Specialist insurance for dogs
Specialist insurance for dogs
Just like humans, dogs can experience epilepsy too! Read more to discover what causes epilepsy in dogs, the different types of epilepsy and how it can be treated.
Epilepsy is a brain disorder which causes recurrent seizures. Sometimes this is due to an abnormal brain lesion - i.e. a brain injury or disease, or contact with a particular chemical substance. Occasionally there is no identifiable or underlying cause. The brain can appear to be normal but functions abnormally.
Seizures are a sudden surge in the electrical activity of the brain that causes twitching, shaking, tremors, convulsions, and or spasms.
Here are a few types of epilepsy in dogs:
Abdominal epilepsy is very rare. However, if a dog is experiencing manic itching, constipation, chronic diarrhoea and ulcerative colitis alongside seizures they’re likely to have abdominal epilepsy. A vet should be contacted as soon as possible if these symptoms appear.
An episode of cluster seizures (also referred to as ‘cluster epilepsy’) is defined as when a dog has three or more seizures within 24 hours.
Dogs with primary epilepsy are born with this brain disorder, however they don’t tend to show symptoms before age 6.
Psychomotor epilepsy is a form of focal seizures that appear as an episode of abnormal behaviour rather than convulsions.
Idiopathic epilepsy is when there is no known cause of epilepsy, sometimes leading to it being assumed as genetic.
Focal seizures occur when abnormal electrical activity is localised to just one part of the brain. This can cause things like ‘fly-biting’ where your dog looks like they’re repeatedly seeing and snapping at flies.
Focal seizures can affect multiple parts of the brain causing:
When experiencing an epileptic fit, dogs will go through three stages:
It’s difficult to diagnose the type of epilepsy, but if you notice these symptoms occur and you have more than one person on hand it can be useful to record the episode so that your vet can narrow down the possibilities. The most common cause on the first occasion is called idiopathic epilepsy, meaning that a dog is having seizures for no known reason but often there is a reason. This might include: -
Epilepsy is also suspected to be passed down genetically. Some breeds that have a higher rate of epilepsy include:
Dogs can experience localised or focal seizures (this only affects part of the body) or generalised seizures (these affect the entire body).
The most common type is a generalised seizure, where a dog will experience:
Seizures can last up to a few minutes, but are typically between 30-90 seconds.
When experiencing an epileptic fit, dogs will go through two stages:
A few things that can help prevent epilepsy in dogs include:
Thorough medical history and physical examinations will take place, together with diagnostic tests like blood and urine tests.
Depending on the history and physical examination, the following may be recommended:
Anticonvulsants (anti-seizure medication) are often used to help treat epilepsy. Once this medication is prescribed it’s likely to be needed regularly for life, with regular blood tests needed to monitor the dose needed to control the seizures. Medication is generally only prescribed if one of the following criteria are met
No – you should keep the environment quiet and calm. If your dog isn’t coming out of the seizure after more than two minutes, telephone your vet but don’t touch or move them unless your vet tells you to.
Many dogs with primary or idiopathic epilepsy can live long and happy lives. But if epilepsy is left untreated or your dog is experiencing ‘clusters’ of seizures this can progress to epilepticus which can be fatal.
Yes, it’s thought that there may be a hereditary genetic cause of epilepsy in some dogs, especially in the breeds listed above.
Many dogs live a full life if medication is carefully maintained. However this will depend on the age and type of seizure, and also the diagnosis. Epilepsy can reduce the lifespan of those dogs with more severe symptoms.
Some dogs with epilepsy can experience heightened fear, anxiety and aggression during the aura phase. It’s very important that owners learn to recognise this state and keep their dogs in a calm, quiet and safe environment where they can’t hurt themselves or others.
Stress and anxiety, as well as certain foods and medications can be triggers for epilepsy in dogs. Making a note of when seizures occur can help you identify potential triggers. Vets recommend keeping a ‘seizure diary’.
Yes! Vets will ask you to look through your dog's medical history as well as undertake physical examinations to try and find the cause of epilepsy. Blood and urine tests, as well as MRI imaging can also be used to find the underlying causes of epilepsy. However, a cause isn’t always found.
Yes, both blood and urine tests can be used to detect the presence or likelihood of epilepsy in dogs.
Most dogs that have epilepsy first experience seizures between age 1 and 5. However epilepsy can start at any age.
Epilepsy in older dogs can occur. Roughly 20% of dogs above the age of six with epilepsy have idiopathic epilepsy meaning there is no known cause.
Are you looking to insure a dog with epilepsy? Complete our medical screening process today to see whether we can cover your dogs pre existing conditions.