Hereditary and Congenital Diseases - Epilepsy
Hereditary diseases are a form of illness passed on from the parents to the offspring. While some forms, such as hip dysplasia, may be more prominent in one breed than another may, all dogs can fall prey to genetic diseases. This is particularly true of epilepsy. Dogs more prone to epilepsy include Beagles, Collies, Dachshunds, Huskies, Malamutes, Poodles, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Saint Bernards, Irish Setters, German Shepherds, Cocker Spaniels and Springer Spaniels.
Epilepsy
Your dog may suffer from one of 2 types of seizures: the petit mal or the grand mal. The petit mal, as the name indicates, is a small seizure. Your dog will simply blank out for a brief time. This may be less than a second. Your dog may merely have a slight twitch. He or she could also have a total black out.
The grand mal is both longer in terms of length and severity. These seizures are the stereotypical type. They are spastic. A dog may quiver or shake from several seconds to minutes. He or she may defecate, urinate, whimper or groan uncontrollably. It is very unnerving and upsetting to see your favorite pet or any person's dog suffer from a grand mal seizure.
While it may be hard, during the episode, refrain from closing or opening the mouth. Your dog will not swallow his or her tongue. Do not restrain the dog's movements. You should remove all dangerous materials away from the scene. Make sure there is nothing in the immediate region capable of harming your defenseless dog.
While your dog is having a seizure, try to remain calm enough to note carefully what is occurring. You need to note the length of the seizure. You should also try to list any specifics about the seizures. Of what did they consist? Did your dog shake, whimper or roll back the eyes? You need to remember this for the visit to the vet.
After the seizure is over, contact your vet. They may want to see your pet now or later. If it is a small, one-off, your vet may not want to see the animal except to discuss precursors or other possible causal factors. Since seizures are common to other medical problems, your vet will need to compile a medical background. The vet will also need to do many tests. Of concern will be other problems. These include kidney and liver disorders, high blood glucose, canine distemper and even tumors. Do not expect an instant diagnosis of epilepsy.
If the tests rule out other causal factors and diseases, your dog may have epilepsy. If, however, this is only a single instance of a seizure, your vet will not automatically prescribe medical treatment. You may be lucky as some dogs may suffer a single seizure. If the seizures increase in severity and frequency, be prepared to begin a series of treatments.
In the case of epilepsy, there is no known cure. All you can do for your dog is to control the frequency and severity of the seizures. The most common way to treat epileptic seizures is through sedatives. The most frequently prescribed drug for dogs is Phenobarbital. You give these pills orally, alone or in combination with other medication. It all depends upon the nature of the dog's seizures and the reaction to the medication. Your dog may spend the rest of his or her days on these pills. If this is a young dog, you will especially need to monitor any possible side effects from long term use of the drugs.