Seizures are one of the most common neurological problems that are seen in both dogs and cats. Seizures can be epileptic seizures or they can be caused by other conditions.
What Is a Seizure and How Does A Seizure Affect a Dog or Cat
A seizure happens when the cerebral cortex, part of the brain, functions abnormally. There are many different diseases that can cause seizures in dogs and cats.
- There may be a lesion inside of the brain that causes the seizure. There are numerous diseases that can cause damage to the brain itself. These are termed intracranial causes of seizures in the dogs and cats.
- There are also other diseases that do not directly cause lesions to form in the brain but instead change the metabolism of the brain or change the way that electricity flows through the cells of the brain. These diseases can also cause seizures and are termed extracranial causes.
A seizure can, in some instances, be a one time occurrence that never happens again. In other cases, seizures can become recurrent.
Most seizures last for a relatively short period of time, usually around 3-5 minutes or less. In cases where the seizures are recurrent, the length of time between seizures can be quite variable and may be hours, days, weeks, or even months.
The Phases of a Seizure in Dogs and Cats
A seizure consists of three phases.
- The prodromal phase is the time directly before the seizure occcurs. It can vary in length. Some dogs and cats will act perfectly normal during this period while others may become restless or nervous.
- The ictal stage is the stage during which the actual seizure activity occurs.
- The post-ictal stage is the period of recovery after the seizure. Again, the length can be quite variable. Some dogs recover within minutes. Others take hours. On rarer occasions, the post-ictal period may last for days.
Status Epilepticus in Dogs and Cats
The term status epilepticus is reserved for seizures that last for a long period of time, usually 30 minutes or longer. In many cases, these seizures will not stop without veterinary intervention. This is an emergency situation and veterinary care should be sought immediately for any pet that has not stopped seizing in 5-10 minutes.
Cluster Seizures in the Canine and Feline
A similar and equally dangerous situation occurs when cluster seizures take place. Cluster seizures are, as the name implies, a cluster of seizures that occur back-to-back. As with status epilepticus, cluster seizures can be life-threatening and emergency veterinary attention should be sought for any dog or cat that has had more than two or three seizures in a 24 hour period.
Canine and Feline Epilepsy
Canine and feline epilepsy is defined as a veterinary medical condition in which a dog or cat has recurrent seizures. While the term epilepsy is often used to refer to recurrent seizures of both an extracranial and intracranial cause, some veterinarians feel that it should really only be used to refer to recurrent seizures caused by intracranial disease.
Idiopathic Epilepsy in Dogs and Cats
Idiopathic epilepsy in dogs and cats is a form of epilepsy in which the exact cause of the abnormal brain function and the seizure activity is unknown. A diagnosis of idiopathic epilepsy is made by ruling out all other diseases that can cause recurrent seizures in dogs and cats.