Unfortunately, dogs are not able to tell what exactly hurts them, and the same symptom can provoke a variety of disorders and diseases. In addition, this symptom can be characterized by the owner of the dog in completely different ways. So, some will call twitching of paws a "convulsion", and some - "convulsions", "spasms", etc. But in any case, the appearance of such symptoms is a serious reason to immediately contact a veterinarian.
What can cause seizures in a dog
Most often, what can be called seizures can be triggered by:
- dysfunctions of the brain;
- systemic diseases of the cardiovascular or respiratory system;
- pathological disorders in the body: low blood sugar of the animal, liver failure, etc.;
- poisoning.
To make the correct diagnosis and, therefore, to prescribe the correct treatment, in these cases, you can only get a blood test, feces, urine, ECG, EEG, etc. Therefore, it is very dangerous to prescribe treatment yourself and give the dog potent drugs, which, in the event of an incorrect diagnosis, can only harm the animal and further aggravate the situation.
What to do during a seizure
The most common cause of seizures is epilepsy, which affects, depending on the breed, from 0.5 to 5.7% of dogs. In some breeds, dysfunctions of the brain and associated seizures occur in 15-20% of individuals. In the case when you observe such a seizure in your dog, first of all, pull yourself together and try to remember all the details as accurately as possible, so that you can then describe them to the veterinarian. It would be good if someone would film the seizure with a video camera and time the duration of the seizure. If seizures recur, keep records of the date, time of onset, and duration of the seizure.
Congenital epilepsy is most commonly seen in dogs between 1 and 3 years of age.
Take care that trauma does not add to the cramps - place a rolled rug or pillow under the dog's head, remove objects that may cause harm, move it to a safe place from where it will not fall off. Keep children and other pets away from the dog.
If you suspect epilepsy, do not put a spoon in your dog's mouth, or even put your hand in its mouth, so that it does not accidentally bite you. Unlike humans, a dog has no danger of swallowing its tongue.
Pay attention to which muscle groups are cramping. If the attack lasts more than 10 minutes, you need to call an ambulance or take the dog to the doctor yourself. Stay close to your pet during a seizure so that you can calm him down as soon as he wakes up. After a seizure, give the dog a drink and do not let him jump up and start moving, climb stairs, etc. After a seizure, some dogs feel depressed and guilty after a seizure, talk to your dog in a calm, gentle voice.
