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Do dogs get epilepsy?

Yes! Canine Epilepsy is a chronic condition characterized by recurrent seizures. Although seizures are always abnormal events, not all seizures in dogs are caused by canine epilepsy.

Canine Epilepsy is similar to humans Epilepsy and it is a disorder of the brain where abnormal electrical activity triggers uncoordinated nerve transmission. This uncoordinated and haphazard nerve tissue activity scrambles messages to the muscles of your dog’s body and the coordinated use of the muscles is then inhibited.

Canine Epilepsy and Dog Seizures can be one in the same thing, with the seizures being broadly divided into two categories:

• Idiopathic Epilepsy – also referred to as primary epilepsy, it is seizures which are not caused by any other brain abnormality other than epileptic seizures
• Symptomatic Epilepsy – also referred to as secondary epilepsy are seizures caused by a brain lesion or other specific cause.

Which Dog Breeds are most Susceptible to Canine Epilepsy

A genetic basis for idiopathic epilepsy is strongly suspected in several breeds including the following breeds:

• Beagle
• Belgian Tervuren
• Keeshond
• Dachshund
• British Alsatian
• Labrador Retriever
• Golden Retriever
• Collie

Most dogs with idiopathic epilepsy suffer their first seizure between the ages of one and five years of age. Idiopathic canine epilepsy is not exclusive to the above breeds may also be inherent in other breeds.

The Types of Seizures

Watching a pet dog having a tonic-clonic or grand mal seizure can be a terrifying scene. A seizure generaly refers to the involuntary contraction and spasm of muscles. The seizure is caused by an electrical storm in the brain. Seizures can be broken into two types:

• Generalized seizure – the electrical storm appears everywhere in the brain at once. Tonic-Clonic (formerly called grand mal) seizure begins with spasm of all skeletal muscles and loss of consciousness. The dog usually falls to his side with the legs stretched out and the head back. This is the tonic portion of the seizure. Sometimes the dog will vocalize or have facial twitching. Vocalizations are involuntary and do not indicate pain. Often the dog will drool excessively, urinate, defecate or eliminate his anal glands. This portion of the seizure is usually brief and is followed by the clonic phase of the seizure. The clonic phase can include rhythmic movements which typically consists of clamping the jaws and jerking or running movements of the legs. After the seizure, the dog may lay still for a brief period. In time the dog will get up on his feet and may appear to be normal, but may show signs of post ictal behavior. These signs include apparent blindness, disorientation, pacing or running about the house bumping into things. The post-ictal behavior can last anywhere from hours to days after a seizure. Another type of generalized seizure is the tonic seizure, in which motor activity consists only of generalized muscle rigidity without the clonic phase.
• Partial seizure – the abnormal electrical impulses begin in a small area of the brain. Partial seizures are also refferred to as focal seizures, the electrical storm affects only a specific part of the brain. A partial seizure may stay localized or it may expand to the whole brain and cause a tonic-clonic seizure. Because the seizure starts in only a specific part of the brain, an underlying disease or injury may be likely. A partial seizure may remain localized or spread to other parts of the cerebral cortex producing a sequential involvement of other body parts. Partial seizures are described as simple focal seizures where consciousness is preserved and as complex focal seizures where consciousness is altered. Any portion of the body may be involved during a focal seizure depending on the region of the brain affected. In a simple partial seizure, the area of the brain that controls movement is affected. Usually resulting in face twitching or blinking, sometimes limited to one side of the face. If the seizure spreads, other parts of the body on that same side will be affected. The dog will usually be alert and aware. A complex partial seizure will originate in the area of the brain that controls behavior and is sometimes called a psychomotor seizure. During this type of seizure, the dog’s consciousness is altered and he may exhibit bizarre behavior such as unprovoked aggression or extreme irrational fear. He may run uncontrollably, engage in senseless, repetitive behavior or have fly-snapping episodes where he appears to be biting at imaginary flies around his head.

What to do when your Dog has a Seizure or Epileptic Fit

The best thing you can do for your dog during a fit is to move anything out of the way that they might hurt themselves with. Watch the dog but don’t get to near it or put your hand near it’s mouth as it might involuntarily bite you. Never move the dog during a fit unless it is in danger of getting hurt. Comfort the dog after the seizure and seek Vetinary advice

References:
Cash WC, Blauch BS: Jaw snapping syndrome in eight dogs. JAVMS 175:179, 1979
Parent JM Seizures, Small animal medicine 735:741, 1991
Thomas WB: Idiopathic Epilepsy in Dogs. Vet Clinics of N. Amer. Small Animal Practice 183:206, 2000

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