what to do for a dog having seizures

Canis familiaris seizures are scary, not just for the dog that's actually experiencing the seizure, but also for you, the owner. This is particularly true if you lot witness your domestic dog having a seizure, which is i of the most frightening experiences yous can have every bit a pet owner. Much of this fear comes from the unknown.

Things that might run through your heed include: Why is my canis familiaris having a seizure? What is the severity of seizures? Is my dog going to be okay? And what is making my domestic dog have this seizure?

What Causes Dog Seizures?

Dog seizures are caused by many differing reasons. Most commonly, canis familiaris seizures are caused by seizure disorders, similar idiopathic epilepsy, which is typically inherited, just the crusade is usually unknown. Epileptic seizures in dogs are characterized equally repeated episodes of seizures. The severity of epilepsy depends on the blazon of epileptic seizures. For case, dog cluster seizures , defined as a dog who experiences multiple seizures in a 24 hour catamenia can exist very dangerous. Other common causes of seizures include issues with your canis familiaris's health such as eating poison, liver illness, depression or high blood sugar, kidney disease, electrolyte problems, Anemia, caput injury, Encephalitis, strokes and encephalon cancer.

Seizures unremarkably occur when the canine's brain has a change in activity, which can occur through stimulation from the surround, things effectually the house, foods, medications and of course, stress.

Affected dogs tin can announced to be completely normal between seizures, and so one question that is typically on every pet possessor'southward mind is: What causes seizures in dogs? While seizures seem to occur spontaneously, many factors have been identified as possible dog seizure triggers.

Merely naturally, the answer (like with most canine medical conditions) is never unproblematic, there are plenty of causes that may potentially trigger a seizure including environs, things around the business firm, foods, medications and of course, stress.

What is a trigger of dog seizures?

But put, a trigger is the source of your dog's seizure. It is the factor, within or outside of the domestic dog's trunk, that causes a seizure to occur. There are plenty of potential seizure triggers including the environment, things effectually the business firm, foods, medications and of course, stress. The trigger can often exist difficult to identify, but in social club for something to qualify as a trigger, information technology has to have happened inside thirty hours of your dog's seizure. The only exception to this is vaccinations, which tin can trigger a seizure up to 45 days after administration.

In an effort to reduce the chances of your dog having a seizure, you tin try to avoid the things mentioned beneath.

Environmental Triggers of Dog Seizures

Your domestic dog'southward environment tin play a large function in seizure episodes. While a dog's environment involves your home as well, this section will focus on the potential ecology triggers your dog may come across outside.

Dogs love to exist outside. From walks to the dog park, to just sitting out in the backyard, the outdoors will be a big part of your dog's life. Unfortunately, there are many things institute outdoors that can potentially trigger a seizure in dogs.

Call up well-nigh your own k and garden and neighborhood. You lot and your neighbors may use lawn treatments and fertilizers to get that plush, green lawn of your dreams. And while they might be great for your yard, these products may contain toxins harmful to your dog, and can even trigger a seizure. Herbicides and insecticides are other chemicals often used around the one thousand that can be potential triggers of seizures in dogs.

Other risk factors institute in the yard, such as cedar shavings, can also be harmful to your dog. In improver, many flowers and plants are poisonous to dogs, which can also cause a seizure. The ASPCA has provided a listing of plants that are toxic to dogs.

What you lot can do: For your own abode, attempt to only employ backyard and yard products that are animal-friendly, to ensure that you don't trigger your own dog's seizure with these potentially harmful products. There are plenty of yard and garden treatment products that are dog-friendly, and it should be easy to find on the label.

Take a await at the listing of toxic plants and brand sure y'all don't have any in your one thousand. Eliminating these harmful toxins by discontinuing the apply of unsafe products and removing harmful plants tin eliminate one potential trigger of seizures in dogs from your dog's environment.

A couple of other environmental factors that tin can trigger seizures volition be less in your command, merely you tin try to avoid them nonetheless. Barometric pressure changes and extreme heat or cold are thought to be potential triggers.

