Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook.pdf - Mr. Walnuts

368 •DOG OWNER’S HOME VETERINARY HANDBOOK
defecate. As the dog regains consciousness there is a postseizure state characterized
by disorientation and confusion. The dog may stumble into walls and
appear blind. The postseizure state can persist for minutes or hours. Grand
mal seizures are typical of epilepsy.
A focal motor or partial seizure is one in which the jerking or twitching is
limited (at least initially) to a particular part of the body. A focal seizure usually
indicates a specific brain lesion, such as a scar, tumor, or abscess.
Seizures are commonly associated with brain injury, encephalitis, heat
stroke, brain abscess, brain tumor, stroke, poisoning, kidney failure, or liver
failure. Seizures associated with a concussion frequently occur weeks or months
after the head injury and are caused by a focus of scar tissue in the brain.
Postencephalitic seizures occur three to four weeks after the onset of
encephalitis. Distemper, in particular, is characterized by attacks that begin
with chomping, tongue chewing, foaming at the mouth, head shaking, and
blinking, all followed by a dazed look.
Postvaccination seizures have been described in puppies under 6 weeks of
age following inoculation with a combined distemper-parvovirus vaccine.
This is extremely rare with current vaccines.
A bitch may develop low blood calcium levels after whelping and have
seizures. A sudden drop in blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can also trigger a
seizure. This occurs in newborn pups with cardiopulmonary syndrome (discussed
in Why Puppies Die, page 494). It can also occur in small-breed puppies
who have not been fed adequately. A common cause of hypoglycemia is giving
too much insulin to a diabetic dog.
Common poisons that cause seizures are animal baits such as strychnine,
antifreeze (ethylene glycol), lead, insecticides (organophosphates), and chocolate.
Seizures caused by organophosphates are preceded by drooling and muscle
twitching. Exposure to a spray, dip, or premise treatment suggests the diagnosis.
There are a number of conditions that, while not true seizures, are often
mistaken for them. Bee stings, for example, can cause frenzied barking followed
by fainting or collapse. Cardiac arrhythmias can be mistaken for seizures
because they cause loss of consciousness and collapse.
Treatment: If the dog is in a dangerous location at the time of the seizure,
move her to a safe site. Otherwise, do not disturb the dog during or after the
seizure, as this may trigger further seizures. Despite the old wives’ tale, do not
pull out the dog’s tongue or wedge something between her teeth. Dogs can’t
swallow their tongue.
Note the length of the seizure. As soon as the seizure is over, notify your
veterinarian, because he or she will want to examine the dog to diagnose and
treat the underlying cause.
Seizures lasting more than five minutes (status epilepticus seizures) or cluster
seizures (several seizures one after the other without a return to consciousness)
are emergencies. They must be stopped with intravenous Valium or
other anticonvulsants to prevent permanent brain damage or death. Seek