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Convulsions in Dogs
Convulsions in dogs is a condition when neurons in cerebral cortex of brain fire with uncontrollable but synchronic fashion that does not happen during when the dog is normal. A dog can have convulsion due to infections, poisoning, kidney, eclampsia, liver disease, brain tumor or epilepsy. It is a kind of mini electrical shock that happens in the local area of brain. The seizures may certify themselves as unfair seizures when they affect only some specific areas of cerebral cortex as generalized seizures affect the whole cerebral of human brain.
When the dog goes through recurrent sequences of seizures, they are referred as brief convulsions, known as Epilepsy. Seizures generally last for about 30 seconds to some minutes. They are not harmful in themselves to the dog. Status seizures that last more retentive and repetitive that can be dangerous for the dog.
Causes of convulsions in dogs
There can be many causes of convulsions in dogs. Some key ones of them are-
- Tumors
- Cardiovascular disease
- Metabolic disease
- Trauma
- Muscle skeletal dysfunction
- Infections
- Fever
- Genetic predispositions
- Neurological dysfunction
- Intoxication (due to lead or antifreeze or insecticides or rodenticides)
Signs and symbols indicating convulsions in dogs
Dogs can feel a seizure approaching and will thus usually show pre seizure signs, such as-
- Altered behavior, dog may appear confused or restless
- Extreme licking of lips
- Flipping of facial, skin muscles and body
- Decreased level of consciousness with the loss of consciousness
- Involuntary movement of the limbs
- Lying on his side
- Paddling or manufacturing running moves with limbs
- Shaking of whole body
- Too much salivation
- Unvoluntary urination
- Defecation
- Animal looks disoriented or stunned
- Behavior amendment may last for about 24 hours when dog's pace, personality and intellect gets affected
- Headaches or banging head against wall
First Aid for convulsions in dogs
Seizures may not be abridged with first aid. Dogs should run their course-
- Keep their environment calm and quiet
- Keep the dog from hurting and injuring itself by putting off obstacles coming in the way
- Make your dog sit on the ground to avoid a fall
- Be easy and gentle with rough dealing can make seizures last longer
- Make your dog reassure with peace and calmness that may emerge from the seizure
- Do not make their environment full of vivid lights and piercing noises downward as these may keep up the seizure
- Look out for reliable veterinary care when your dog is quite alert
How to deal with convulsions in dogs
- Most convulsions may last for about 2 to 5 minutes or for about few seconds.
- Trying to handle convulsions in dog is dangerous and you may be hit badly.
- When your dog is in dangerous position, you must hold it down gently with a blanket. Move off all those objects that may hurt the dog. Dogs with convulsions do not eat up their tongues. You should not insert your finger in their mouth.