Dog Convulsions Explained

Convulsions in dogs occur when the neurons in cerebral cortex of brain fire in an uncontrollable but synchronic fashion.  Dog convulsions can happen because of infections, poisoning, problems with the kidney, eclampsia, liver disease, brain tumor or epilepsy.  It is a kind of mini electrical shock that happens in the local area of brain.  Unfair seizures  affect only some specific areas of cerebral cortex while generalized seizures affect the whole cerebral of human brain.

When the dog goes through a recurrent sequences of seizures, they are referred as brief convulsions, known as Epilepsy.  Seizures generally last for about 30 seconds to some minutes.  They are not harmful in themselves to the dog.  Status seizures that are more retentive and repetitive that can be dangerous for the dog.

As we mentioned, there can be many causes of dog convulsions.  Some key ones reasons are:

• Tumors
• Cardiovascular disease
• Metabolic disease
• Trauma
• Muscle skeletal dysfunction
• Infections
• Fever
• Genetic predispositions
• Neurological dysfunction
• Intoxication (due to lead or antifreeze or insecticides or rodenticides)

Dogs can feel a seizure approaching and will usually show pre-seizure signs, such as:

• Altered behavior, dog may appear confused or restless
• Extreme licking of lips
• Flipping of facial, skin muscles and body
• Decreased level of consciousness with the loss of consciousness
• Involuntary movement of the limbs
• Lying on his side
• Paddling or manufacturing running moves with limbs
• Shaking of whole body
• Too much salivation
• Involuntary urination
• Defecation
• Animal looks disoriented or stunned
• Behavior amendment may last for about 24 hours when dog’s pace, personality and intellect gets affected
• Headaches or banging head against wall

Most convulsions may last for anywhere from 2 to 5 minutes to a few seconds.  Trying to handle a dog while it is having a convulsion is dangerous and you may hurt the dog.  If your dog is in dangerous position, hold it down gently with a blanket.  Move your dog away from all objects that may hurt it.  Dogs with convulsions do not eat up their tongues so do not insert your finger in their mouth.  Make sure you do the following for your dog:

• Keep their environment calm and quiet
• Keep the dog from hurting and injuring itself by putting off obstacles coming in the way
• Make your dog sit on the ground to avoid a fall
• Be easy and gentle with rough dealing can make seizures last longer
• Make your dog reassure with peace and calmness that may emerge from the seizure
• Do not make their environment full of vivid lights and piercing noises downward as these may keep up the seizure
• Look out for reliable veterinary care when your dog is quite alert

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