Sunday, March 24, 2024
HomeWhat Causes Seizures In Golden Retrievers

What Causes Seizures In Golden Retrievers

- Advertisement -

Carefully Move Your Dog To A Safer Location

Epilepsy:Male Golden Retriever generalized seizures

If your dog has a seizure near stairs or the edge of the bed, carefully push him to a safer location or place something in front of him that will prevent him from falling without hurting him. Dogs may become panicked before or after a seizure and may run around without thinking or looking at where theyre going. They also may not always be able to control their movements and could potentially seize so hard they fall.

What Should I Do If My Dog Has A Seizure

First, try to stay calm. If your dog is near something that could hurt them, like a piece of furniture or the stairs, gently slide them away.

Stay away from your dogs mouth and head they could bite you. Dont put anything in their mouth. Dogs cannot choke on their tongues. If you can, time it.

If the seizure lasts for more than a couple of minutes, your dog is at risk of overheating. Turn a fan on your dog and put cold water on their paws to cool them down.

Talk to your dog softly to reassure them. Avoid touching them – they may unknowingly bite. Call your vet when the seizure ends.

If dogs have a seizure that lasts more than 5 minutes or have several in a row while they are unconscious, take them to a vet as soon as possible. The longer a seizure goes on, the higher a dogs body temperature can rise, and they may have problems breathing. This can raise their risk of brain damage. Your vet may give your dog IV Valium to stop the seizure.

Genetic Predisposition To Seizures

Certain breeds and family lines of dogs are more likely to develop epileptic seizures than others. Your dog is most likely to suffer from seizures if he or she is a Belgian Tervuren, Shetland sheepdog, beagle, Labrador retriever, golden retriever, keeshond, or vizsla.

Other breeds more prone to seizures include the Finnish spitz, Bernese mountain dog, Irish wolfhound, and English springer spaniel. Genetic epilepsy most often appears between 10 months and 3 years of age, but has been known to show up when dogs are as young as six months, or as old as five years.

Recommended Reading: American Retriever Puppies

What Should You Do If Your Dog Is Having A Seizure

The most important thing is to ensure your dog does not fall or become injured while convulsing try to keep your dog on the floor and away from stairs for their safety. Never put your fingers in a dogs mouth during a seizure, as you could accidentally be bitten. Try to remain calm. Keep track of how long the seizure lasts and what you are witnessing. If your dog has not had a seizure before, taking a video of the event to show your veterinarian can be very helpful. During the postictal stage, observe and approach your dog slowly until he or she recovers and is back to normal behaviorally.

Try A Bandana Or Bib Around Your Golden Retrievers Neck

Tanner the golden retriever having a mild grand maul ...

If the drool bothers you, tie a terry cotton dribble bib or absorbent bandana around its neck. You can get some funky ones that will also make your Golden Retriever look cool while it drools.

Having a rag or cloth for the job can also come in handy for wiping your Goldens mouth after eating, drinking, or whenever you feel it needs a little mop-up.

Or you can also try some clothing for your Golden Retriever 10 Best Clothing For Golden Retrievers.

Read Also: Classic Heritage Golden Retrievers Reviews

Seizures In Dogs: What Causes Them And How We Treat Them

Witnessing a seizure in your dog can be a scary event. No dog owner wants to see their beloved fur friend experiencing a seizure. Knowing more about their cause can help ease fears we face as pet owners. Seizures in dogs are a type of brain disorder, and there are multiple reasons why a pet may be having them.

The team at Oakland Veterinary Referral Services is here to clarify this condition and provide insight into the causes of and treatments for seizure.

What To Do If Your Dog Has A Toxic Seizure

Despite the frightening display of a dog having a seizure, dog seizures are not painful. As difficult as it may be, avoid touching or holding your pup during an episode. It will not help, and you run a high risk of being bitten accidentally.

