Your cat or dog starts acting strange, clinging to you and seeming nervous about something. Suddenly he or she starts twitching uncontrollably. It could be as little as a facial tic, or as severe as a “grand mal” seizure where your pet may be on its side, flailing wildly, unable to stand, and losing control of its bladder or bowels. This may last for a few seconds, or it may last for 10 minutes or longer. This type of activity is considered seizure activity, and warrants immediate veterinary care and attention.

Between dogs and cats, dogs are more likely to experience seizures. They have a much higher incidence of epilepsy, though epilepsy is not the only cause of seizures in pets. There are a number of other reasons, among them being exposure to toxins, liver abnormalities, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), and even brain tumors. Tests are required to determine why the seizures are occurring, like x-rays and blood tests. We are fortunate that there are facilities close by that also offer MRI’s to help pinpoint where a problem may exist.

If your pet has a seizure, try to reduce as much sensory stimulus as possible, as those may worsen the seizure itself. If you can, grab a big towel or blanket to put over your pet, remove or push away any furniture or items that Spot or Sadie may crash into, block any access to stairs to avoid your pal from falling down them, and try to calmly talk to your pet (if you can!). Call your vet as soon as you can, and bring in your companion as soon as possible. Extended seizures can cause hyperthermia, and if the temperature of your buddy reaches 106 or higher for longer than 5 minutes, they could suffer irreversible brain damage.

Treatment for seizures depends on the cause, of course, but that can mean anything from surgery to antibiotics to lifelong anti-seizure medication like Phenobarbital. Some really anxious dogs are prone to stress-induced seizures if they have epilepsy, so trying to minimize exposure to big parties or loud noises helps a lot. With the Fourth of July coming up, we tend to prescribe a lot of sedatives to the nervous dogs of Ashburn!

I hope you all have a great summer, and keep your four-legged friends safe!

Till next time, Dr. Steve Velling, Ashburn Village Animal Hospital, www.ashburnanimals.com

p.s. contrary to popular belief, if you find baby wildlife in your backyard, you can touch it and put it back in the nest it may have come from. Go to www.nwrawildlife.com for more information.

p.s. All of us at AVAH offer our condolences to the families and friends of the Virginia Tech tragedy.

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