You find yourself in a sudden panic as your beloved pet has lost all control and is convulsing on the ground. What a scary moment for any pet owner! Seizures seem to be much more common in dogs and cats than humans. Although this is a scary time, seizures are usually not life-threatening in the moment.
If the convulsion lasts longer than 5 minutes, please call your local veterinary clinic or Emergency Room / Urgent care right away. Most likely they will like to see your pet.
If your pet has had more than 2 seizures (even if very short) within a 24-hour period, they also should be seen at the local clinic or ER / Urgent care.
Types of seizures
Is it a seizure or something else?
Your veterinarian will likely ask you about your pet’s behavior before and after the episode.
Aura is a period of time before a seizure when the patient may become clinging or anxious prior to the seizure.
Post – Ictal phase occurs after the seizure itself. This period is characterized by the patient losing his/ her balance, seeming to be disoriented or blind, and possibly not knowing his/ her owner for a few minutes. This usually esolves by 20 minutes post seizure and the pet is “ back to normal”.
An accurate assessment of the episode is very important as there are other symptoms which may look like a seizure but are actually something else.
Syncope is a heart condition which can lead to the heart actually stopping for a few seconds and the patient “ faints”. These episodes do not have an Aura or a Post Ictal phase. Sometimes it is quite difficult to assess whether the patient had a seizure or a syncopal event.
My pet has Idiopathic Epilepsy – Now what!
If your patient has been diagnosed with Idiopathic Epilepsy you may start down that rabbit hole of Internet research. Be aware – some of that information is helpful, other info has no actual research and may delay your pet from getting the medication he or she really needs.
Traditionally, veterinarians have usually started anti – seizure medications when a patient is having a seizure once every 6 weeks. This is not written in stone and can vary according to the severity of the seizure. I have seen patients that have a cluster of seizures the first time they have seizures and medication is started right away. Your veterinarian will review your pet’s history and medical record to help make a decision what kind of medication is recommended for your particular patient.
Common medications for Idiopathic Epilepsy are Phenobarbital, Levetiracetam and Potassium Bromide. Each medication has different properties and possible side effects. Your veterinarian will recommend the best choice for your patient. Some patients need to change medications and some need to have more than 1 medication to control their seizures.
Is there anything I can to do prevent the seizures besides medications?
Some substances or conditions can “lower the seizure threshold”. This means they can make your pet more likely to have a seizure. We cannot really say they cause seizures in most cases as this has not been proven.
- Hypothyroidism may lower the seizure threshold. Testing before starting therapy may be recommended if your patient has symptoms of this endocrine disorder.
- Certain Flea and Tick medications may lower seizure threshold. Discuss which medication would be best for your pet.
- Fluoxetine and trazodone medications may lower seizure threshold. These are anti- anxiety drugs. If your patient is currently on this medication, review with your veterinarian.
Some medications for seizures alter the way your pet may metabolize other medications. Always bring a list of your pets current medications to your veterinary appointment.
What if my patient has not improved on medications?
Seizure medications often take some time to reach therapeutic level. Some of the medications can be detected by bloodtest. This will help us adjust the medications if needed. Make sure that you are having your pet rechecked as prescribed by your attending veterinarian.
If your patient has seizures which are very difficult to control, we may suggest your pet see the neurologist. We often refer difficult cases to the neurologist at Blue Pearl in Des Moines for a consultation. This can often be very rewarding for those with difficult to control seizures.