It can be disturbing to witness your dog experiencing a seizure as a pet owner. It causes temporary muscle spasms and involuntary movements that result from unusual electrical activity in the brain. Let's discuss dog seizures, breeds prone to it, a natural seizure remedy for dogs.
With Idiopathic epilepsy being the primary cause of seizures in dogs, your dog can experience it at one point in its life. However, the genetic disposition is a significant factor in seizures.
What Common Dog Breeds Prone to Seizures?
Your dog is highly prone to seizures if it is:
- Shetland sheepdog
- Golden Retriever
- Belgian Tervuren
- Beagle
- Keeshond
- Labrador Retrievers
- Saint Bernard
- Poodle
- Vizsla.
Reasons Why These Dog Breeds Are Prone to Seizures
Shetland Sheep Dog
A sheltie is highly sensitive and prone to epilepsy, hip dysplasia, and eye and thyroid diseases.
Golden Retriever
Golden retrievers have various health risks such as epilepsy, heart disease, elbow dysplasia, and hypothyroidism.
Belgian Tervuren
They have a polygenic mode of epilepsy inheritance.
Beagles
They have health conditions such as epilepsy, hip dysplasia, periodontal disease, disc disease, and renal amyloidosis.
Keeshonds
Keeshonds have health risks such as epilepsy, patellar luxation, Addison's disease, and progressive retinal atrophy.
Labrador Retrievers
Labs have some genetic disposed health conditions such as epilepsy, hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy, and osteochondrosis dissecans.
Saint Bernard
This breed is prone to certain health conditions such as epilepsy, hip dysplasia, and obesity.
Poodles
Poodles are prone to epilepsy, hip dysplasia, periodontal disease, disc disease, and renal amyloidosis.
Vizslas
Vizslas are Prone to inherited idiopathic epilepsy.
In addition to their various health conditions, these dog breeds have something in common. They are prone to epilepsy which increases their risk of experiencing frequent seizures.
Symptoms of Seizures in Dogs
How do you discover that your dog is about to have a seizure, has an attack, or has just recovered from one? Here are some symptoms that occur before, during, and after a seizure.
Before a Seizure
During this stage, also known as the pre-ictal phase, you will notice that your dog is whining, nervous, restless, or salivating. It might also seem confused and dizzy and may hide from you.
During Seizure
Also known as the ictal phase, it is the stage where your dog will be experiencing the actual seizure. It will exhibit some symptoms such as loss of consciousness, drooling, foaming, jerking, tongue chewing, and collapsing.
When they experience a full-blown seizure known as grand mal, they lose consciousness, seem paralyzed, and become unresponsive with their head drawn backward. Excess salivation, involuntary urination, and defecation occur.
After Seizure
The post-ictal phase occurs immediately after the seizure, characterized by confusion, disorientation, restlessness, salivation, and also temporary blindness might occur.
A point to note is that a seizure does not cause painful harm to your dog. As shocked as you might be, you should look for a natural seizure remedy for dogs to help you manage the situation.
Photo by Wade Austin Ellis
Natural Seizure Treatment for Dogs
If your dog is prone to seizures, you can take some natural treatments to help them recover and reduce the frequency of these seizures. During an attack, you should keep calm, eliminate dangerous items that might harm your dog, and keep the temperatures cool to protect their body from a seizure's overheating effects. You can also carefully cool their bodies by putting cold water on their paws.
An effective natural treatment for dog seizures is dietary change. Eliminate food proven to be toxic and dangerous to your dog. Embrace herbal remedies and natural dog supplements such as essential fatty acids, homeopathic oil, melatonin, and honey. Talk to your vet to determine the effective seizure remedies for your dog.
Please reach out to us today or schedule a call with one of our pet health experts to find out more about our safe and natural supplements for pets.
