Seizures

Seizures, or fits, can occur for many reasons in pets and can be very distressing for owners to witness.

They occur due to uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain and will lead to the animal losing consciousness, often becoming rigid and shaking violently.

Some pets will have partial seizures where they remain conscious but may act oddly and experience tremors or shaking in a part of the body.

What causes seizures in cats and dogs?

Toxic substances, head trauma, epilepsy, metabolic disturbances, parasitic diseases and cancerous processes can all cause seizures.

A thorough physical exam and history of your pet can help your vet decide which of these causes may be affecting your pet. Often, blood and urine tests and sometimes imaging of the brain may be recommended.

Idiopathic epilepsy is a condition seen in younger animals, especially dogs, where there are repeated seizures for no detectable reason. In these cases, diagnosis is a process of eliminating causes.

For pets with epilepsy, medication is recommended to prevent future seizures. If untreated, seizures will become more frequent and severe. Most pets with epilepsy will gain good control of their seizures once on medication.

Regular check-ups and blood tests are encouraged to monitor the pet’s treatment (phenobaritione monitoring). Dosage increases may be necessary in some cases after prolonged use, as the body becomes more efficient at excreting the drug.

It’s vital to never suddenly stop anti-seizure medications. Doing so can cause sudden and severe seizures.