Other potential environmental triggers include bee and wasp venom and toad poisoning. It's easy enough to say "avoid bees and toads" but not realistic, so just exist aware if you see them and try to remove your dog from a potentially bad situation.

Triggers of Canis familiaris Seizures Effectually Your Home

Your dog's surroundings involves more than just what's outside — information technology besides includes your home. Dogs, like humans, are both physically and emotionally sensitive creatures. Something like photosensitivity can trigger a seizure in dogs but like it tin in humans. Photosensitivity refers to flashing or bright lights.

Other factors considered household items that tin can potentially trigger seizures in dogs include scented candles, perfumes, loud music, and cigarette fume. Pop household products are besides potential triggers. These include Pino Sol or whatsoever other cleaners with pine oil, kerosene, camphor, eucalyptus, borax or boric acid, deck and wall stains, polyurethane fumes, paint fumes and Swiffer chemicals.

What you lot can do: Since none of the items listed above are absolutely necessary to maintain a abode, you can choose to eliminate them entirely from your canis familiaris'southward surround. Otherwise, attempt and keep them to a minimum, or remove the dog from the area when you utilize 1 of the harmful products or items.

Try not to use any products with strong aromas around your domestic dog and don't do home projects with your dog nearby. Dogs are curious creatures and are spring to get into whatever it is that yous are working on or working with.

Pine, in item, tin can be quite toxic to dogs and tin can cause seizures, so be certain non to use pino scented or infused cleaners. Also, if you become a real tree, come up Christmas time, don't let your domestic dog drink the water out of the bottom of the tree. It takes a petty extra effort but tin can be well worth it if it helps forestall your dog from having a seizure.

Foods That Tin Trigger Dog Seizures

The trigger of your canis familiaris's seizures tin can too boil down to something as every day as his nutrition. What your dog eats can admittedly be a potential trigger of a seizure. For instance, having a diet likewise loftier in sodium can atomic number 82 to salt toxicity, which can cause seizures and pancreatitis. This is especially true for dogs that take potassium bromide every bit an anticonvulsant.

Food allergies are also common triggers of seizures in dogs, brought on by candy, low-course dog foods. The chemicals, preservatives, and emulsifiers contained in some of these foods tin be harmful to your canis familiaris. There are also particular foods and herbs that can potentially trigger a seizure.

Fruits, including tomatoes and carrots, can actually trigger a seizure in some dogs. Sure dairy products, like cheese (particularly if it is moldy), cottage cheese and milk are also danger foods. Unclean or uncooked pork products can be problematic besides every bit turkey. These can each be found in tainted pet food.

Certain spices, such as rosemary, sage, fennel and saffron can besides be potential seizure triggers. Walnuts are generally idea of as harmful to dogs, and caffeine can also exist a trigger.  Foods or treats with ethoxyquin, BHA or BHT of foods with MSG can likewise be potential triggers. MSG is often referred to in food products as "natural flavoring" or "smoke flavoring," etc.

Even dog products like uncleansed rawhide treats and pig's ear or anxiety tin potentially cause a seizure to occur. Several commercially produced canis familiaris chews are bleached. Flavored chews will oftentimes have some of the chemical additives listed above.

What you lot can practice: Since you command your dog's diet, yous can make sure you aren't feeding your dog whatsoever of these potentially harmful foods. Pay attending to the labels of all of your dog foods and treats and make sure they don't contain anything yous come across in a higher place. And brand sure y'all don't feed your dog anything y'all wouldn't eat yourself, or any dog nutrient beyond its expiration date.

Medications That Can Trigger Seizures in Dogs

Believe it or non, a domestic dog's medications can sometimes trigger seizures also. These include vaccinations, heartworm medications, flea and tick preventative medications and some other prescription medications. If your dog has a seizure shortly later on beginning a new medication, you should make af annotation of this when y'all see your veterinarian.

Stress Factors That Can Trigger Seizures in Dogs

Just like you would for yourself, you should e'er assistance your dog to avoid stress, equally stress tin can also be a trigger of seizures in dogs. Stress is really the number one cause of seizures in humans, but less prevalent in dogs. Even so, there are several factors that can crusade your domestic dog physical and emotional stress or feet.

