Idiopathic Epilepsy in Dogs

Epilepsy is a general term for neurological disorders that are characterized by recurrent seizures. In some cases, the seizures are caused by trauma, a toxin, a brain tumor, an infection, or an issue with your dog’s blood, kidneys, or other organs. At other times, the epilepsy is referred to as “idiopathic,” which simply means that there is no identifiable, underlying cause.

Seizures commonly fall into two categories: generalized (grand mal) or partial (focal). Generalized seizures commonly appear as involuntary jerking or twitching movements of all four limbs with loss of consciousness. Partial seizures may involve one limb, side of the body, or face. Partial seizures may progress to generalized seizures. Seizures may also result in abnormal behavior, vocalization, salivation, chomping/chewing, and involuntary urination and defecation.

Dogs with idiopathic epilepsy typically have their first seizures between the ages of 6 months to 6 years. Though idiopathic epilepsy can occur in any breed, it is considered an inheritable disease in many breeds and in some breeds a genetic basis has been identified. Therefore, dogs diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy should not be used for breeding. Commonly affected breeds include:

• Labrador retrievers

• Golden retrievers

• Poodles

• Keeshonds

• Beagles

• German shepherds

• Dachshunds

• Irish setters

• Cocker spaniels

Symptoms of Epilepsy in Dogs

Prolonged seizures lasting more than 5 minutes or two or more consecutive seizures without full recovery are referred to as status epilepticus. This is a true emergency and you should seek immediate veterinary care for you pet. Two or more seizures in 24 hours are referred to as cluster seizures and are an indication for beginning anti-seizure medication.

In dogs, seizures often occur in three distinct phases:

1. The first is called the aural phase and the most common signs are behavioral changes. These changes may be subtle and include restlessness, attention seeking or anxious behavior.

2. The second phase, called the ictal phase, is when the seizure itself takes place. A seizure can last from just a few seconds to several minutes.

3. The final phase is called the postictal phase, which occurs after the seizure. During this phase, your dog may seem restless, incoordinated and/or disoriented. Occasionally, temporary blindness, deafness or other neurologic abnormalities may occur.

It may be difficult to watch your pet have a seizure but most are of short duration and cause no permanent harm. Avoid being bitten by keeping your hands away from your pet’s mouth during a seizure. If it can be done safely, provide padding and move your pet away from stairs to prevent injury.

Diagnosis of Epilepsy in Dogs

Your veterinarian will take a complete history and perform a thorough physical and neurological exam to determine if there is an identifiable, underlying cause of your dog’s seizure.

In order to do so, the following tests may be recommended:

• Chemistry tests to evaluate kidney, liver, and pancreatic function, as well as sugar levels and electrolytes

• A complete blood count to screen for infection, inflammation, anemia, and other blood-related conditions

• Urinalysis

• PCR testing and/or serology to evaluate for infectious diseases that may cause seizures

• Referral to a neurologist for advanced testing including MRI and cerebrospinal fluid analysis

• Cultures, PCR testing, and other specialized tests that can identify if specific parasites or diseases could be the cause

Treatment of Epilepsy in Dogs

Epilepsy cannot be cured, but it can usually be controlled with anticonvulsant drugs. If your veterinarian determines that your dog’s epilepsy is idiopathic, one or more of the following medications may be prescribed:

• Phenobarbital helps reduce the frequency of your dog’s seizures and is the most prescribed medication for dogs with idiopathic epilepsy. It is generally a well-tolerated drug.

• Potassium bromide is another seizure medication that may be added to your dog’s treatment, if she does not respond well to phenobarbital alone.

With these medications, as with all drugs, some patients experience side effects. In order to make sure an adequate dose is being given, and to monitor for side effects, it is important that blood levels of each medication as well as complete blood counts and blood chemistry profiles be monitored periodically. Liver function tests may also be indicated. Your veterinarian will advise what monitoring needs to be done and how often. Medication dosages should not be changed without talking to your veterinarian.

Dogs diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy may require treatment for life, and sometimes more than one drug is needed for adequate seizure control. And while many dogs are well controlled, some are not despite multiple medications. In addition, adequate seizure control does not necessarily guarantee that a dog will be entirely seizure free. The degree of seizure control may need to be balanced against potential side effects of the medications.

