This brain disorder, which has not yet been fully researched in dogs, causes seizures that can be very frightening for dog owners. Epilepsy can be treated very effectively with medication, but its cause is still not fully understood.
An epileptic seizure is an abnormal electrical discharge in the brain caused by a disturbance in the nerve cells.
The causes of this abnormal electrical activity cannot always be clearly determined. Therefore, symptomatic epilepsy is distinguished from idiopathic epilepsy. Various brain changes or injuries, metabolic disorders, liver or kidney disease, or infectious diseases can lead to symptomatic epilepsy. If no causes can be found, the condition is referred to as idiopathic epilepsy. Based on current knowledge, dogs with idiopathic epilepsy are believed to have a lower seizure threshold. Certain dog breeds, such as Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Boxers, Beagles, and Poodles, are thought to have a genetic predisposition, as these breeds are particularly prone to idiopathic epilepsy.
Regardless of the cause, epilepsy manifests itself through seizures of varying severity. In some cases, such a seizure is preceded by a change in the dog's behavior. It becomes more anxious, restless, or very clingy. However, since most owners are unprepared for their dog's first seizure, these warning signs often go unrecognized. In any case, a dog should be taken to the vet immediately at the slightest sign of a seizure.
Seizures can vary in severity and frequency. They are therefore divided into focal (localized, partial) and generalized (spread throughout the body) seizures. Dogs usually experience generalized seizures. These involve electrical discharges in both hemispheres of the brain, leading to severe muscle spasms throughout the body. Affected dogs often fall suddenly to the ground, roll their eyes, and are unresponsive. In the first stage, the tonic phase, the entire musculature stiffens, while the clonic phase is characterized by convulsive muscle twitching. The animals often lose consciousness in the first phase, jerk their jaws, salivate excessively, and urinate and defecate. The duration of a seizure can vary from a few seconds to several minutes or even hours. The longer the seizure lasts, the more dangerous it is for the dog. Grand mal seizures are very severe generalized seizures that can become life-threatening. In a focal epileptic seizure, only one area of the brain is affected and only localized muscle twitching or limb cramps occur. However, focal seizures can progress to generalized seizures.
Since affected animals, especially in cases of idiopathic epilepsy, usually appear healthy between seizures, it is particularly important for the veterinarian to receive a detailed preliminary report from the pet owner. This provides valuable information about the frequency, duration, and severity of the seizures. As a dog owner, it is advisable to keep a seizure diary and record exactly when and how the seizure occurred. Video recordings of a seizure can also be very helpful.
Another important part of the diagnosis is a neurological examination of the dog, during which the veterinarian assesses the function of the nerves, spatial orientation, gait, and behavior of the dog, among other things. A blood test is also standard in most cases. The veterinarian can use this to obtain information about specific organ functions and identify or rule out any underlying diseases. In idiopathic epilepsy, blood values are usually unchanged.
In some cases, CT or MRI scans and the removal of brain and spinal fluid (cerebrospinal fluid puncture) may be necessary to make a definitive diagnosis. Idiopathic epilepsy can only be confirmed by ruling out all other causes.
Symptomatic epilepsy is treated according to its cause. If there is an underlying condition, this must be treated first. In most cases, seizures do not recur once the underlying condition has been treated.
If no causes are found, it can be assumed that the epilepsy originates from a disorder of the nerve cells in the brain, i.e., it is idiopathic epilepsy. In such cases, the veterinarian will prescribe certain epilepsy medications that inhibit the excessive activity of the nerve cells and thus reduce the risk of a seizure. Although this cannot cure the disease, it can significantly reduce the number and severity of seizures. Your veterinarian will develop an individual treatment plan for your pet.
However, the disease and its often lifelong treatment also require a high degree of understanding, cooperation, and consistency on your part. Consistent adherence to the treatment plan and regular check-ups with the veterinarian are essential for the success of the treatment. Discontinuing the medication or changing the dose on your own can trigger new seizures. Please always discuss any changes with your veterinarian.