The physical stress factors that trigger seizures in dogs are very similar to those seen in humans. A big one is fatigue. Like humans, dogs oftentimes have seizures in the morning or at dark, when their body is changing from its sleep/wake bike.

As mentioned previously, dogs a very photosensitive, and then camera flashes, the lights of a television, Christmas lights, or even lightning can trigger a seizure. Besides listed in a higher place, changes in barometric pressure level and extreme hot or cold weather can also crusade your dog to get physically stressed, which can in turn trigger a seizure. Thunderstorms also can spook a dog enough to be a trigger.

Sudden changes to your dog's diet or routine tin can besides crusade stress that may trigger a seizure. Dogs run on a very strict internal clock, and know when it is time to eat or become outside or when y'all become abode from work. Changes in their routine can be acquired by visiting friends or family members, a new baby joining the family, construction around the abode and more. Missing, skipping, or going as well long in between meals tin can also cause low blood sugar, which can be a trigger of seizures likewise.

Y'all've probably heard of separation anxiety and laughed it off equally loyalty and an adorable dependence upon your as their owner. However, it'south a real thing! And in some cases can be a existent problem. Being left alone for as well long tin can cause a dog a slap-up deal of stress and tin trigger a seizure.

On the flip side, a prolonged menstruum of activeness and excitement can also trigger a seizure. If your dog has a long 24-hour interval of playing with a lot of dogs or other people, it can often be too much for it to handle, and information technology may have a seizure.

Another stress trigger to avoid is loud arguments or angry voices. When people fight around a dog, the domestic dog will ofttimes call back that the people are angry at them. This is actually the worst kind of stress for a dog. Other causes of emotional stress to dogs include long machine rides, visits to your vet, general nervousness, and anxiety.

What you tin do: Assist your dog avoid these stressful situations by beginning sticking to your canis familiaris'south routine. This is the best fashion to keep your dog on an even keel. If yous are going to alter his diet, innovate the new food slowly rather than a complete, abrupt switch. As well, monitor their play fourth dimension and don't permit them get out of hand.

If your domestic dog does accept a seizure, go on a journal of the potential triggers and bring it with y'all when you go to come across your veterinarian. Your vet may conduct a neurologic exam to assistance determine the root cause of any dogs with seizures. Identifying the cause is the primal to any handling for seizures, so your paying attention tin be your dog'south saving grace. Your vet may even be able to provide handling options such equally anticonvulsant drugs.

Because of the unpredictable nature of seizures, you can never guarantee that your dog won't ever have a seizure again. But fugitive these potential triggers can reduce your domestic dog'due south chances. If goose egg else, these are all safe and healthy things you can practise for your dog to ensure your pup has the best possible quality of life.

Reviewed Past: Caroline Coile, Ph.D.

Caroline Coile is the acknowledged author of Barron'southward Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds, an inductee in the Dog Writers Association of American Hall of Fame and winner of 8 Maxwell Medallion Awards. She writes the monthly Breeder'southward Notebook column for Canis familiaris World mag and the bi-monthly Nutrition column for the AKC Gazette, and has served on the AKC Canine Wellness Foundation President's Council. Caroline holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from Florida State Academy and has served as a canine consultant to the Federal Aviation Assistants.

Sources:

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3. "Epilepsy: A Cause of Seizures in Dogs." PetCoach, Accessed vii April 2017. https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/seizures-ane/.
4. "Vet Advice: Seizures in Dogs and Canine Epilepsy." The Bark, 3 Feb. 2015, Accessed 7 April 2017. www.thebark.com/content/vet-communication-seizures-dogs-and-canine-epilepsy.
5. Link, Tim. "Does Your Dog Experience Seizures?" Dogster, 26 May 2015, Accessed 7 April 2017. www.dogster.com/lifestyle/dog-health-facts-seizures.
6. Kluger EK, Malik R, Govendir One thousand. NCBI, "Veterinarians' Preferences for Anticonvulsant Drugs for Treating Seizure Disorders in Dogs and Cats." Pub Med, Accessed May 2019. https://world wide web.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19857237.

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