Watching your pet have a seizure can be a scary experience, especially if you don’t know what to expect. In addition, determining the cause of your pet’s seizures can be challenging, as can treatment. To fully understand your furry companion’s condition, you should speak with your primary care veterinarian, but the following is an in-depth look at seizures in pets to provide a general guideline.

What are seizures in pets?

When your pet has a seizure, their brain is undergoing uncontrolled electrical misfirings, which manifest in unusual behaviors and movements as a response to abnormal brain activity. A seizure typically has three phases:

The pre-ictal state — This period of your pet’s altered behavior precedes the actual seizure, and can last from a few minutes to an entire afternoon. Your pet can become anxious or aggressive and may cling to you or hide. 

The ictal state — This state comprises the seizure itself. You may see only mild signs, such as disorientation or, with severe episodes, dramatic convulsions, loss of bladder and bowel control, and foaming at the mouth.

The postictal state — Once your pet has stopped seizuring, they are considered to be in the recovery phase. During this postictal state, your pet’s brain and body may go through significant after-effects, and you may notice bewilderment, restlessness, or coordination loss. 

Seizures in pets are incredibly varied, as signs can range from almost unnoticeable, to terrifying, grand mal events.

What causes seizures in young pets?

Idiopathic epilepsy, the most common cause of seizures in young pets, generally appears when pets reach 3 or 4 years of age but can appear in pets as young as 6 months. This form of epilepsy is termed idiopathic because the condition appears without cause. Idiopathic epilepsy can be well-controlled with medications and diet changes, but lifelong care is needed.

Idiopathic epilepsy is typically hereditary and is most prevalent in beagles, dachshunds, German shepherds, and Labrador retrievers. Cats do not appear to have a breed predisposition. 

Seizures in young pets are also commonly related to toxin exposure. Young pets are curious about their environment, and can easily discover household chemicals, insecticides, poisons, and toxic foods and plants. If your pet begins to experience sudden, severe seizures, they likely contacted a toxic substance.

What causes seizures in senior pets?

While idiopathic epilepsy is the leading cause of seizures in dogs under 5 years of age, the source of the problem is different for senior canines. Certain internal conditions can lead to seizures in your senior pet as their body ages, including:

* Cancer — Brain tumors in senior pets generally cause seizures, but other cancers can metastasize to the brain and also create seizure episodes. 

* Diabetes — Diabetes itself does not cause seizures in pets, but an accidental insulin overdose can cause hypoglycemia, which can lead to seizures.

* Hypothyroidism — Pets with an abnormally low thyroid hormone level can suffer from seizures, but hypothyroidism is easily treated with medication.

* Liver disease — Your pet’s liver filters out toxins in the blood, but if it’s not functioning properly, these toxins build up and can cause seizures.

* Cushing’s disease — Cushing’s disease is fairly common in senior dogs and is usually caused by a pituitary gland tumor, located at the brain’s base. Advanced Cushing’s disease can create large brain tumors that lead to seizures. 

Because so many underlying diseases can cause seizures in senior pets, a comprehensive workup is necessary for an accurate diagnosis. 

How will my veterinarian diagnose the cause of my pet’s seizures?

When you notice your pet having seizures, your family veterinarian will want to rule out a variety of disease-related causes, so they will perform a thorough physical exam and diagnostic testing. Testing may include:

* A complete blood count

* A blood chemistry profile

* A thyroid panel

* Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis

* Imaging of the brain

* An electroencephalogram of the brain’s electrical activity

Your pet will likely need to be referred to a specialty hospital for more advanced testing.

As your pet’s chronic condition and seizures progress, our veterinary hospice care team will guide you and your pet through their final moments, providing comfort and peace throughout the process. Contact our team today for more information about Lap of Love services in your area.