PETS
February 4, 2012 A sweet elderly dog that belongs to some friends has started having seizures. That's a frightening ordeal for any pet owner. Maggie's first seizure caught her humans by surprise; they felt helpless and didn't know what to do.
A seizure is sudden and often unpredictable. It is not a disease but a symptom, an indication of something else.
Certain illnesses can make an animal more prone to seizures, as can trauma to the head, heart or kidney problems, diseases caused from tick bites (like Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever). Even poisons can cause seizures. In Maggie's case, hers was caused by a heart problem.
There are three stages of a seizure.
The first often goes unnoticed, because it includes changes in the animal's behavior. Your pet may appear to be nervous or unsettled, whining or crying. In some animals this lasts only a few minutes while for others it may continue for a few hours.
The second stage is the seizure itself. During this stage the animal may fall to the floor with its limbs rigid and stretched out. In some cases the animal flails its legs and looks like it's trying to run; its pupils may dilate; its jaws may look like it's biting or chewing and it may start to drool; and the animal might lose control of its bodily functions.
Most of the time this second phase is relatively short, lasting only a minute or two, although a major seizure could continue for a longer period of time. Seizures lasting longer than 20 minutes may require immediate veterinary attention.
The last stage is post-seizure when the animal might seem to be confused or disoriented, and may continue to drool and even have temporary mobility problems.
The most important thing an owner can do for an animal that is experiencing a seizure is to remain calm and protect your pet. I hope you will join me next week as we take a look at some very practical ways you can do just that.
As you might guess, a call to your veterinarian is on the list, an important ally in helping to keep your pet healthy and happy, whenever you're speaking of pets.
© Copyright 2012, APR - ALABAMA PUBLIC RADIO
