What Causes Dogs To Have Seizures

In England they often call them “fits” – what happens when the brain loses control of the body. In America, they are more commonly called seizures. This article will be an information summary about some of the diseases and influences that are known to cause seizures to happen in dogs.

EPILEPSY. Perhaps the top cause of seizures in dogs is a condition called epilepsy, however it is important to note that epilepsy is not the cause for all seizures. The definition of epilepsy was discovered by some people who were on a walk in the woods and happened upon a wolf that was throwing fits, looking as if he were doing some odd dance on a path in the woods. They reported this unusual sighting to the forest rangers and the term “idiopathic epilepsy” was coined. OK, so that story is completely made up, however, the true story behind this term doesn't make much more sense and is actually kind of boring. In short, the term “idiopathic epilepsy” is a catch-all for when the experts just don’t know what is causing a dog to have seizures.

TOXINS. Unfortunately for dogs, there are all kinds of toxins in their environment, many of which can cause seizures. Toxins can be anything from a household cleaning product, somethings used to kill pests or even things like flea medication that is meant to be used on a dog. Antifreeze, insecticides and paint products are also known toxins which can not only induce seizures, but can kill the unwitting animal that ingests them. With early treatment and intervention, most animals have a good to fair prognosis of making a full recovery if they have a seizure as a result of an environmental poisoning.

BRAIN TUMORS. One thing that any vet will want to rule out first when a dog has a seizure is the presence of a brain tumor or abnormal growth in the brain. Tumors cause pressure to build upon the brain tissue as they grow, causing neurological abnormalities such as seizures. There are tests, like an MRI or CAT scan, that can detect tumors, but it is important to know that most dogs do not get seizures due to tumors, so it is just a possibility. In the case of either a brain tumor or other type of head injury, if a dog is suffering from a seizure that was caused by one of these conditions, anti-epileptic medications will not help.

TICK INDUCED DISEASES. A tick, a bloodsucking arachnid, can cause Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in dogs, both of which can cause seizures. The chance of a dog being infected by one of these diseases can usually be minimized or avoided by removing a tick within 24 hours of attachment. Medication can be quite effective in treated such diseases, including simple antibiotics.

DISTEMPER. This condition is generally marked by symptoms such as a fever, diarrhea and dehydration, all of which can lead to seizures in dogs, and is seen most commonly in puppies once they reach the age of 3 months and lose the antibodies they received from their mother. This is why it is vital to get your dog vaccinations as soon as possible, because vaccinations are the only way to prevent this disease - unfortunately once a dog gets it, it is in many cases fatal.

By: Sandra DeMers

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Sandra DeMers is the author of "Cory's Story," the story of a yellow Labrador retriever suffering from dog seizures that will absolutely AMAZE you. Cory is alive, happy and healthy at the age of 13 and hasn't had a seizure in over 5 years. Visit www.corysstory.com to learn Sandra's secret to good canine health and how to treat canine epilepsy--you'll be surprised when you learn the truth.