Management of Epilepsy in Dogs

Besides medication, there are many ways for you, yourself, to help manage your pet’s epilepsy:

• Maintain a seizure log that lists date, time, length and severity of seizures as well as videotape and share this with your veterinarian

• Do not change or discontinue medications without consulting your veterinarian

• Have blood work and other lab work done when recommended by your veterinarian

• Consult your veterinarian whenever you notice a change in your pet’s condition

• Put a medical alert tag on your pet’s collar so that if he becomes lost, whoever finds him will be aware of their seizure disorder and need for medication.

Several treatments are available for pets with epilepsy. By working closely with your veterinarian, you can maximize the chances of controlling the disorder and giving your pet a long, happy, and comfortable life.

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Dog Eye Allergies: Symptoms and Treatment

If you notice that one or both of your dog’s eyes are red, you may be wondering what the cause could be.

Dogs with allergies more commonly show symptoms related to the skin or intestinal tract, but it is possible that allergies may be causing the irritation in your dog’s eyes—just like in people with seasonal allergies.

The medical term “allergic conjunctivitis” is used to describe inflammation of the eye that’s usually caused by environmental allergens like pollen and mold. Dogs with skin-based allergy symptoms (allergic dermatitis) are more likely to experience allergic conjunctivitis than dogs with no history of allergies.

If you believe that your dog is suffering from allergic conjunctivitis, it’s important to have them seen by a veterinarian to rule out other more serious diseases that can have similar symptoms.

Here’s what you need to know about dog eye allergies.

Symptoms of Dog Eye Allergies

In dogs, redness of the eyes is a vague symptom that can be caused by a wide variety of underlying diseases.

For allergic conjunctivitis, redness is usually seen in both eyes. You may also notice symptoms like:

• Squinting of the affected eye(s)

• Pawing at the face

• Discharge coming from one or both eyes

Dog Eye Allergies and Itchy Skin

If your dog has a history of itchy skin, it's worth mentioning to your veterinarian.

Dogs with itchy skin will more commonly experience allergic conjunctivitis than the general dog population.

Affected dogs are usually under 3 years of age when they first become symptomatic. Although all dog breeds have the potential to develop allergic dermatitis, common breeds with a predisposition for this condition include:

• Boxer

• Cocker Spaniel

• French Bulldog

• German Shepherd

• Golden Retriever

• Labrador Retriever

• Poodle

• West Highland White Terrier

How Do Vets Diagnose Dog Eye Allergies?

Although a test called “conjunctival cytology” may reveal inflammatory cells that will confirm a diagnosis of allergic conjunctivitis, the cells are not always present. As a result, many veterinarians will diagnose eye allergies through the process of elimination.

Your veterinarian may perform several brief tests to rule out diseases with similar symptoms, like eye infections, dry eye, or corneal ulcers. Other details, like your dog’s age, breed, and history of itchy skin, can also help point your veterinarian to this diagnosis.

In rare cases, a biopsy of the conjunctival tissue around the eyes—taken while your dog is under general anesthesia—may be needed to achieve a definitive diagnosis, or to rule out other, more serious causes of red eyes.

An emerging test called the conjunctival provocation test has shown promise as a quick and easy test to definitively diagnose allergic conjunctivitis. However, it’s currently not widely available and would likely be performed by veterinary dermatologists—not your general practice veterinarian.

What Can You Give Dogs With Eye Allergies?

In mild cases, simply flushing the eyes with sterile saline once or twice a day may be enough to remove the allergen and resolve the symptoms.

You should not use contact solution for this purpose.

Although antihistamines provide relief for people with eye-related allergies, antihistamines have a variable effect in dogs with this condition. Therefore, eyedrops containing steroids are often the treatment of choice for dogs with allergic conjunctivitis.

It’s important to note that steroid-based eyedrops can be very harmful to dogs with other, similar diseases in the eyes, so you should never start treatment without first consulting your veterinarian.

Severe cases may require the use of oral medications in addition to eyedrops.

Follow-Up Testing and Treatments

Generally, a recheck is recommended after one to two weeks of treatment so that your veterinarian can assess how well the medications have worked.

If minimal improvement is seen, it’s possible to be seen by a veterinary dermatologist, who can perform allergy testing and other diagnostics to uncover which allergens may be triggering your dog’s allergic conjunctivitis.

If possible, the allergens are removed, often by changing the diet. If removing allergens is not possible, your dog’s dermatologist may suggest immunotherapy for long-term treatment.

If the allergen can’t be removed or treated with immunotherapy, it is very likely that a dog with allergic conjunctivitis will experience flare-ups throughout her life. Fortunately, the symptoms caused by allergic conjunctivitis are fairly mild, and with proper treatment and management, affected dogs generally live long and happy lives.

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