March 26 is purple day, the day of people with epilepsy. Myths about epilepsy

Epilepsy in dogs is a chronic neurological disease. Everyone has heard about this disease among people, but few think that animals can also be epileptic. Epilepsy manifests itself in seizures. But don't equate these two terms with each other.

An attack is a short-term phenomenon, a painful state of the body with a violation of basic functions. Many factors contribute to the onset of an attack.

The essence of epilepsy is that the brain is already in a state “ready” for an attack; no specific conditions are needed for its occurrence. There is already a problem in the neurobiological processes occurring in the brain.

A dog can only be declared to have epilepsy if it has had 2 unprovoked seizures within 24 hours.

Causes and mechanism of occurrence

The mechanism of occurrence of an epileptic attack is very complex. All animals have excitatory and inhibitory neurons. With epilepsy, a restructuring of the brain occurs, as a result of which there are many times more excitatory neurons than inhibitory ones.

First, a “focus of attack” is formed. At some point in brain activity, some neurons (nerve cells) become unstable and hyperactive. The frequency of their discharges increases sharply. More and more neurons are involved in this pathological process and their discharge crosses a certain threshold.

After crossing the threshold, the process spreads to the nearest areas of the brain. And at this moment we can already observe convulsions. Before this there was a preparatory stage.

Convulsions are a pathological reaction of the body that occurs when the body’s protective properties are at their limit.

There are many causes of epilepsy; they can be congenital or acquired, and it is not always possible to identify it.

Symptoms of the disease

Symptoms of epilepsy in dogs have a close relationship with the type of illness, the strength of the seizure syndrome, duration, and the behavior of the pet, both before and after the seizure. Veterinarians divide the disease into two types: acquired and hereditary.

A hereditary predisposition to epilepsy appears in puppies at an early age, in those breeds that are at risk.

An acquired disease can develop in a dog at any age and be associated with an illness or injury that leads to damage to the nervous system.

"Reference! The periodic occurrence of seizures is the main sign of epilepsy in dogs.”

Seizures are not always the same. They often begin with staggering while walking, falling, fainting, sudden fear or anger, and other unusual changes in the dog's behavior. This is followed by convulsions, which can last from several minutes to half an hour. It is they that greatly exhaust the animal and negatively affect its health.

Types of epileptic seizures

Epilepsy seizures in dogs have several types and are:

1. Partial. They begin with a sudden onset of fear in the animal, as a result of which the dog hides in a secluded dark place. They often go unnoticed because the owners do not see anything unusual in their pet’s behavior.
2. Small. These seizures are characterized by minor changes in the dog's behavior. The animal may freeze for several seconds, staring at one point. To understand whether a dog has epilepsy or whether it is simply distracted, it is necessary to show it to a veterinarian, since such attacks often recur several times.
3. Partial. Partial seizures can also go unnoticed by the owner. They are represented by rhythmic contraction of the muscles of the withers, back, paws and other parts of the body. After a certain time, such attacks become more frequent, worsening the animal’s quality of life.
4. Generalized. This type of seizure is very difficult for the animal. The resulting convulsions last a long time and require the owner to help and sedate the dog using special medications.

The most severe and life-threatening seizures that occur one after another are called status epilepticus. They can last from a couple of minutes to several hours. After them, the dog’s consciousness may not be restored, which will cause death.

Types of Epilepsy

In veterinary medicine, the classification of epilepsy is currently imperfect.

The following types are distinguished.

Genetic Epilepsy (congenital)

It is characterized by the following factors:

• An MRI scan shows no changes in the brain.
• The dog's age is from 6 months to 6 years.
• Between attacks the dog is absolutely healthy.
• Family history and breed (for example, Labradors have a predisposition) - heredity - are very important.

Structural/metabolic (reactive seizures) epilepsy

Caused by intracranial problems, for example:

• Hematomas after injuries.
• Tumors.
• Encephalitis and diseases of the central nervous system.
• Metabolic changes - kidney failure, poisoning, hormonal imbalances, etc.

Idiopathic epilepsy

This is an intermediate diagnosis when we cannot yet prove the cause. This also includes genetic epilepsy, but which did not manifest itself at the specified age, but earlier or later.

