Q & A: Dog Epilepsy

Question: Dog Epilepsy

“I own a female Terrier and she is almost five years old. Every three to four months she has what appears to be a seizure. My veterinarian cannot seem to help because each time she has an episode, the 20 minute drive to the doctor’s office seems to be enough time for her to recover and act totally normal again by the time the vet sees her. Can you give me a reason why she has these attacks and how I can help her?”

Answer:

Your dog’s condition could be the result of a number of underlying problems, with of course epilepsy being at the top of the list. We are seeing more and more epilepsy in dogs and all breeds are susceptible, not just Terrier breeds. From out of nowhere these fits come about and the animals goes into severe convulsions, frightening to both the owner and the dog.

What causes these fits could range anywhere from worms to toxins; parasites to epilepsy. After regaining consciousness, the dog will wobble for five or ten minutes, and then be normal in every respect. Epileptic fits in dogs can be controlled by the same drugs that are given to people to control human epilepsy, and many dogs live long and happy lives while maintaining this condition.

The best advice is to seek out an experienced veterinarian who is confident in looking deep enough into your dog’s condition to come to an accurate diagnosis, and with the right treatment to follow.