Treatments for Seizures in Dogs

Seizures are electrical discharges in the brain of a dog that radiate through its entire nervous system, creating an overload. They are commonly the result of epilepsy or hypothyroidism. Whether you canine is regularly experiencing seizures or only has one, you need to know how to help your dog through it. There are several ways to treat canine seizures.

During a Seizure

There is nothing that can stop the seizure or help the dog deal with the confusion immediately following it. Make sure the dog is in an area where it cannot injure itself by falling or bumping into thing. Watch the dog in the event that other seizures follow.

Post Seizure

Feed your dog something sweet that it can lick to help restore its blood sugar level. A spoonful of cream or vanilla ice cream should help the dog's immediately, and should be followed with small amounts of dog food, rice and other carbohydrates every hour.

Medication

Most veterinarians prescribe phenobarbital or potassium bromide to regulate seizure occurrences in dogs. If your dog experiences cluster seizures, which are multiple seizures within a 24-hour period, valium may be prescribed.

Diet

Preservative-free foods can reduce the occurrence of epileptic seizures in dogs. Many veterinarians recommend a raw diet of raw or steamed lean meats, vegetables and grains prepared daily for your dog.

Vaccinations

Ask your veterinarian about staggering vaccines to prevent the onset of a seizure. Doing them weeks apart and lowing the annual vaccine count is becoming more widely accepted by many veterinarians.

Environment

Keeping your dog's home and play area as clean as possible, with as little exposure to chemical pollutants, is essential. Using pine cleaners, and bug and weed sprays can trigger a seizure.

Resources

• Canine Epilepsy

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