A seizure is a sudden electrical disturbance in the brain. A focal seizure affects only part of the brain and the dog remains conscious.
A generalised seizure, which is more common in dogs, affects the entire brain, and includes loss of consciousness.
Dogs usually show behaviour signs beforehand and afterwards, which differentiate a seizure from fainting or a dizzy spell.
Ideally, you should pursue diagnostics and specific treatments for any possible underlying conditions that may be causing your dog to seizure. Anti-epileptic medications can be prescribed to reduce the severity and frequency, but may not eliminate seizures entirely.
Medication is lifelong, and regular diagnostic testing is needed to monitor your dog’s status and prognosis.
The prognosis depends on whether the seizures are idiopathic, or due to a specific cause and your dog’s treatment response. Most dogs will respond to anti-epileptic medication, but some may experience refractory seizures or adverse side effects, and have a poorer prognosis.
Immediately contact your vet if your dog has a seizure lasting longer than two minutes or has multiple seizures in one day, collapses and does not recover, or vocalises in pain.
It is vital to begin end-of-life care discussions before your dog‘s condition becomes unmanageable, or they begin losing their quality of life.
The team at Goodbye Good Boy offers individualised support to help you and your family navigate this difficult time by providing quality-of-life checks, in-home euthanasia, cremation and aftercare services, and personalised memorialisation options. Our services can even be pre-paid to help ease the financial burden at the time of your pet’s passing.
To learn more about our pet end-of-life services, give us a call on 1800 953 619 or visit our website goodbyegoodboy.com.au.
This article was reproduced with permission from Goodbye Good Boy advisor Dr Dani McVety, of Lap Of Love.