Cryptogenic (Possibly symptomatic epilepsy)

Often in cats, when diagnosing difficulties arise.

Prevention

It is impossible to prevent primary epilepsy, since it is caused by hereditary factors. Once the diagnosis has already been established, it is important to strictly follow the veterinarian’s recommendations, protect the dog from stress and provide a high degree of comfort.

It is better not to allow a pug with epilepsy to participate in competitions and exhibitions that can cause stress; you need to ensure that the environment around him is as calm as possible.

At the same time, the animal must lead a full life - epilepsy is not a reason to exclude walks, games and light physical activity. The main thing in prevention is to eliminate factors that provoke seizures.

Types of seizures

An epileptic seizure is a periodically recurring burst of excitation and hypersynchronous activity in the brain.

Attacks can be:

Isolated

When one attack occurred in 24 hours.

Cluster

When 2 or more attacks occurred in 24 hours.

IMPORTANT between attacks there is a complete restoration of consciousness.

Generalized

Spreads to several areas of the body. In the brain, the pathological process affects both hemispheres, and the convulsions themselves are usually symmetrical (often the dog falls on its side and moves its paws as if running, this is called swimming movements).

Generalized attacks may manifest as follows:

• Tonic-clonic seizures are the most common type. During it, there is also a period of contraction and relaxation.
• Tonic cramps are a prolonged contraction of all muscles, without a period of relaxation.
• Myoclonic spasms - when they contract one muscle or one muscle group. Most often this is manifested by contraction of the brachiocephalic muscles.
• An atonic attack is characterized by a sharp loss of muscle tone.
• Absence seizures are a type of seizure without convulsions. This is absence syndrome.

Facal or partial seizures

They start in one part of the body and then take over the entire body. Clinical manifestation depends on which area of ​​the cerebral cortex is affected. For example:

If the motor cortex is affected, then we see motor seizures (clonic/tonic seizures). If the sensory area is affected, then we observe auditory or visual hallucinations in the dog. You can often observe such a manifestation of visual hallucinations - the dog seems to be catching invisible flies, or simply watching them.

Monitoring other indicators in epilepsy

Currently, titration of antiepileptic drugs in epilepsy remains largely empirical. Often, patients in remission have lower levels of AEDs than those who continue to have seizures. This indicates the existence of a so-called ceiling level, above which remission is unlikely and further titration does not make sense; a change in the treatment regimen is required [8].

Monitoring antiepileptic drugs in children with epilepsy requires multiple clinic visits for blood draws. Currently, the collection of a dried blood spot with subsequent analysis by liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry is being introduced [9].

Currently, no postictal laboratory values ​​can definitively prove or exclude a diagnosis of epilepsy. Postictal blood testing is necessary to identify the cause of seizures due to endocrine, metabolic, toxic, or infectious etiologies. Laboratory tests are used to identify patients who are at risk of developing complications such as rhabdomyolysis, acute renal failure, and cardiomyopathies. The prolactin test has high specificity, moderate sensitivity, and allows the differentiation of epileptic seizures and psychogenic non-epileptic seizures in adults and adolescents. The usefulness of the test is limited by the need to obtain blood 10–20 min after the episode [10]. An increase in creatine kinase levels is typical after tonic-clonic seizures and has high specificity and moderate sensitivity. Metabolic markers are ammonia and lactate [11].

Analysis of hematological parameters in patients receiving a ketogenic diet is now beginning to be used. In patients with intractable epilepsy, a ketogenic diet increases hemoglobin, hematocrit, and serum vitamin B12 levels [12].

Given the high incidence of sexual dysfunction and dissatisfaction with sexual life in men with refractory focal epilepsy, it is important to control hormonal levels, which, as a rule, are not associated with taking AEDs [13].

Conducting laboratory examinations of patients with epilepsy requires significant material costs. Many types of tests are performed only in commercial laboratories at the expense of patients. However, the cost of treating patients with severe side effects from AEDs may significantly exceed the cost of laboratory screening.

Symptoms and signs

Epilepsy is characterized by epileptic seizures. Different attacks look different. We have already described above how the different types differ from each other, and here we will look at what they look like from the owner’s perspective.

