by Kelly Morris

Created on: August 30, 2008

There are two types of seizures your dog may have: primary seizures, or idiopathic epilepsy, which is seizures that occur for no known reason; and secondary seizures, which is seizures that occur due to some diagnosed illness or other cause.

Seizures usually have distinct three phases. During the first phase, called the aura, your dog may appear restless or nervous. He may tremble or whine. He may wander aimlessly or he may hide. This phase may last for a few minutes or for a few hours.

The second phase is the seizure itself. During the seizure your dog will lose consciousness. He will probably fall on his side. His feet may paddle the air. He may vocalize and his face may twitch. He may empty his bladder or bowels. Seizures usually last for two minute or less. If you can, time the seizure so you can tell your vet how long it lasted.

During the third and final phase, your dog may appear restless, confused, or unresponsive. He may appear blind and bump into things when moving about the house. This phase may last for a few minutes or for a few hours.

If your dog has a seizure for the first time, he should see a vet as soon as possible. There are many conditions that can cause your dog to have seizures, including genetic disorders, metabolic disorders, thyroid disease, liver problems, stroke, central nervous system damage, and infections. Many of these problems can be diagnosed by blood tests. Your vet may perform other tests as well, such as a cerebral spinal fluid test (a test of the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal column), an EEG (electroencephalography), a CT (computed tomography) scan, or an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). If these tests do not find a cause for your dog's seizures, then your vet will probably make a diagnosis of idiopathic epilepsy.

Ideally, the cause of the seizure is found and treated, and the seizures stop. However, sometimes no cause is found (idiopathic epilepsy), or if the cause is found and treated, lasting damage to the brain may have occurred and seizures may continue.

Primidone and phenobarbitol are the most commonly prescribed anti-seizure medications. They may initially cause sedation and may also cause your dog to eat and drink more than usual. These side effects usually wear off as your dog becomes accustomed to the medication.

The object of medication is to decrease the frequency and severity of seizures. It may not be possible to eliminate the seizures altogether, particularly if they are primary seizures.

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