As seizures may continue despite treatment, you as the owner should be well prepared for such a situation. If your dog starts to convulse, it is advisable to remove any objects from its surroundings that could cause injury. To help your dog quickly in such a situation, your veterinarian can prescribe anticonvulsant suppositories for your dog.
Idiopathic epilepsy is incurable, but in many cases the seizures can be well controlled with appropriate treatment, allowing the dog to live a largely normal life.
In the case of symptomatic epilepsy, the prognosis depends on the cause or underlying disease. If this can be treated, the seizures usually disappear.
Some dogs have long hair, others short, others trimmed... Dog groomers are becoming increasingly popular. And even dogs that don't really need a haircut can relax during a wash, cut, and blow-dry.
A hernia is a bulge in the abdominal wall through which the peritoneum and intestines can protrude. Perianal hernia, also known as perineal hernia, is a condition that occurs in 90% of older, unneutered male dogs, in which fat and abdominal organs protrude under the skin in the perineal area (the area between the anus and the external genitalia).
This eye disease, also known as Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA), is a hereditary condition affecting Collies, Shelties, and some related breeds. It is a congenital developmental disorder of the back of both eyes that can lead to visual impairment or even blindness.
When the body develops antibodies against its own structures, this is referred to as an autoimmune disease. The immune system mistakenly attacks parts of the body, damaging certain functions and organs and even destroying them completely. Autoimmune diseases in dogs include individual forms of pemphigus and lupus, which will be explained in more detail below. The individual diseases are distinguished based on the different target structures in the body.
The word distichiasis comes from Greek and means "two rows." In this condition, an extra row of eyelash-like hairs (distichia) grows out of the sebaceous gland openings at the edge of the eyelid. Since these misplaced, hard hairs grow toward the eyeball, they cause permanent irritation and damage to the cornea. Another form of distichiasis is ectopic cilia. These are scattered hair follicles that grow out of the inside of the eyelid as individual bristly hairs or as a whole tuft of hair, standing perpendicular to the cornea and causing permanent irritation to the eye. Ectopic cilia are most commonly found on the upper eyelid in dogs and very rarely in cats.
For people who have always been around dogs, talking to their four-legged friends is probably easy and almost second nature. But at the beginning of the relationship, it is important to immerse yourself in the dog's world and meet it where it is coming from. So you have to learn its language—not the other way around.
Behind this complicated name lies an aggressive form of cancer in dogs, also known as malignant histiocytosis, which mainly affects Bernese Mountain Dogs, Retrievers and Rottweilers and is one of the most common causes of death in these breeds as a hereditary disease. It primarily affects male dogs between the ages of two and eight. The disease is relatively rare in other dog breeds.
The soft palate is a muscle extension approximately 10 cm long that separates the nasal cavity from the throat. As the name suggests, dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) describes a change in position in which the soft palate temporarily or permanently covers the epiglottis, leading to coughing, difficulty swallowing, and breathing problems.
There are all kinds of dangers lurking for cats, not only outside but also in the home. Young, playful, and curious kittens are particularly at risk. Therefore, take the necessary safety precautions before a cat moves in with you. With the right knowledge, you will be on the safe side.
Entropion is also colloquially referred to as a rolled eyelid and describes the inward rolling of the upper or lower eyelid. It can affect the entire eyelid or just part of it.
Horse influenza, similar to influenza in humans, is a highly contagious viral disease of the upper and lower respiratory tract. Its classic progression makes it easy to distinguish from other respiratory diseases. With the exception of New Zealand and Australia, it occurs worldwide. It is the most common viral respiratory disease in horses. Despite almost universal vaccination, outbreaks of the disease continue to occur.
Cats communicate through various channels. Their behavior, body language, vocalizations, and scent markings, which are largely invisible to humans, speak volumes. But how can "cat language" be translated into "human language"?