• A tonic-clonic seizure in a dog is manifested by the contraction and relaxation of several muscle groups at once. Usually these are swimming movements when the animal lies on its side.
• Tonic generalized attack - muscles are toned, there is no relaxation. Usually the head is raised, and the front legs are either stretched forward or seem to be thrown back behind the head, sometimes tucked under themselves.
• A generalized myoclonic seizure appears as if the dog sniffs a strong odor and pulls back, jerking its head away. Sometimes this manifests itself very clearly, to the point that the dog may fall, and sometimes it is a slight jerking away.
• Absences are a syndrome of absence. It is very difficult to detect in dogs, since the animal maintains its position in space, can stand or sit normally, but at the same time the behavior changes, the dog does not seem to hear or see, the owners usually describe it as “a dog in a state of trance.”
• Sensory seizures involve visual or auditory hallucinations. Sometimes it's hard to notice, especially if you don't spend much time with your pet.

It is important that attacks can be mixed, then different types appear simultaneously in different areas of the body.

The condition of the dog between attacks depends on the cause of the epilepsy. If it is genetic or idiopathic, no deviations from the norm are visible between attacks.

How to detect and cure true epilepsy?

After a dog has its very first seizure, regardless of its age, it is necessary to consider absolutely all causes except primary epilepsy. Many diseases and disorders can cause attacks. That is why it is necessary to fully examine the dog’s body in order to make an accurate diagnosis. If the cause of such attacks is not found, a diagnosis of true epilepsy can be made.

Often, if a dog's seizures are very short and infrequent, he will not need anticonvulsant therapy. But if the seizures are longer or more frequent, you need to consult a specialist. There are certain medications that treat epilepsy; they work to balance the functioning of the brain. The following medications can be used to treat epilepsy in dogs:

• Phenytoin. This drug has no sedative effect, it is very effective, and there are no side effects. However, this drug is difficult to give to a dog, it is quickly eliminated from the blood, the dog is constantly thirsty, and urination increases.
• Phenobarbital. This is a very effective drug that has a fast speed of action, it can be taken in a variety of ways, this remedy is one of the most effective for this disease. However, this drug has a sedative effect that lasts a long time, it increases the dog’s thirst, increases its irritability, and the dog becomes restless.
• Primidon. This is a very effective drug that works quickly. However, it has a strong sedative effect, it greatly increases the dog’s thirst and appetite; this remedy is only available in tablet form.
• Diazepam. Thanks to this drug, you can control the exacerbation of attacks, as well as control the condition of the epilepticus. This remedy is very effective in stopping this condition, it acts quickly, and is also completely safe for the dog. However, the effect is short-lived, it cannot cope with a severe attack of epilepsy, it causes restlessness in the dog, as well as severe irritability.

Often, if phenobarbital is combined with potassium bromide or sodium bromide, then this combination will better help a dog that is not helped by the separate use of drugs.

Risk group

An epileptic seizure can strike any dog, regardless of age or breed. But some breeds have a predisposition to genetic epilepsy:

• Lagotto Romagnolo;
• Labrador Retriever;
• Irish Wolfhound;
• Beagle;
• Belgian Shepherd;
• Golden retriever;
• Dachshund;
• Collie;
• Bernese Mountain Dog and some others...

Not all dogs of these breeds will have epilepsy. But the likelihood that it will appear between the ages of 6 months and 6 years is greater than in other breeds.

Also at risk are animals with head injuries and dogs with illnesses affecting the central nervous system.

Possible complications

Physical injury to a dog during an epileptic seizure is very likely if everything is left to chance and precautions are not taken.

Excessive nervous irritation during a seizure can cause a malfunction of the gastrointestinal tract and other organs and systems.

Abrupt withdrawal of one drug can cause new signs of pathology, and in some cases causes an attack

During an attack, nerve cells consume a huge supply of nutrition, which leads to a subsequent decrease in the dog’s brain activity.

But the most terrible and irreversible consequence of an epileptic seizure is that the animal can die from asphyxia.

What to do during an attack, first aid

VERY IMPORTANT - DO NOT TOUCH THE DOG.

