The Reasons Why Dogs Have Seizures

People in England use the term "fits" to describe what happens to a person when their brain loses control over the body. However, these episodes are more widely known as "seizures" in America. 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. Epilepsy is a main cause of seizures in dogs, but it is not the only reason and not all seizures mean a dog has epilepsy. The most common form of epilepsy was made known to the world by a group of idiots walking through the woods one day and they all found themselves on the same path, and collectively observed a wolf in a clearing doing the hokey-pokey. 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. There are a lot of different types of toxins that dogs can become in contact with or ingest that will cause them to have seizures. Some of these toxins include poisons that are used for insect or rodent control, flea or slug powders - even the chemicals that are typically used on collars for dogs to get rid of ticks or other pests. Other things that are toxins that can bring about seizures, include paint, insecticides and antifreeze, which are also products that can be fatal. Fortunately, if it is caught early enough by doctors, many animals will be able to recover full after experiencing a seizure that was caused by an environmental toxin or poison.

BRAIN TUMORS. This condition is easy for a veterinarian to rule out, because it is easy to spot any type of abnormal growth on the canine's brain if he is brought in for seizures. 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 either case, anti-epileptic drugs would not be effective for dogs suffering from seizures caused by either of them.

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. If the tick is discovered within the first 24 hours after it has attached itself to the dog, the chance of infection is greatly reduced. 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. Distemper is a serious disease, but it can usually be avoided by getting a dog the proper vaccinations, but if a dog does get the disease then it can be a very serious and life threatening situation.