However, here are some things you can do if your dog is having a seizure:

  • Prevent your dog from falling off furniture or down stairs
  • Protect your dog from hurting itself on anything in the area
  • Time the seizure
  • Record a video of the event if possible
  • If your dog has more than two seizures in a 24-hour period or a seizure that lasts more than three minutes, it is considered an emergency. Take your dog to a veterinarian immediately. If a seizure is sustained for more than three minutes, do NOT wait for it to end. The longer the seizure goes on, the higher the risk of serious and potentially fatal complications.

    If you think your dog is poisoned, this is also considered an emergency situation. Stay calm, but act quickly:

  • Scour the home or property for potential exposure
  • Gather the remaining potential poison
  • If your dog has vomited, collect the sample
  • ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center 24 hours a day, every day of the yearA consultation fee may apply

    Pet Poison Helpline24 hours a day, every day of the year$59 fee including follow-up calls

    Don’t Miss: What Size Collar For 8 Week Old Golden Retriever

    Epilepsy In Dogs: Causes Types Signs Treatment And Prevention

    Epilepsy in dogs is defined as a neurological disorder. The disease is characterized by sudden, recurring attacks of muscular, sensory, or psychic malformation with or without loss of alertness or convulsive seizures. A seizure indicates the involuntary shrinkage of muscles. Seizures can consequence of abnormal electrical activity in the brain brought on by tumors, blood clots, scar tissue, or chemical shortcomings such as low blood sugar or exciting nerve drugs. Tetanus toxin poisoning can excite muscles to contract to result in seizures.

    Home Products That Cause Seizures

    Epilepsy: Golden retriever female generalized seizures

    What toxins cause seizures in dogs that are found in household items? Different rat poisonings and insecticides can also lead to your dog having seizures and other health issues. They include Bromethalin rodenticide , 4-Aminopyridine, Strychnine, Bifenthrin, Metaldehyde, and Zinc phosphide.

    If you think ingestion has occurred of any of these chemicals, signs of poisoning include:

    • seizures
    • impaired movement
    • paralysis in their hind limbs

    Treatment options vary, but for rat poisoning, they could include inducing vomiting, administering activated charcoal, and giving the dog medication to prevent seizures and muscle tremors.

    Its best to keep all insecticides and rodent poisoning locked away where your dog cant find it. If youre using these products in the yard, make sure you read the warning label. Sometimes, youll need to keep your dog out of a certain part of the yard for at least several minutes so that these products can dry and ingestion wont occur.

    You May Like: Are Golden Retrievers Good Emotional Support Dogs

    Other Products That Cause Seizures

    Another product to be concerned about is antifreeze. Ethylene glycol, which is the main ingredient in antifreeze, can cause acute kidney failure as well as secondary development of calcium oxalate crystals forming in your dogs kidneys, along with seizures.

    Antifreeze is found in automotive radiator coolant, brake fluid, deicing products, paints, solvents, and wood stains. Clinical signs of antifreeze poisoning in dogs include vomiting, drooling, excessive urination and thirst, and walking drunk.

    Within eight to 12 hours of ingestion, you need to take your dog to the veterinarian otherwise, he could develop kidney failure, which may lead to death. When using antifreeze, put your dog somewhere safe so that he doesnt come into contact with it.

    Are Dog Seizures Treatable

    Seizures are not uncommon in dogs. Some breeds are much more prone to having them than others, but all breeds can suffer from seizures at some point in their lives. Seizures in dogs may be caused by a variety of factors, including diet, age, hereditary problems, underlying disease, and more. They may also be caused by epilepsy.

    Only your vet can tell you for sure what causes your dogs seizures as well as how to treat them. However, the next time your dog goes through a seizure, youll be prepared to help him through it every step of the way when you keep the above tips in mind.

    Contact your nearest VEG location if you have any questions. You will always speak directly to a qualified veterinarian.

    You May Like: How Much Should A 4 Month Old Golden Retriever Eat

    Is My Dog Having A Seizure

    Dog seizures can be mild to severe and anything in between those two extremes. They can last anywhere from less than a minute to several minutes. Sometimes they can occur in clusters, during which your pet will experience several seizures within 24 hours.