Do not follow dangerous advice such as “unclench your jaw”, “insert a spoon”, etc. This can only injure both you and your pet.

When a dog has an attack and begins to convulse, leave it in the same place; there is no need to move it anywhere or try to calm it down.

Your task is to ensure that the animal does not injure itself. If there is a lot of furniture around, then you should move the furniture away (don’t disturb the dog).

If you are afraid that your pet may have a stuck tongue, then make sure that his head is turned to the side.

Do not crowd around your pet and do not panic, as this will cause even more stress on the nervous system.

Turn off the lights in the room with the dog, provide silence and access to fresh air.

If possible, record the duration of the attack, or better yet, film everything on camera to show to your doctor.

What to do during an epileptic seizure

Convulsive outbreaks themselves, even of a generalized type, do not pose a mortal threat to life. But they must be considered as a condition in which a lot of physical stress is placed on the body. That is why even short manifestations are dangerous for four-legged pets suffering from disorders of the cardiovascular system.

First aid for an animal during a nervous attack involves taking measures to keep it safe. It is necessary to ensure that the respiratory passage is clear.

To do this, the four-legged friend is placed on his side and his head is slightly raised. In this position, vomit or saliva will not block the airway.

Usually the body temperature rises significantly, so a towel moistened with cool water is applied to the abdomen and limbs. It is advisable to call a veterinarian at home or take the sick animal to the hospital after the end of the attack.

Short-term flashes last about a couple of minutes. If they last more than 10 minutes, there is a threat to the life of the animal. This will require emergency veterinary attention.

To alleviate your pet's condition, you should:

• do not panic, behave as calmly as possible;
• reduce light entering the room;
• call the patient to you, calm him down as much as possible;
• lay on your side, raise or hold your head;
• talk to him kindly, without raising your voice;
• do not leave unattended for a long time;
• record the duration of the seizure;
• use prescribed medications.

A common myth is the danger of tongue swallowing. Anatomically this is simply impossible. Pulling out your tongue, unclenching your jaw, or inserting a hand or foreign objects into the oral cavity is completely unnecessary, and in some situations it is even dangerous for a person and his dog.

You should not try to introduce medicine, tablets or liquids into the mouth of a sick individual during an attack. During such a period, the normal function of swallowing is impaired, and there is a possible risk of medications and saliva getting into the respiratory tract. The use of drugs is possible only intramuscularly, intravenously or rectally, that is, through the rectum.

When convulsions occur, it is important to ensure that the pet does not receive mechanical damage, does not fall off the sofa, or hit corners or pieces of furniture.

It is better to check your body temperature during and after an attack. If it rises above 39.8 degrees, then it is brought down with cold compresses.

An epistatus in which convulsions last more than 30 minutes and multiple relapses occurring in a row without a recovery period between them is considered dangerous. Such conditions require emergency veterinary attention. Typically, for effective treatment, the doctor admits the patient to a clinic.

If epistatus is not prevented in time, death may occur due to respiratory arrest, hyperthermia, or cerebral edema.

It is very difficult to provide assistance at home, so it is important to immediately contact a specialized clinic.

Diagnostics

Epilepsy is a diagnosis of exclusion. It is placed when the animal has been fully examined and other causes of periodic attacks have been excluded.

History is very important in making a diagnosis. When you bring your dog to the veterinarian, be prepared to answer the following questions:

• Describe the animal's behavior before the attack.
• How does a dog behave when an attack begins?
• Is the dog conscious during the attack? Your doctor will help you answer this question by asking you leading questions.
• How does the dog behave immediately after the attack?
• Do all attacks go the same way?
• Record the attack on video so you can show it to your doctor later.

A lot of diseases are accompanied by attacks, and to be sure that this is the result of a brain disorder, you need to make sure that there were no additional factors that provoked the attack.

To exclude other diseases, a comprehensive diagnosis is carried out:

• It is necessary to donate blood for general and biochemical analysis. And also look at your hormone levels.
• If the doctor deems it necessary, he will take urine for a general analysis.
• MRI. Unfortunately, not all veterinary clinics are equipped with an MRI machine.
• A cerebrospinal fluid analysis is performed.
• If there is such a possibility, then an EEG is performed. It is difficult to conduct this study in animals, but it is possible.

