Dog seizures
Dog seizures are the result of anything that disrupts normal brain circuitry in dogs. During a dog seizure, imbalances cause an uncoordinated firing of neurons in the cerebrum of the dog’s brain creating spasms ranging from mild to severe. There are four stages of dog seizures including the prodome, the aura, the actual seizure (Ictus) and the post ictus. During the first stage, the prodome, the dog may show a change in mood or behavior hours, if not days, before the seizure. The aura signals the start of the dog seizure and it is characterized by any combination of whining, nervousness, trembling, hiding, restlessness, salivation, affection, and wandering. Actual dog seizures last roughly 45 seconds to three minutes. During this time the dog may experience excessive drooling, thrashing of the limbs, teeth grinding, and he may urinate or defecate uncontrollably. In some dog seizure cases, the dog may even lose consciousness. During the post ictus phase of dog seizures, the dog may drink excessively, pace back and forth, and appear blind or deaf before returning to normal. Dog seizures may be a scary thing to witness, but controlling dog seizures is not. There are several prescription medications that have proven to be effective at controlling dog seizures. These include: • Dilantin • Gabapentin • Phenobarbital • Phenobarbital & Potassium Bromide • Potassium Bromide • Primidone (Mysoline) • Valium (Diazepam) In addition to dog medications, diet plays an important role in managing dog seizures. Feed your dog preservative-free kibble made from human-grade ingredients. Preservatives such as BHA, BHT, and Ethoxyquin can cause dog seizures. For the perfect anti-seizure diet, feed your dog a “raw diet.” This will ensure that your dog's food is absolutely 100% preservative free.