Seizures and Epilepsy in Dogs

Epilepsy is commonly seen in dogs. It’s a neurological disease affecting the brain. Epilepsy is defined by recurring seizures. Often, there is no obvious cause of the seizure activity.

Seizures occur when there are excessive amounts of electrical activity in the brain. Abnormal electrical impulses are released repeatedly, causing the seizure-like symptoms we are familiar with. Epilepsy is diagnosed by exclusion of all other possible causes. The brain often looks completely normal structurally but has abnormal electrical activity. The electrical activity starts in one place, this is often called the seizure focus point. It then spreads across the brain, causing the characteristic sporadic, involuntary movements and sometimes loss of consciousness.

 Clinical signs of seizure activity vary depending on the cause and the location of the seizure. Typical signs include:

There are three distinct phases of a seizure:

Aura - This is known as the pre-seizure stage. Some people believe dogs can sense the seizure coming and behave differently due to this. Your dog may become more anxious, they may be more clingy and frightened. They may react to things that pet parents cannot pick up on!

Ictal - This is the phase where the actual seizure occurs. The duration can vary greatly however it is usually 1-2 minutes. If the seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes, this is a medical emergency and you must contact your vet immediately.

Post Ictal - This is the recovery phase of the seizure episode. The seizure has stopped but your dog may become disoriented and confused. They may wander around aimlessly and pace to and fro. They may be very thirsty or hungry. This phase can last for a few minutes or possibly hours.

The causes of seizures in dogs can be split into two categories, intracranial and extracranial.

Extracranial causes come from a distant location in the body but still have an effect on the brain to cause seizure activity. Extracranial causes include:

Intracranial causes of seizures come from physical damage or structural changes in the dog's brain. Common intracranial causes include:

Your vet will need to establish if your dog is having seizures. Often a video of the event is useful in this situation. Otherwise, a detailed description and any other relevant clinical history are required.

Your vet will also perform a full neurological exam on your dog. They will run routine tests such as blood analysis and urinalysis to obtain a baseline analysis. Cerebrospinal fluid may be tested. Imaging may be carried out including X-rays, ultrasound, and sometimes advanced imaging such as CT and MRI to look at the brain and surrounding structures. Idiopathic epilepsy is diagnosed by the process of elimination. Once all other causes are ruled out, the diagnosis is made.

Treatment of epilepsy is a lifelong commitment. Epilepsy cannot be cured, but plenty of good management options exist. Your vet will be able to determine the best option for you and your dog.

The most commonly used medications are:

Phenobarbital - This is very commonly used. It’s a barbiturate drug. It functions by stabilizing brain cells and preventing unregulated electrical impulses from firing.  Dogs prescribed phenobarbital require regular monitoring.

Potassium Bromide - This can be added to Phenobarbital if seizures are not controlled by that drug alone. It operates by reducing seizure activity in the central nervous system. It takes a while to build up to the correct concentration so often a loading dose is required.

Levetiracetam - This is an anticonvulsant drug. It works by depressing the excitability of functioning nerves in the brain. It can be used as a sole therapy or in combination with phenobarbital

Gabapentin - This is another anticonvulsant drug. It can be used as an add-on treatment to support other drugs. It is not very effective when used on its own.

Diazepam - Diazepam is a benzodiazepine drug. It can be given rectally at home in an emergency if your dog experiences a seizure. It is not usually used in long-term management as it doesn't have a very long duration of effect.

If medication stops your dog from having seizures, you don’t need to wean your dog off the medication or stop abruptly. Your dog isn’t cured, this just means the medication is working. If you stop the medication, it’s highly likely seizures will return.

 A seizure is a one-off incident involving abnormal electrical activity occurring in the brain that causes uncontrollable movement. Epilepsy is the name given to a condition where repeated episodes of seizures occur.

 Dogs with epilepsy can lead a relatively normal and healthy life provided they receive appropriate treatment and that their seizures are well controlled. If the diagnosis has been made promptly and the incidence of seizures is reduced, there is not a great detrimental effect on lifespan. If the seizures are left uncontrolled, this can result in severe health problems including death.

 The age of onset for epilepsy in dogs is usually around 6 months and 5 years.

Seizures and epilepsy are common problems encountered by dogs. There are lots of different causes of seizures, epilepsy is one of them. Epilepsy is diagnosed by ruling out all other causes. Choosing the more appropriate treatment for your dog involves a decision based on the severity of the disease and the dog's individual situation. The treatment aims to reduce the incidence of seizures as there is no cure for epilepsy.

For more clinical advice for your furry friends, check out the rest of our articles online or speak to your local veterinarian at our Community Pet Clinic.