A neurological examination between attacks (immediately after a seizure, and when the dog has already recovered) is of great diagnostic importance. With epilepsy between attacks, the neurological condition of the pet is normal.

Introduction

Theoretically, the goals of laboratory testing in patients with epilepsy are to screen for underlying pathology;
diagnosis of the patient’s disease and condition; control over the dynamics of the pathological process; monitoring the effectiveness of treatment; prognosis of the course of the disease. However, reliable screening methods for examining healthy people to identify potential patients with epilepsy have not currently been developed in world practice. Also, a feature of the diagnosis of epilepsy is the predominance of data from anamnesis and clinical examination over the results of laboratory tests.

In practice, laboratory tests in patients with an established diagnosis of epilepsy are used to measure the concentration of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in the blood plasma and monitor possible side effects of therapy. However, being an auxiliary method for diagnosing epilepsy, laboratory tests are an integral part of a comprehensive assessment of the patient’s condition.

Drug treatment

As already mentioned, a dog cannot be completely cured of epilepsy. The goal of treatment is to improve the quality of life.

The owner of a dog with epilepsy should keep a seizure diary, in which he will note the frequency and duration of seizures.

If a dog has 1-2 attacks per year, then drug treatment is not prescribed.

In cases where:

• attacks occur 1-2 times a month;
• the duration of the seizure is more than 5 minutes.

Depending on the situation and cause, anticonvulsants and sedatives are prescribed. All medications are prescribed by a veterinarian.

In pregnant women, lactating women and puppies

First of all, owners should remember that epilepsy can be inherited by puppies, so you should not breed an animal that is known to be sick.

If pregnancy does occur, remember that any hormonal and physiological changes in the body can provoke epileptic seizures, during which oxygen starvation may occur in the future puppies. There is also a high risk of miscarriage.

Abdominal injuries, which are common during epileptic seizures, are very dangerous for the fetus. In such cases, placental abruption and circulatory disorders in it become common occurrences.

It is also important to understand that drug therapy prescribed for epilepsy can significantly increase the risk of intrauterine pathologies in puppies.

Epilepsy is not a contraindication for feeding puppies, however, medications used to treat epilepsy in a nursing dog should be selected taking into account their minimal exposure to milk.

Popular questions

What tests should I take my dog ​​for epilepsy?

We have already listed the necessary diagnostic measures above. It is necessary to undergo a general and biochemical blood test, a cerebrospinal fluid test, and possibly a general urine test.

How long do dogs with epilepsy live?

It all depends on the cause and type of epilepsy. With timely access to a veterinarian and correct therapy, the dog can live to old age.

Is it possible to cure epilepsy in a dog?

No, but you can significantly improve your quality of life. Long-term remission often occurs.

Can a dog die from epilepsy?

Yes, this is possible if breathing stops during an attack. Another option is that during an attack the dog can be seriously injured and die from injuries.

How often can dogs have a seizure?

The diagnosis of epilepsy is made after 2 or more seizures have occurred in 24 hours. But in the future, attacks may recur once a year, or several times a week. Everything is individual.

How long can an epileptic attack last in a dog?

Usually the attack lasts about two to three minutes. If the seizure lasted longer than 5 minutes, you should call your veterinarian home. In such cases, drug treatment is mandatory.

What can be confused with epilepsy in a dog?

Can be confused with other diseases that manifest as seizures. These could be infectious pathologies, heart disease, poisoning, eclampsia, severe metabolic disorders and much more.

Treatment of epilepsy in dogs

Treatment tactics for epilepsy depend on the type of disease.

Symptomatic epilepsy

The goal of treatment is to control the underlying disease. This type of epilepsy often accompanies brain tumors, hydrocephalus, and other disorders of the structure of nervous tissue, and occurs as a result of traumatic brain injury. Treatment in this case consists of surgery. Neurosurgical operations are performed to remove brain tumors, bone fragments as a result of a head injury, and bypass surgery. In parallel, it is possible to prescribe anticonvulsants.

