November is Epilepsy Awareness Month so we are sharing some information about epilepsy and seizures in dogs. We do also see seizures and epilepsy in cats, but not as commonly.
Epilepsy is a complex brain disease which causes seizures. A seizure is a sudden, uncontrolled burst of electrical activity in the brain causing changes in movements and how awake your pet is. Seizures don’t always look the same. They range from ‘full’ where your pet may collapse, shake and paddle on the ground to ‘partial’ where only slight twitching may be seen.
Some dog breeds are more likely to suffer with epilepsy including Labradors, Belgian Shepherds, Boxers, Irish Wolfhounds, English Springer Spaniels and Border Collies.
While seizures may look scary to us, be assured that they do not cause your pet pain as they are unconscious while the seizure happens. They will just be confused as they recover. Other diseases such as problems with the heart can look like seizures so it is always important to seek veterinary advice.
What should I do if I think my pet is having a seizure?
- Keep quiet and calm.
- Turn off any bright lights.
- Move away objects which may cause them to hurt themselves.
- Don’t put your hand near their mouth as they may bite you by accident.
- Call your vet for advice.
The vet will examine your pet, and run some tests to look for causes of the seizure. If your pet is diagnosed with epilepsy, the vet will start them on medication if required to reduce the frequency/severity of seizures.