What Can Give Rise To Dog Seizures?

A dog is one of the most widely cared for pets. Considered as man's best friend, a dog owner would treat it like a true family member. He would spend money, time and effort in ensuring the well being and happiness of the dog. As such when a dog becomes ill, he would make his best move to make it feel well again.

One of the most dreaded sights for dog owners is his pet having seizures. But in order for one to handle the situation properly, he has to be prepared. To effectively manage this condition, one should be educated with the causes of dog seizures so that appropriate precautions and treatments can be applied.

There are many reasons why canine seizures occur. Epilepsy, a condition pertaining to a chronic neurological disorder characterized by repetitive seizures, is one of the most common. Another cause is canine distemper which is a viral disease that normally occurs in young dogs. This can progress to the nervous system, causing muscle weakness, loss of basic motor skills and seizures. This, however, should not be pointed as the root cause if you know that your pet has been injected with a distemper vaccine.

Another reason why seizures in dogs can occur is toxin ingestion. Dogs may be exposed to household products like pesticides which can be poisonous as well as toxic substances in trash, that can all lead to seizures. Lead poisoning has been reported as a common cause of seizures that is attributed to toxin. If you have lead based paint at home, this should be stored securely to prevent it from causing health risk.

Other reasons why seizures occur are brain tumor, head injury and metabolic problems. Brain tumor is an abnormal growth in the brain that can disrupt brain functions thereby causing seizures. A recent accident resulting to head injury might involve crack in the dog's cranium damaging brain tissues and leading to seizures. Metabolic problems such as low blood sugar level can also trigger canine seizures.

An understanding of the causes of seizures is essential in effective management of the condition. In all circumstances, a pet owner should be calm so that he can clearly plan his actions. A good advice is to clear the area where the dog is having seizure to prevent things like furniture from hurting the dog. Also, he should not move the dog nor open its mouth as this could get him injured.