping excessively or seemed to be more needy than usual. If you have other animals in the household make sure you pay attention to their reactions to the episode. Pets are often a lot smarter than we give them credit for, and some animals may be able to signal to you when a seizure is about to start.

Be Prepared

Set up a routine to follow when a seizure occurs. A person has to be prepared to have to make an emergency clinic visit in the middle of the night. Make sure there is always fuel in the car and have supplies handy such as towels or blankets. Keep the phone numbers of your vet and emergency animal hospital close at hand at all times. If your pet is having a seizure be sure to keep other pets away and remove any objects that could injure your dog.

Medications

Make sure you keep a supply of daily medication and any emergency medicine the veterinarian supplies. Ensure you have plenty on hand and give the dog its medication at set times every day. It is a good idea to keep on top of the latest research or treatments that become available for dogs with canine epilepsy. Before changing your dog’s medication or trying a new kind of treatment it is wise to discuss this with the vet first.

Establishing a pattern is the key to successful management of canine epilepsy. Discuss with your vet the different options available that pertain to your dog. Medications used for controlling seizures in dogs include Phenobarbitone, Mysoline, Epanutin and Potassium Bromide. Your vet will have you closely monitor your dog and will adjust the amount of medication needed to control seizures in your dog. Once you have started a course of treatment it is imperative that you don’t run out of medication; this is a well known trigger to restarting seizures.

Canine epilepsy can’t be cured but it can be controlled. Even a dog that has its epilepsy under control may have an occasional seizure. This condition can be controlled by medication that is given daily by mouth.

With proper medication a dog with epilepsy can still live a normal life. Dogs with canine epilepsy can live a happy and full life. They can go for walks, play in the park and do almost anything a healthy dog can.

If you are consistent with giving the required daily medication and have your dog seen regularly by your vet you will have many years ahead of you to enjoy your canine companion. You might want to consider getting pet insurance on your dog in case there will be any unforeseen medical expenses in the years to come. This will give your family peace of mind knowing that you will be able to provide medical attention when needed.

 

About the Author

Please call us at Animal Friends
Insurance on 0844 55 70 300 to purchase a pet plan to cover your companion against the high cost of veterinary treatment.

Canine Drug Seizures

Canine Seizures

By Brian on Tuesday, April 27th, 2010 | No Comments

Canine Seizures 3 Canine Seizures

The Amazing Canine Nose

Dogs are famous for their incredible sense of smell. Scent is how dogs learn and experience the world.  While they can see well, better than us in low light, and they have superior hearing to humans, it is their sense of smell that really sets them apart. It has been estimated that a  canine’s sense of smell is anywhere from 50 to 100 times better than ours. Some say its even 1,000 times better.

Scientists describe the difference by explaining that the scent cell in a human nose can cover approximately one square inch, and a dog’s scent cells can cover 60 square inches. Scientists say a dog uses 40 times more of his brain analyzing smell than we do. The number of scent cells in a dog’s nose depends of the size of the dog and the length of the nose. A human has approximately 5 million scent receptors. A Dachshund has 125 million, a Fox Terrier, 147 million and a Bloodhound has 300 million scent receptors.

The canine sense of smell has  been extremely helpful to humans in many ways. They have been trained to sniff out  drugs, guns, explosives, and people, both dead and alive. More recently, it has been determined that some dogs can be trained to detect a change in people about to experience seizures, high blood pressure, low blood sugar, migraines and even heart attacks.  No one know for sure how a canine can do this but it is thought to be due to a change in body chemistry or metabolism that produces a different smell which a dog can detect.

This ability to detect changes in a person’s scent prior to a seizure has allowed many people to lead a much more normal life. One owner described how her trained dog has allowed her to live independently and care for her children. Her dog can warn her approximately 30 minutes before a seizure, so she has time to take care of her kids and put herself in a safe place. The dog gets nervous and paws at his owner and leans on her. He stays with her until the seizure is over. Dogs have different ways of indicating an oncoming health problem, which the owner  must learn  to recognize.