    Classic seizures typically happen in three phases or stages. There are many manifestations of these stages, and not all dogs will act the same, but here are some of the common symptoms of each phase.

    Tips To Prevent Seizures In Your Labrador And Golden Retriever

    Golden retriever having a partial seizure

    Date Published: 2019-03-28

    Date Updated: 2019-03-28

    It can be scary for you and those around you to watch your dog experience seizures the last thing we want is to see our beloved pups in pain such as that. Whats more is that most of the time we cant help prevent the seizures from happening, as they are caused by underlying health factors.

    Dont lose hope just yet, though. Check out our five favorite tips on how best to attempt preventing seizures in your Labrador and Golden Retriever furry friends.

    Read Also: Goldendoodle Rescue Naples Fl

    Medications That Cause Seizures

    The following medications are common causes of seizures in dogs:

    • Ibuprofen
    • Diphenhydramine
    • Phenylbutazone

    If your dog ingests Ibuprofen, for instance, he could develop a serious stomach ulcer that causes vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, black tarry stool, pale gums , a loss of appetite, and lethargy. If your dog eats a large amount of Ibuprofen, he could develop kidney failure, liver failure, and tremors and seizures.

    Length Frequency And Severity Of Seizures

    How often a dog with epilepsy experiences seizures can vary greatly between dogs and over an individual dog’s lifetime. Recording how often your dog has seizures is important to track how well their treatment is working, and so your vet can alter their treatment if necessary. Some dogs experience seizures very close together in time , seizures that are very long, or seizures that immediately lead to more seizures, which they do not return to normal in between. These types of seizure pose a particularly high risk to your dog’s health, can be life-threatening and an emergency:

    Status epilepticus is classed as either:

    • a seizure that lasts longer than five minutes, or
    • where two or more individual epileptic seizures occur, between which the dog does not return to ‘normal’ and regain full consciousness

    Immediate treatment is necessary because status epilepticus can cause permanent neurological damage or even death. If status epilepticus occurs in your dog, immediately contact your vet for emergency treatment. Emergency treatment includes your vet administering high doses of medications that try to stop the seizure and minimise damage to your dog’s brain and body. Although seizures are distressing to witness, you should always try to stay calm when a seizure starts and time how long it lasts, so you know whether a seizure is lasting a particularly long time, and are prepared to contact your vet if status epilepticus occurs.

    Don’t Miss: How To Bathe A Golden Retriever

    Making Sure Your Dog Is Safe

    Its critical to keep toxins away from your pup since they can cause seizures and other health issues. But if an accident does happen and your dog begins to have a seizure and exhibit other symptoms, calm him down and seek veterinary care right away for treatment options. With the right intervention, youll have a better chance of ensuring your dog stays healthy and lives a long, healthy, and happy life.

    Where Can I Find Further Support And Resources

    Golden retriever Cooper’s seizure
    • RVC Pet Epilepsy Tracker is free to download to Apple devices
    • RVC’s Canine Epilepsy Research Facebook page can keep you up to date with new research and studies in this area
    • A veterinary neurology specialist can help you to help your pet with epilepsy. In Europe, browse this list of ECVN-accredited neurologists, and in the US, please refer to this list of ACVIM-accredited neurologists
    • For more information on canine epilepsy, the International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force has come together to set out a unified and standardised set of guidelines for the research, diagnosis and treatment of canine and feline epilepsy for the first time ever in veterinary medicine. Seven consensus statements from the group have recently been published
    • The Royal Veterinary College has recently published a review paper on the impact of epilepsy on canine quality of life, accompanied by a free to access podcast

    You May Like: How To Deshed A Golden Retriever

    Treatment For Seizures In Dogs

    If your dog is experiencing seizures, treatment will depend upon the underlying cause. Your vet will run a number of tests to determine the cause of your dog’s seizures, if no cause can be found the disease will be diagnosed as idiopathic epilepsy. Once your dog’s seizures have been diagnosed your vet will work with you to determine the best treatment for your dog’s seizures which may include medications or keeping a seizure diary.

