VETERINARY MEDICINE: Seizures in Dogs.

 Seizures in Dogs. A seizure is a sudden episode of abnormal brain activity that often involves some loss of body control.

Some dogs begin to act strange before a seizure begins and may become anxious or restless.
Some may stagger, appear disoriented, or exhibit other abnormal behaviors.
 This period, which precedes the seizure, usually lasts a few minutes and is called the aura phase.

The seizure itself often manifests as full body convulsions or small, localized spasms that may last from a few seconds to a few minutes.


  FORMS OF SEIZURES.

 1) Generalized or grand mal seizures.

 2)Focal seizures.

3)Psycho-motor seizures.

 4)Cluster seizures.

Generalized or grand mal seizures: usually involve the entire body. A dog suffering a grand mal seizure may fall over, become stiff, and shake its whole body violently. Many dogs salivate or foam at the mouth, and some urinate and/or defecate involuntarily. Dogs may vocalize as well, whining and growling during a seizure.

 Focal seizures: the least serious type, are limited to a specific part of the body and may not look like much more than a twitch in the dog's facial muscles or limbs.

 Psychomotor seizures: are characterized by odd behavior that lasts only a minute or two. For example, your dog may suddenly start chasing its tail or acting as if it sees things that aren't really there.

 Cluster seizures: which are a more serious type, are distinguished by multiple seizures over the course of 24 hours.

 CAUSES OF SEIZURES.

 1)An environmental allergy could be responsible. Usually, removing the allergen from the dog's environment will prevent this type of seizure from recurring.

 2) Some viral or bacterial infections may cause seizures in dogs. These are typically treated with antiviral or antibiotic medications.

 3)The most common cause of seizures in canines is known as idiopathic epilepsy. It's believed that most dogs with this condition inherit it, but what causes it is still not clear. However, this type of seizure usually presents at times when the dog's brain activity is shifting from one mode to another (such as between sleep and wakefulness)

. 4) A brain tumor, whether it's malignant or benign, may also cause convulsive seizures in a dog. 

Treatment / Prevention: If your dog has had seizures before and you think one is coming on, try to move the dog to a safe, soft area where there are no sharp objects or hard floors.

 The best thing you can do is to remain calm and try to keep your dog and yourself out of danger. Never put your hands near or in your dog's mouth during a seizure.

 Seizures in dogs can often be regulated with medications and/or lifestyle changes.

 There are several anticonvulsant medications that are used to control your dog's seizures.Most vets won't recommend pharmaceutical treatment if the seizures occur less often than once a month or if they're very mild.  A visit to your vet is necessary.

GENETIC MUTATION AND DRUG TOXICITY

The remarkable recovery of a dog nursed back to health from the brink of death recently highlights the value of a simple genetic test that can help owners determine if their pets are vulnerable to what in most cases is a safe, commonly-used drug. Bristol, a 4-year-old Australian Shepherd, was brought to the Hospital for Small Animals , barely responsive and experiencing persistent seizures. The owner suspected Bristol was suffering from severe ivermectin toxicity, a condition in which ivermectin, the active ingredient in some heart-worm prevention medicines, crosses the blood-brain barrier and causes neurological damage. Bristol required immediate and aggressive care, including the assistance of a mechanical ventilator. She also underwent a brain MRI to rule out other causes of her condition. Although Bristol began to breathe on her own within 10 days, she remained unconscious for three weeks. Eventually, she began walking with the assistance of a cart and leg splints, and later began walking under her own power with support from hospital staff. After a month of treatment, Bristol regained her normal personality traits and the ability to walk, eat and drink on her own. One or two cases of ivermectin toxicity occur each year and they are most frequently the result of accidents, such as when dogs are exposed to higher-dose ivermectin products intended for horses. Although products containing ivermectin are typically safe and effective, many white-footed herding breed dogs like Bristol have a genetic mutation that makes them sensitive to it and several other drugs, including some common chemotherapy drugs.The gene mutation test would enable owners know for sure if they could safely use some of these other drugs, many herding dogs undergo a simple genetic test to determine if they have a mutation in the multidrug resistance (MDR1) gene. Dogs could be indirectly exposed as in the above case that the dog had access to feces of a sheep that was recently dewormed using ivermectin. This also highlights the need for owners to be vigilant when their dogs are in certain settings, such as on farms or in barns, where other animals might have been treated with high concentrations of ivermectin. Source Tufts University.