Most recently, small studies have been started to test a dog’s ability to detect cancer cells. At this time, testing is only being done with melanoma cancer cells, although studies are beginning on prostate cancer. One reason a dog’s sense of smell is so helpful is the fact that they can smell several  layers of scent chemicals.

The hope for scientists is that , one day our canine best friends will be well trained and reliable enough to provide screening for common health  problems among large populations, especially in third world countries where medical resources are very limited.

It is no wonder dogs continue to prove themselves as man’s best friend.

 

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_M_Sabol

About the Author

Joseph M. Sabol is a world class Doberman breeder. Please go to http://petvitamins4u.com or to http://theroadhousedobes.com for further information.


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dogs seizures

By Brian on Friday, April 9th, 2010 | No Comments

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What You Need to Know About Dog Seizures

Witnessing a dog or other pet having a seizure can be frightening, especially when it’s your pet that loses control, falls over, chomps its teeth, salivates, drools, whines, paddles its paws, and possibly loses bowel and urination control. Eyes can enlarge (dilate) and your pet is unresponsive. Seeing a seizure happen to your dog or pet, you might panic and feel helpless.

Hopefully, your dog will never have a seizure experience. But, this information will help you understand the possible causes of seizures, and what to do and why if your dog has one, and the various treatment options available.

Epilepsy in dogs is one of many causes of seizure.

Some dog breeds are more prone to epileptic seizure. However, causes for “hereditary” epilepsy are not known for certain. Included in this group are: Keeshond, Tervueren, Cocker Spaniel, Poodle, Collie, German Shepherd, Irish Setter, Golden Retriever, Dachshund, Labrador Retriever, Saint Bernard, Miniature Schnauzer, Siberian Husky and Wire-haired Terrier.

Dogs with allergies to dog foods with chemicals, preservatives and artificial flavors can have seizures.

Other causes include liver and kidney disease, tumors, poisoning, and low blood sugar.

If your dog is having a seizure, stay calm.

Although difficult to do, a calm, quiet, reassuring voice will comfort your dog. Remove objects that could be dangerous to or hurt the dog, or place pillows or wrap blankets between the pet and the object. Slide something soft under your pet’s head, keeping your hands and face away from its head so not to risk a possible bite. Gently stroke the dog’s hip or side, but be positioned on the opposite side of the feet and toenails. Muscle spasms can curl paws into claws that can rake your skin. Dim lights. Keep the environment as quiet as possible.

Write down observed details about the dog’s seizure to report to your veterinarian.

Your veterinarian will want to know the time of day seizure occurred, time length of the seizure, time between each seizure if recurrent, if your dog urinated or defecated, if seizure hit suddenly or progressed from body twitching, when your pet regained consciousness, how long before your dog appeared normal again, and whether anything occurred leading up to the dog’s seizure. Were there possible triggering events such as loud noises like fireworks, unusual items ingested or excessive activity or exercise?

Some veterinarians will want to see if your dog experiences a subsequent seizure.

Some will immediately perform blood tests, checking for anemia, liver and heart functions, calcium, glucose, and electrolyte levels. The veterinarian may run screens for toxins, take x-rays, or perform an electroencephalogram, although test results may not reveal reasons for the dog’s seizure. Your veterinarian might wait to see if the dog has another seizure and may suggest medications. If the diagnosis is epilepsy, the dog has an excellent chance for a normal life with proper medical care and follow-up.

After seizure, dogs often appear lost or drugged. This state can last a few minutes to several hours depending on the severity of the dog’s seizure. Your dog may respond to you, but react slowly. Seizures are exhausting. Your dog will probably want to sleep afterwards. Check your pet occasionally without disturbing its rest.

Eliminate the source of the seizures; you may be able to eliminate future seizures from occurring.

If your dog’s seizures are due to chemical toxins, eliminate those toxins as much as possible. In any case, feed a diet of human grade food and treats that are free from chemical preservatives, fillers and by-products.

Natural approaches can help some pets, either prior to stronger medications or in addition to them, so you may be able to use lower doses.

