Epilepsy in Dogs: A Distressing and Common Neurological Disorder
As a pet owner, knowing the potential health issues that come with your dog’s breed is an essential part of being your dog’s best friend. Because epilepsy in dogs is so common and potentially life-threatening, all dog owners should be familiar with it.
Here are some facts about epilepsy in dogs:
Epilepsy is the most common neurological disorder in dogs and affects approximately 0.75% of the canine population.[1]
It’s estimated that up to two percent of all dogs will have a seizure in their lifetime.[2]
If your dog is experiencing symptoms of or has been diagnosed with epilepsy, you know how it feels to see your pet in pain. And sometimes, getting an answer and treatment can be just as painful. At Sage Veterinary Imaging, we have the experience and expertise to make a quick, accurate diagnosis, providing you with relief from an otherwise distressing experience.
In this post, we will examine what epilepsy in dogs is, how to diagnose it, and the treatment plans available for your pet suffering from this difficult disease. Epilepsy in dogs causes a lot of fear in owners, but Sage Veterinary Imaging provides solutions and answers to help you feel more at ease and get the best care for your dog.
What is epilepsy in dogs?
Epilepsy is a brain disorder characterized by recurrent seizures without a known cause, injury, or disease. In other words, the brain appears normal but functions abnormally.[2]
This abnormality results in sudden shocks to the brain, known as seizures. They are caused by increased electrical activity in a dog’s brain. A dog experiencing a seizure may twitch, convulse, spasm, or shake.
Signs and Symptoms of Epilepsy in Dogs
The main symptom of epilepsy in dogs is recurrent seizures. There are different types of seizures, and how they appear varies.
Before a seizure happens, dogs enter the “aura stage.” Your pet may become scared, anxious, and withdrawn. Some pets can feel a seizure about to happen. If your pet experiences a seizure, they suddenly become unaware of their surroundings.
Other signs your dog is having a seizure are:
Stiffening of the neck and legs
Drooling
Shaking and tremors
Uncontrollable chewing
Loss of bladder control
An average seizure lasts about 30-90 seconds but can range anywhere from a few seconds up to a few minutes. After a seizure, your dog may appear sleepy and disoriented. This behavior is called the “post-ictal period.”
If your dog experiences a seizure, call your vet as soon as possible. Certain types of seizures are emergencies, and you’ll want to get help as quickly as possible.
What causes epilepsy in dogs?
It is generally accepted that epilepsy in dogs is inherited. In some cases, structural problems in the brain cause epilepsy. But the exact cause of epilepsy in dogs is unknown.[2]
Epilepsy is a complex disease. Human science shows several genetic mutations that cause it. What makes it complicated is there are potential and unknown environmental factors believed to cause epilepsy as well. Because this is true for humans, it is likely true for dogs.
About 26 dog breeds show some evidence of inherited epilepsy.[1] Some breeds with a higher rate of epilepsy are:
Beagles
Bernese Mountain
Border Collies
Boxers
Cocker Spaniels
Golden Retrievers
Poodles
Corgis
Shepherds
This is a short summary of breeds that are more affected by epilepsy in dogs, but there are more. Unfortunately, there is no way to test for epilepsy before a seizure happens. But being educated on epilepsy in dogs helps you prepare to act if your pet begins to show signs and symptoms.
Sage Veterinary Imaging uses this MRI scanner to perform detailed diagnostic imaging for dogs with epilepsy.
How to Diagnose Epilepsy in Dogs
As mentioned above, a diagnosis of epilepsy isn’t possible before a dog experiences a seizure. In veterinary medicine, they call this a “diagnosis of exclusion.” A diagnosis is probable after all other causes of your pet’s symptoms are ruled out.
Seizure description is the most critical information needed to diagnose canine epilepsies.[1] Veterinary medicine now has a classification for seizures in dogs, developed in 2015. While this scheme is based on human classifications, it is not identical.
The veterinary system for classifying seizures focuses on where the seizure begins in the brain, plus specific features of the seizure to help identify epilepsy in dogs.