Reactive epilepsy

Similar to symptomatic disease, control of the underlying disease is the main goal of treatment. Most often occurs with portovascular anomalies of the liver. Surgical treatment is closure of the pathological vessel (shunt). If reactive epilepsy occurs against the background of poisoning or any other intoxication, then when the toxin is removed from the body, the animal recovers.

Idiopathic epilepsy

Therapeutic control is achieved by taking anticonvulsants (phenobarbital, levetiracetam and bromides). There are also a number of second-line antiepileptic drugs - zonisamide, gabapentin and others. When selecting a drug, they are guided by the presence of concomitant organ pathologies, for example: phenobarbital is dangerous in hepatopathy. Also, an animal receiving an antiepileptic drug must periodically monitor its blood level. Taking anticonvulsants may cause lethargy, apathy, and increased appetite in the first weeks of use.

There are differences between the drugs of choice. Phenobarbital is primarily used for dogs, unless there are contraindications. Several anticonvulsants are often used at the same time - this allows for better control of epileptic seizures and minimizes the side effects of each drug.

Special mention should be made of animals admitted for treatment in a state of status epilepticus. Such patients are given intensive therapy to relieve seizures, parenteral anticonvulsants are prescribed, if necessary, a nasopharyngeal tube or gastrostomy tube is installed to administer medications orally, and intracranial pressure is measured to prevent the development of cerebral edema.

Animals in epistatus must be under round-the-clock supervision of specialists to avoid a fatal outcome of the disease. During inpatient treatment, the animal undergoes daily blood tests, assessment of daily diuresis, monitoring of heart function, blood oxygenation, assessment of blood pressure, maintaining body temperature and replenishing the body's nutritional needs.

Briefly about the main thing

1. Epilepsy is a disease characterized by two or more seizures within 24 hours. The essence of epilepsy is a predisposition to seizures.
2. The disease can be congenital, or it may appear after infection with infectious diseases, encephalomeningitis, or after traumatic brain injury.
3. There are several types of attack that do not depend on the cause. Usually an attack manifests itself as convulsions, which also come in different types. However, sometimes the attack passes without convulsions, and the dog even stands normally on its feet, but loss of consciousness occurs - absence syndrome.
4. There are several breeds predisposed to epilepsy, these include: Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, Irish Wolfhound, Belgian Shepherd and some others.
5. To provide first aid to your dog during an attack, ensure its safety. Don't touch the dog, but make sure it doesn't get hurt. Under no circumstances try to open your jaws!
6. It is impossible to completely cure epilepsy, but you can achieve long-term remission and significantly improve your pet’s quality of life.

Caring for a dog during remission

Nervous spasms develop under the influence of a large number of provoking factors that should be completely excluded from the life of the four-legged animal. He must be protected from events that cause excitement.

“ For example, you should avoid visiting exhibitions, shows, competitions, and also be sure to reduce the number of intense training exercises.

The walk should be long, but take place in a familiar and calm environment, without excessively active jogging or energetic games.

The presence of even a single attack in a pet requires regular consultations with a doctor and mandatory compliance with his prescriptions.

Restoration and maintenance of vital functions

An important stage of therapy is the normalization of the diet, taking into account the recommendations:

• It is advisable to diversify the menu by adding legumes, crumbly millet porridge, sardines, boiled carrots, white cabbage;
• food should be given strictly according to the established schedule, slightly warmer than room temperature;
• the portion of food should correspond to the age and breed of the pet;
• the daily diet should contain the optimal amount of magnesium, manganese, vitamin B6;
• the amount of meat, protein products, and salty foods is reduced;
• vitamin and mineral complexes are prescribed only by a veterinarian and are selected according to the state of health;
• The best option would be to switch from natural food to high-quality industrial feed containing protein components.

It is considered mandatory to exclude from mating individuals suffering from this disease.

Acupuncture techniques performed on ten main sensitive points have shown high preventive effectiveness. Conducting sessions at a certain period serves as a successful addition to medications.

Scientists were able to prove the fallacy of the opinion that after each convulsive syndrome, individual cells and areas of the brain die, which is why the dog becomes inadequate and aggressive.