Introduction
A seizure is a sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbance in the brain. Seizures in dogs are relatively common, affecting up to 5% of the canine population. They are most often seen in dogs between the ages of 1 and 5 years, although they can occur at any age. Seizures have many causes, ranging from metabolic disorders to brain tumors. While scary to witness, the majority of seizures do not lead to long-term effects or impact a dog’s overall health and longevity. However, in some cases, seizures can indicate serious underlying disease and when severe, prove fatal.
Mortality Rate
Seizures can be fatal for dogs, but the overall mortality rate is relatively low. According to veterinary studies, the mortality rate for dogs with recurrent seizures is around 10-20%. However, for dogs experiencing their first seizure episode, the mortality rate is much lower at just 3-5%.
The risk of death is highest during or immediately after a seizure. This can occur due to prolonged seizure activity, respiratory arrest, cerebral edema, or complications from injuries sustained during the seizure. The mortality rate tends to increase with the frequency and duration of seizures.
Certain breeds, such as Border Collies, seem to have a higher risk of fatalities related to seizures. Overall though, with proper emergency care and veterinary treatment, most dogs can live normal lifespans despite dealing with recurrent seizures. Monitoring for triggers, managing seizures, and minimizing complications are key to reducing the risks.
Seizure Types
There are several different types of seizures that can occur in dogs:
Generalized Seizures
These affect the entire brain and result in loss of consciousness. The dog will fall down, paddle their limbs, chomp their jaw, salivate heavily, urinate or defecate. These usually last 1-3 minutes.
Focal Seizures
These affect one area of the brain and consciousness may be maintained. Symptoms depend on which part of the brain is affected but can include fly biting, running, circling, or one limb jerking. These usually last less than 2 minutes.
Cluster Seizures
When multiple seizures occur within a 24 hour period. If more than 3 seizures occur within that timeframe it is considered an emergency.
Status Epilepticus
A prolonged seizure lasting more than 5 minutes or recurring seizures without full recovery between them. This is a life-threatening emergency.
Seizure Causes
Seizures in dogs can be caused by a variety of underlying conditions. Some of the most common causes include:
Epilepsy – Epilepsy is the most common cause of seizures in dogs. It occurs when there is abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Idiopathic epilepsy has no known cause while secondary epilepsy can result from issues like brain tumors, head trauma, encephalitis, etc.
Metabolic disorders – Metabolic issues like low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), kidney disease, electrolyte imbalances, and liver disease can trigger seizures. These disorders cause chemical changes in the body that affect neurological function.
Toxins – Ingestion of toxins like lead, pesticides, and plants like sago palms can cause toxicity that leads to seizures in dogs. Reactions to some medications can also trigger seizure activity.
Brain tumors – Tumors in the brain can irritate surrounding tissue and create electrical disturbances that lead to seizures. Brain cancer is a common cause of seizures in older dogs.
Head trauma – Head injuries that cause brain damage, such as from a car accident, can cause scar tissue that interferes with normal brain wave patterns and leads to seizures.
Encephalitis – Inflammation and swelling of the brain, often from infection, can disrupt normal neurological signaling and cause seizures in dogs.
Seizure Triggers
Certain factors can trigger seizures in dogs and make them more likely to occur. Being aware of potential seizure triggers can help dog owners avoid situations that may bring on a seizure.
Some common seizure triggers for dogs include:
- Stress – Stressful events like visits to the vet, travel, or changes in routine can trigger seizures in some dogs.
- Flickering lights – Flashing lights or rapid light changes from TVs, cameras, or natural light can trigger photosensitive seizures in some dogs.
- Loud noises – Noises like fireworks, thunderstorms, or loud music can overstimulate some dogs and bring on a seizure.
- Chemicals and toxins – Exposure to toxins like certain medications, foods, plants, or chemicals may trigger seizures in some dogs.
- Overheating – Allowing a dog to get too hot by overexertion, excessive sun exposure, or confinement in a hot area can increase seizure risk.
- Low blood sugar – Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar levels can trigger seizures in some dogs, especially smaller breeds.
Being aware of a dog’s unique seizure triggers allows owners to avoid high-risk situations when possible. However, sometimes seizures occur spontaneously without an obvious trigger.
Seizure Complications
Seizures can lead to serious complications, especially if they are prolonged or recurrent. Some potential complications include:
Brain damage – Prolonged seizures deplete the brain’s energy stores and oxygen supply, which can damage brain cells. The longer the seizure, the more severe the damage may be. This is especially concerning with status epilepticus, where seizures last more than 5 minutes or occur in clusters without full recovery between seizures.
Aspiration pneumonia – During a seizure, a dog may inhale saliva, vomit, or other foreign material into their lungs. This puts them at risk of developing aspiration pneumonia, a serious lung infection. Pneumonia can be fatal if left untreated.