    How To Get My Golden Retriever To Stop Drooling

    Some drool is natural, and its nothing to overthink about. Salivation helps with digestion. Drooling also helps with tasting and smelling things in their environment.

    If your dogs average level of drool bothers you and you want to protect their fur and your home, put an absorbent bandana on.

    If its excessive, then its time to see if theres an underlying issue.

    Also Check: Golden Retriever For Sale Los Angeles

    Are There Different Types Of Seizures

    Yes, seizures can take on many forms. Which area and how much of the cerebral cortex is abnormally firing will determine how a seizure looks clinically.

    A generalized tonic-clonic seizure is the most common form and the most easily recognizable. Both cerebral hemispheres are activated simultaneously. It is characterized by falling to the side, loss of consciousness, and rhythmic contraction of muscles . Some dogs also salivate, urinate, and defecate.

    A focal seizure can be more difficult to recognize. It results from a group of neurons firing in one part of the cerebrum, with limited spread to other areas. There are two types of focal seizures:

    Simple seizures result from firing of neurons in the motor area of a cerebral hemisphere and usually manifest as involuntary limb jerking or repetitive facial muscle movements. Consciousness may or may not be impaired.

    Complex partial seizures are the most challenging for pet owners and veterinarians to recognize because they manifest as a behavioral abnormality. These originate from the limbic system or temporal lobe of the cerebrum. Consciousness is usually impaired. Examples include motionless staring, aggression, and hallucinatory behavior such as fly biting.

    What To Do After Your Dog Has A Seizure

    Lucy my Golden Retriever is having seizures

    Always Its of the utmost importance to try to find out what may be the underlying cause of your dogs seizure. Questions your vet may have include:

    • When did the seizure symptoms start?
    • Have the symptoms changed?
    • How many times have you seen the seizures?
    • What is the frequency of seizures within a week or a month?
    • Are you aware of any consistent predisposing factors when seizures occur, like after eating, after exercise, when sleeping, etc.?

    Your veterinarian will most likely do bloodwork, urinalysis, and possibly x-rays or other advanced imaging tests, such as an MRI or CT scan. If your dog needs an MRI or CT scan, your vet will refer you to a specialty vet hospital.

    Results of the diagnostic testing will help your veterinarian diagnose the underlying cause of the seizures and come up with a treatment plan to control the seizures with medications.

    You May Like: Golden Retriever Ages

    How Do I Know If The Drugs Are Working

    Antiepileptic drug treatment is generally considered to be successful if the frequency of their seizures is reduced by at least half, though seizure freedom should be aimed for. To determine whether the medication is working, an accurate seizure diary is required. From this, you can track patterns in your dog’s seizure frequency and severity to see if improvements are occurring.

    What To Watch For

    Any abnormal symptom could be a sign of serious disease or it could just be a minor or temporary problem. The important thing is to be able to tell when to seek veterinary help and how urgently. Many diseases cause dogs to have a characteristic combination of symptoms, which together can be a clear signal that your Golden Retriever needs help.

    Don’t Miss: Shadow Mountain Goldens

    Is A Seizure Painful Or Dangerous To The Dog

    Despite the dramatic and violent appearance of a seizure, seizures are not painful, although the dog may feel confusion and perhaps panic. Contrary to popular belief, dogs do not swallow their tongues during a seizure. If you put your fingers or an object into its mouth, you will not help your pet and you run a high risk of being bitten very badly or of injuring your dog. The important thing is to keep the dog from falling or hurting itself by knocking objects onto itself. As long as it is on the floor or ground, there is little chance of harm occurring.

    “The dog may feel confusion and perhaps panic.”

    A single seizure is rarely dangerous to the dog. However, if the dog has multiple seizures within a short period of time , or if a seizure continues for longer than a few minutes, the body temperature begins to rise. If hyperthermia develops secondary to a seizure, another set of problems need to be addressed.

    RELATED ARTICLES
    - Advertisment -

    Most Popular

    - Advertisment -