Seizures and Epilepsy in Dogs

Category: Nervous System & Behavioral
Inheritance: Multifactorial
Breeds documented: 28
Published sources: 27

Overview

Repeated seizures reflect bursts of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Epilepsy creates a lasting tendency to have these episodes, which may involve the whole body or only one area. Some cases relate to damage or disease within the brain, while others have no identified cause. Seizures caused by poisoning or a temporary body-chemistry disturbance are classified separately.

Signs to watch for

Sudden loss of awareness or consciousness
Body stiffening with repeated leg movements
Repeated twitching around one eye, lip or ear
Drooling during an episode
Passing urine or stool during a seizure
Confusion or unusual pacing afterward

Onset depends on the cause; idiopathic epilepsy usually starts between six months and six years.

When to get help Contact a vet promptly after a seizure; go to an emergency vet immediately for a seizure lasting more than five minutes or two or more seizures within 24 hours.

Diagnosis and tests

The vet uses the episode history and an examination to assess whether events are seizures. Blood and urine tests check for problems elsewhere in the body. MRI scans and tests on fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord may be needed to investigate brain disease.

Breeds with documented risk

28 breeds

By breed size

1 Toy
4 Small
20 Medium
3 Large

All 28 breeds, A to Z

Barbet Source jalostus.kennelliitto.fi
Basset Artésien Normand Source skk.se
Brittany Source jalostus.kennelliitto.fi

Drever Source uusi.dreeveri.fi

Field Spaniel Source jalostus.kennelliitto.fi
Finnish Hound Source ajokoirajarjesto.fi

Giant Schnoodle Source petmd.com
Gotlandsstövare Source skk.se

Hamiltonstovare Source skk.se

Lapponian Herder Source kennelliitto.fi

Maltipoo Source petmd.com
Miniature Pinscher Source jalostus.kennelliitto.fi
Miniature Schnoodle Source petmd.com

Nederlandse Kooikerhondje Source kooikerhondje.nl
Norrbottenspets Source skk.se

Polish Hunting Dog Source skk.se
Portuguese Podengo Grande Source podengo.net
Portuguese Podengo Medio Source podengo.net
Portuguese Podengo Pequeno Source podengo.net
Portuguese Sheepdog Source csac.ch

Russian Hound Source ajokoirajarjesto.fi

Small Munsterlander Source kleine-muensterlaender.org
Spinone Italiano Source ebi.ac.uk
Stabyhoun Source nvsw.nl
Standard Schnoodle Source petmd.com
Swedish Elkhound (jämthund) Source skk.se
Swedish Lapphund Source skk.se
Swiss Hound Source skk.se

Inheritance

Multifactorial
Several genes and the environment together set the risk. Diet, growth rate, weight and exercise can all play a part. There is no single DNA test. Screening the parents (for example hip or elbow scores) and choosing from lines with good results lowers the risk, but does not remove it.
As stated by OMIA

We've gathered what published sources say about this condition, so you can talk it through with your vet. It isn't veterinary advice: you and your vet know your dog best.