Injury – Muscle contractions during a seizure can lead to pulled muscles, dislocations, or broken bones. Falling during a seizure can also result in head trauma, wounds, bruising, or other injuries.
Dehydration – Recurrent seizures deplete electrolytes and can cause fluid loss through drooling. If not properly treated with fluids, this can lead to dehydration.
High body temperature – Seizures increase muscle activity, which raises a dog’s body temperature. Prolonged or repeated seizures put dogs at risk of overheating and heat stroke.
Exhaustion – The intense muscle activity of a seizure is physically exhausting. Extended or cluster seizures can leave a dog extremely fatigued, hindering their recovery.
Fatal Seizures
Although not common, seizures can sometimes be fatal in dogs. This usually occurs due to complications from prolonged, repeated, or clustered seizure activity.
Seizures that last more than 5 minutes are considered prolonged and can result in brain damage from lack of oxygen. Prolonged seizure activity prevents normal breathing and oxygen intake. The longer the brain goes without oxygen, the higher the risk of permanent damage or even death.
Cluster seizures, when multiple seizures happen in a short span of time, also pose a danger. Cluster seizures rapidly deplete glucose and oxygen in the brain. The metabolic demands of repeated seizures can overwhelm the body’s ability to recover in between episodes, leading to exhaustion, brain damage, and respiratory or cardiac arrest.
In cases of status epilepticus, when a dog experiences prolonged or repeated seizures without fully recovering consciousness in between, emergency veterinary care is essential. Status epilepticus can lead to coma, brain damage, and death if left untreated. Immediate medical intervention is required to stop seizure activity and stabilize the dog.
Though uncommon, it’s important for dog owners to monitor seizures and seek veterinary care if episodes last more than a few minutes, occur in clusters, or fail to resolve between episodes. Prompt treatment can prevent severe complications and potential death from severe seizure activity.
Emergency Care
If your dog has a seizure that lasts more than 5 minutes, it is considered a medical emergency that requires immediate veterinary care. Prolonged seizures can lead to serious complications such as brain damage, hyperthermia, respiratory arrest and even death.
Other signs that warrant an emergency vet visit include multiple seizures over a short time period or your dog having trouble breathing during or after the seizure. Your dog may also vomit, lose control of their bladder or bowels, or go into a coma post-seizure.
When a seizure lasts too long, fails to self-resolve or your dog’s recovery seems off, you should seek emergency veterinary treatment without delay. This gives your dog the best chance of stabilizing and avoiding life-threatening complications. An ER vet can provide medications to stop a seizure, support breathing, lower body temperature and prevent brain damage.
Calling ahead allows the vet clinic to be prepared for your arrival. Time is of the essence when it comes to prolong seizures, so do not hesitate to visit an emergency animal hospital anytime your dog’s seizure seems potentially dangerous.
Treatment
Options for managing and treating seizure disorders in dogs will depend on the underlying cause and severity of the condition. An effective treatment plan usually involves a combination of approaches.
Medications known as anti-epileptic drugs are commonly prescribed to help control seizures and reduce their frequency and intensity. Phenobarbital and potassium bromide are examples of medications frequently used for dogs with epilepsy. Dosing will need to be adjusted based on your dog’s specific needs and response to the medication.
Your veterinarian may recommend dietary adjustments as part of managing seizures, such as switching to a ketogenic diet high in fat and low in carbohydrates. This diet change can help stabilize blood sugar and brain cell metabolism in some dogs. Specific nutritional supplements may also be beneficial.
If an underlying disease or condition is causing the seizures, such as a brain tumor or metabolic disorder, treating the root cause could help resolve the seizures. Other therapies like acupuncture, chiropractic care, or behavioral modification may also be helpful adjuncts to conventional treatment.
Track your dog’s progress and stay in close contact with your vet to monitor the effectiveness of treatment and make adjustments as needed. Be patient, as it may take some trial and error to find the right plan for your dog’s needs.
Prevention
While seizures can be unpredictable and difficult to prevent entirely, there are some steps dog owners can take to minimize the chances and impact of seizures in their pets:
- Get regular veterinary checkups to monitor your dog’s health and treat any underlying conditions early.
- Give seizure medications as prescribed to help control recurrent seizures.
- Avoid exposing your dog to potential seizure triggers like flickering lights, loud noises, chemicals, toxins, and overstimulation.
- Learn to recognize your dog’s pre-seizure warning signs like restlessness, hiding, or clinginess.
- Keep detailed records of any seizures to identify patterns and assist your vet.
- Make your home safer by padding hard floors, keeping stairways blocked off, and removing clutter.
- Consider specialized harnesses, bumpers, bedding to reduce injury risks during seizures.
- Stay calm and carefully restrain your dog during seizures to avoid self-injury.
- Know emergency first aid procedures in case a seizure lasts over 5 minutes.
While not all seizures can be avoided, diligent management and care can significantly improve quality of life for dogs prone to seizures.