Varieties of treatment options include a natural diet, nutritional supplements, homeopathy, herbs, conventional medications and acupuncture. Sometimes, placing an ear acupuncture tack in a dog’s ear will stop seizures, and this requires only one acupuncture visit. Or, your pet can be treated with traditional Chinese acupuncture.

About the Author

Canine seizures – articles and information on the canine seizures causes and canine seizures treatment.

Healthbeat – Seizure Dogs


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dogs seizures

By Brian on Saturday, April 3rd, 2010 | No Comments

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Epilepsy In The Shih Tzu And Other Dog Breeds

Epilepsy can affect any breed of dog, which includes our beloved Shih Tzu. There is a higher incidence of epilepsy in pure breed dogs of any size than in mixed breed dogs. For this reason the condition is likely to be inherited.

What is the main sign of epilepsy in the Shih Tzu or any dog? Seizures will be your main sign. Seizures can be categorized in three ways:

•Intracranial
•Extracranial
•Seizures of unknown cause

Intracranial seizures are the result of detectable defects like a tumor inside the brain.

Extracranial seizures are caused by metabolic or toxic changes outside the brain that affect the brain and cause a seizure.

Seizure of unknown cause is called “idiopathic epilepsy.”

If your Shih Tzu is less than one year of age, the seizures are likely caused by congenital/genetic problems, infections or toxins. If your Shih Tzu is greater than six years old the seizures are likely caused by tumors or infectious/inflammatory problems. If the Shih Tzu between 1 and 5 years of age is normal between seizure episodes they are most likely in the third category of idiopathic epilepsy.

Epilepsy is similar to a lightning strike on a house that sends abnormal currents through the normal electrical system.

It is important to be able to recognize a seizure. This is often a difficult task for the Shih Tzu pet owner or any pet owner. Seizures can be so minor and show as only slight loss of muscle control that they can hardly be detected. Seizures in the Shih Tzu or any dog can also be so severe that the Shih Tzu paddles on the ground completely out of control. The Shih Tzu will be totally unaware of its surroundings and will seem abnormal after the seizure.

If you witness such an episode in your Shih Tzu and own a video camera, you might try taping the episode for your vet to see exactly what occurs. This will help your vet give you a more definitive explanation or diagnosis of what is going on with the Shih Tzu if you are unsure your Shih Tzu is actually experiencing seizures.

There are treatments for epilepsy, but no cure. The goal is to control the seizures and prolong the life of the Shih Tzu or other breed of dog afflicted with epilepsy. When left untreated, the disease and episodes will continue to worsen.

Treatment for epilepsy usually consists of a barbiturate like Phenobarbital. This drug can be used to treat the Shih Tzu or other dog with epilepsy over the long term, very much like treating epilepsy in humans. If you know of someone with epilepsy who has to take a barbiturate to control the seizures, you will also know most of these people can lead happy and productive lives on the medication. This is true also for the canine species.

The general goal of using barbiturates is to either reduce the number of seizures by half or to double the time between seizures. It is important to note the disease will never be cured by the medicine, however, as stated previously; it can lessen the misery of the Shih Tzu or other dog breed and also prolong its life. How well drugs control epilepsy in your Shih Tzu depends on each individual case.

The second choice in drugs for epilepsy in your Shih Tzu is to treat with potassium bromide. However, this drug does not have FDA approval. It is available to treat seizures in dogs by special license only. Some veterinary medical schools have this special license, and so do some private vets.

Just remember that if your Shih Tzu is diagnosed with epilepsy there are adequate treatment plans available and it is not a death sentence at all. Proper treatment is essential. Consult with your vet as soon as you notice any of the signs of epilepsy so he or she can begin an appropriate therapy program for your Shih Tzu.

Disclaimer: This article is for information only. It does not replace the consultation and advice from a qualified licensed vet or animal care professional. Please consult the appropriate professionals for any kind of health problem in your animals.

Source: Merck Veterinary Manual, eighth edition

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.

About the Author

Connie Limon, Breeder of pet and show prospect Shih Tzu in a variety of colors. Please visit us at
http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com
and sign up for FREE newsletters. Our website offers you a wealth of Shih Tzu and canine information. Puppies are sold with health guarantee and are bred from champion bloodlines.

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