There may also be teeth gnashing, frantic thrashing of limbs, excessive drooling, vocalizing, paddling of feet, uncontrollable urination and defecation. The Post Ictus is the stage after the seizure when the dog may pace endlessly, appear blind and deaf and eat or drink excessively.
When a dog first experiences a seizure, it is essential to rule out causes other than true epilepsy. It is difficult to diagnose canine epilepsy because many other diseases or disorders can result in seizures Therefore, blood tests, x-rays, physical examination, and history leading up to the seizure are necessary for accurate diagnosis. If the clinician finds no identifiable cause of the seizure based on clinical evaluation, then the dog is considered to have true epilepsy. Seizures are not predictable. Some dogs appear to have seizures very regularly, while in others, the seizures appear to be precipitated by specific events such as stress, or changes in the weather. But, for most epileptics, there is no pattern to their seizures.
The goal in treating canine epilepsy is to restore a normal life for the epileptic dog through complete control of seizures with no side effects.
However this is frequently not possible and a more realistic goal is to reduce the frequency and severity of the seizures without creating unacceptable side effects from the medications given. For a dog that has a single seizure or infrequent seizures medication is generally not required, but research suggest that dogs treated with medication early in the course of epilepsy have better long- term control of their seizures, compared to dogs that are allowed to have many seizures before anti-seizure medication is started. The medications Phenobarbital or Potassium Bromide are usually used in initial treatment. These anti-epileptic drugs do not cure epilepsy; they simply control the seizures. Most epileptics require life-long therapy to control their seizures.
Bibliography
Bethurum, Pam. "Canine Epilepsy." 9 Jan. 2005. JABED. http://www.jabed.com/epilepsy.htm.
Canine Epilepsy."...
9 Jan. 2005. http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/CanineEpil.htm.
Canine Seizures - Causes and Treatment." The Epi Guardian Angels. 9 Jan. 2005. http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/seizures_overview.htm#Treating.
Davol, Pamela A. "Understanding Canine Epilepsy." Wing-N-Wave Labradors. 9 Jan. 2005. http://www.labbies.com/epilepsy.htm.
Mitchell, Marion. "A Brief Overview of Seizures Their Causes and Treatment." Canine Epilepsy Resources. 10 Jan. 2005. http://www.canine-epilepsy.com/overview.html.
O'Brien. Dennis. "Understanding Your Pet's Epilepsy." Canine Epilepsy Network. 9 Jan 2005. http://www.canine-epilepsy.net/basics/basics_index.html.
Canine Epilepsy." The Epi Guardian Angels. 9 Jan. 2005. http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/CanineEpil.htm.
O'Brien. Dennis. "Understanding Your Pet's Epilepsy." Canine Epilepsy Network. 9 Jan 2005. http://www.canine-epilepsy.net/basics/basics_index.html.
Canine Seizures - Causes and Treatment." The Epi Guardian Angels. 9 Jan. 2005. http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/seizures_overview.htm#Treating.
Bethurum, Pam. "Canine Epilepsy." 9 Jan. 2005. JABED. http://www.jabed.com/epilepsy.htm.
Mitchell, Marion. "A Brief Overview of Seizures Their Causes and Treatment." Canine Epilepsy Resources. 10 Jan. 2005. http://www.canine-epilepsy.com/overview.html.
Canine Seizures - Causes and Treatment." The Epi Guardian Angels. 9 Jan. 2005. http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/seizures_overview.htm#Treating.
Davol, Pamela A. "Understanding Canine Epilepsy." Wing-N-Wave Labradors. 9 Jan. 2005. http://www.labbies.com/epilepsy.htm.
O'Brien. Dennis. "Understanding Your Pet's Epilepsy." Canine Epilepsy Network. 9 Jan 2005. http://www.canine-epilepsy.net/basics/basics_index.html.
Canine Seizures - Causes and Treatment." The Epi Guardian Angels. 9 Jan. 2005. http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/seizures_overview.htm#Treating.
