Epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes the dog to have sudden, uncontrolled, recurring physical attacks, with or without loss of consciousness. This may sometimes occur for unknown reasons (idiopathic) or due to genetic abnormalities. However, idiopathic epilepsy is often characterized by structural brain lesions and is more likely seen in male dogs. If left untreated, the seizures may become more severe and frequent. One of the most terrifying scenes a pet owner can witness is that of a pet in the throws of a grand mal seizure. Once seen, it will never be forgotten. Epileptic episodes are quite common in dogs and actually show up more often in certain breeds of dogs than in others. For unknown reasons, epilepsy in cats is rather rare. When seen in a cat, epileptic episodes may have more serious underlying mechanisms than when present in dogs. Let’s explore this disorder a bit and we will gain a better understanding of just what is going on during an epileptic episode. What Pets Get Epilepsy ? Dog breeds predisposed to epilepsy: Any dog can be an epileptic. The following breeds are predisposed to this condition: Beagles, all Shepherds (German, Australian, Belgian, Tervuren), Border Collies, Boxers, Cocker Spaniels, Collies, Dachshunds, Golden Retrievers, Irish Setters, Keeshonds, Labrador Retrievers, Poodles (all sizes), St. Bernards, Shelties, Siberian Huskies, Springer Spaniels, Welsh Corgies, and Wire-haired Fox Terriers. Seizures also occur more frequently in staffordshire bull terriers than in many breeds. But those seizures are often related to a specific neuro-metabolic disorder seen in this breed.
Not a lot has changed regarding the fear and myths surrounding canine epilepsy since the first person observed seizing dogs when animal/human cohabitation started. Throughout history, thousands of people suffering from epilepsy have been killed because they were thought to be possessed by the devil. Sadly, despite all the scientific improvement and understanding of this medical condition, there is still a need to demystify one of the most common but devastating neurological diseases. Thus, even though enormous progress has been made in the last century in understanding the biological basis of canine epilepsy, and even more in developing effective antiepileptic drugs, our first reaction is not so different from that of our ancestors: the animal is often destroyed and the epileptic status not recognized. Let us throw some light on the situation. An epileptic dog can have a happy and long life, as long as the seizure activity is well under control. Seizures can have a very dramatic appearance, but are not painful. However, a dog can feel confusion and can have episodes of panic. So a seizing dog, or a dog recovering from a seizure, needs to be approached carefully to avoid unintentionally biting other dogs or people.