This scheme places seizures into two main categories: “focalized,” affecting only one part of the body, or “generalized,” involving the whole body. Generalized seizures are more common among dogs with epilepsy.[2]
A visit to your vet begins with a physical exam and learning more about your pet’s medical history. After the routine check-up, diagnostic testing gives your vet more information. This usually includes urine and blood tests. X-rays are also helpful to see if there are any obvious malformations or blockages in your pet.
If these tests don’t present a clear diagnosis, your vet may refer you to an outpatient imaging center like Sage Veterinary Imaging. With computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Sage Veterinary Imaging provides accurate and clear answers to what’s causing epilepsy in your dog.
The more information your vet has from testing, the better your chance of getting a diagnosis.
Types of Epilepsy in Dogs
While identifying the cause of epilepsy in dogs isn’t always easy, veterinarians know there are three main types of epilepsy:
Idiopathic epilepsy: There is no known structural abnormality in the brain, and the disease is probably due to genetic inheritance. Multiple seizures occur, and a brain exam will show as normal.
Structural epilepsy: Known structural damage to the brain is present. The abnormality may be due to tumors, head trauma, or inflammatory brain disease. Sometimes these abnormalities can be seen with MRI scans. A dog may show other signs of neurological disorder between seizures if they have structural epilepsy.
Epilepsy of an unknown cause: Structural damage is believed to be the cause, but it has yet to be identified or diagnosed.
There is also one outlier: reactive seizures. These seizures are reactions to other events outside of the brain, like ingesting toxic material or undiagnosed metabolic issues. While reactive seizures aren’t truly epilepsy, they may present the same symptoms.
A visit to your vet will help determine the next steps. Sage Veterinary Imaging has the technology and expertise to make an epilepsy diagnosis in dogs. Our 3T MRI produces research-grade images, and our team of doctors has experience with many neurological diseases in dogs.
Dr. Jaime Sage reading a CT scan at Sage Veterinary Imaging
Treatment for Epilepsy in Dogs
Once you have a confirmed diagnosis, your vet can make a treatment plan. In most cases of epilepsy in dogs, anti-seizure medication (also known as anticonvulsants) is the preferred treatment choice.
Medication is a life-long treatment. Without medication, seizures return, and the severity of seizures may be worse than before. Anticonvulsants for dogs with epilepsy require a prescription.
Phenobarbital is the most common anticonvulsant prescribed for epilepsy in dogs. It is usually needed twice daily. Every two to four weeks after starting the medication, your vet requires blood samples to ensure your dog is on the right dosage.
There are three other medications for dogs with epilepsy:
Potassium bromide
Newer human anti-seizure medications such as zonisamide (brand name Zonegran®)
Levetiracetam (brand name Keppra®)
Fortunately, in most cases, anticonvulsant medication gets your dog back to a normal life. There is a slight chance of periodic breakthrough seizures, but your vet can help adjust your dog's medication to help keep seizures at bay.
Sage Veterinary Imaging in Sandy, Utah
Sage Veterinary Imaging: Leaders in Finding Answers For Your Pets
Sage Veterinary Imaging has been operating in Round Rock, Texas for eight years. With a new location in Sandy, Utah, and more on the way, we are here to help get answers for your pet.
When your pet is acting differently and showing signs of distress, it may need a CT or MRI scan. The radiologists, surgeons, and veterinarians on our team can see more of your pet’s complete health profile - with twice the resolution and in half the time.
Ultimately, we aim to make the most informed decisions to help your pet. And we know you only want what’s best. For more information on where to find an MRI or CT scan for dogs in Texas or Utah, go to our Contact Us page to learn more.
References:
https://www.akcchf.org/canine-health/top-health-concerns/epilepsy/understanding-canine-epilepsy.html#:~:text=Epilepsy%20is%20the%20most%20common,an%20abnormality%20of%20the%20brain.
https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/epilepsy-in-dogs
