The dog is convulsing and foaming at the mouth. Muscle cramps in dogs: causes, symptoms and treatment. Professional help for dog seizures

Some dog owners experience the phenomenon of seizures. Sometimes involuntary muscle contractions are accompanied by foaming or vomiting. Only a qualified veterinarian can help an animal.

Muscle contractions are based on the hyperactivity of neurons responsible for the motor control system.

There are the following types of seizures in dogs:

Convulsions.
Tonic convulsions.
Clonic convulsions.

Convulsions refer to jerky contractions. With tonic convulsions they are quite long and slow. During clonic convulsions, the muscles constantly contract and relax.

The greatest danger is epileptic seizures. The pet loses consciousness and his health gradually deteriorates.

During an epileptic seizure, the dog loses consciousness.

Common triggers

The most common causes of seizures include:

disruption of the heart;
intoxication;
tumor growth;
development of infection;
metabolic disorders.

Impaired heart function can cause seizures.

Metabolic disorders include kidney problems, increased potassium levels in the blood, decreased concentrations of glucose and calcium.

Risk group: small and large breeds

Convulsions in German Shepherd may indicate congenital epilepsy.

In small breed animals, the most common cause of muscle contractions is hypoglycemia.

In German and East European Shepherds, Beagles and Belgian Tervurens seizures indicate the development of congenital or acquired epilepsy.

The German Shepherd is at risk.

Animal age

If your pet is underage yet 12 months, then muscle contractions signal either the presence hereditary disease, or about the course of the inflammatory process. Sometimes this symptom indicates lead poisoning.

If seizures occur in a puppy, it may be due to heredity.

If seizures occur in an aged animal 1–5 years, this often indicates primary epilepsy.

Seizures in a dog 5–7 years talk about the presence of a cancerous tumor.

One more dangerous cause the appearance of muscle contractions in an adult animal is.

Postpartum seizures in dogs

The main reason for muscle contractions is sharp decline calcium level in the blood. There is no loss of consciousness during the seizure. But the animal does not react to the owner. This condition is very dangerous. The attacks are usually repeated. This can lead to the death of the animal.

During postpartum seizures, the dog does not lose consciousness.

Cramps and foam at the mouth

If muscle contractions are accompanied by foam, this may indicate:

injury to the animal;

presence of worms;

If salivation appears after a sedative medication, this may be a reaction of the dog’s body to what it has suffered. In a healthy animal this phenomenon is isolated. But if the attacks are repeated, then the pathology can be determined by the smell, consistency and shade of the foam.

If opaque saliva has a brownish-yellow color, is viscous and has an unpleasant “aroma,” we are usually talking about or. Sometimes this symptom indicates inflammation of the salivary glands.

If your dog's drooling bad smell, then this may be the cause of periodontal disease.

If convulsions are combined with vomiting, this most often signals the progression of cancer.

When you shouldn't worry!

In small puppies and animals of small, easily excitable breeds, during sleep there are conditions that from the outside look like convulsions. The dog begins to whine and yelp, shaking its paws. The facial muscles twitch, and sometimes the animal can clang its fangs.

Don't worry if your puppy starts to wince in his sleep.

If you calm your pet, it calms down and stops trembling. This is a completely normal condition that does not require medical intervention. According to dog handlers, at such moments animals see bad dreams.

Over time, the symptoms of “puppy shake” disappear. In order to strengthen nervous system, easily excitable pets are recommended to be walked in unfamiliar places.

Alarming symptoms

The severity of the symptoms depends on the degree of damage, the nature and area of the nervous system. Some dogs only experience muscle tremors, when only one of their paws twitches. Other animals experience frightening seizures.

The pet suddenly falls and twitches with its whole body. Foam comes out of the mouth. Muscle contraction is carried out voluntarily. Sometimes there is separation of urine.

The duration of the attack is 20 seconds-5 minutes. It stops as suddenly as it begins. The animal rises to its feet and shakes its ears. In this case, coordination of movements is disrupted, the vision becomes cloudy.

Some dogs lash out at water or food after an attack. Other animals sit or lie and look at one point.

With eclampsia, seizures are accompanied by an increase in pressure and temperature. The dog breathes shallowly and frequently. In between attacks of eclampsia, the animal may feel normal.

Some dogs become very thirsty after an attack.

But you shouldn’t be fooled by your pet’s satisfactory condition.

Establishing a diagnosis

To clarify the diagnosis, the veterinarian will refer you for:

Computed tomography.

Ultrasound examination abdominal cavity.

Echocardiography of the heart.

X-ray of the chest cavity.

A computed tomography scan is prescribed for the dog to clarify the diagnosis.

In addition, the veterinarian refers for blood donation. If necessary, appoint comprehensive examination. Sometimes a dog needs a consultation with a neurologist.

At the veterinarian's appointment, the dog owner must describe the attack in detail.

It is important to know exactly what and when the animal was sick before. You also need to remember what injuries the pet received. Specific signs may appear against the background of a blow to the lower back, back or head.

How can you help a dog with a seizure attack?

Treatment is prescribed only after the diagnosis has been clarified.

In most cases, the dog is prescribed medication. But if the root cause of the seizures is a tumor, then the veterinarian makes a decision regarding surgical intervention.

If the tumor is the cause of the seizures, then surgery is prescribed.

Features of first aid

First of all, you need to provide the sick animal with complete peace . It is necessary to curtain the windows, turn off the TV and move the pet to thick fabric. There is no need to put your dog on the bed.

After a seizure, the dog should be kept at rest.

Then you need to carefully turn the pet onto its right side. This will make his breathing easier. It is important to ensure that the foam flows out of the mouth, otherwise the dog will choke. In order to minimize the risk of traumatic brain injury, you need to place a thick cushion under the animal's head.

You cannot bring an animal to its senses or restrain it by force if it wants to leave.

You cannot unclench your jaws and push a spoon between your teeth.

Hind leg cramps

If a dog's hind legs contract, it should be wrapped in a blanket and taken to the hospital.

If an unconscious animal is convulsing, you must first wait until the attack ends and then consult a doctor.

What is important to remember

The owner of a sick dog needs to keep a notebook in which all attacks will be recorded. The veterinarian should obtain information regarding their:

heaviness;

duration;

progress.

The veterinarian will need a notebook to record the dog's seizures.

Only in this way will the doctor be able to determine the effectiveness of a particular drug.

Treatment of seizures and drooling

If muscle contractions are accompanied by copious salivation, the animal may be prescribed symptomatic treatment.

Almagel- 40 minutes before meals and taking other medications.

Verakol- up to 1 week

No-shpa- up to 3–5 days.

Embrobio- up to 1–1.5 weeks.

Mezim— 0.25 tablets/10 days.

Nux Vomica- up to 1–1.5 weeks.

The drug Almagel is intended for the treatment of seizures.

Diet

Hills Prescription Diet is prescribed for up to 7 days. When the dog’s condition stabilizes, it can be transferred to the usual type of food. You must report your pet's health once a day.

In order to reduce the risk of new attacks, it is necessary to give those drugs whose concentration will be for a long time remain in the dog's body. One of the most effective medicines is Phenobarbital. Results should be expected 7 days after starting use.

Phenobarbilate - effective drug to prevent attacks.

Phenobarbital may contribute to the appearance of such side effects such as drowsiness, nausea and loss of appetite. If they appear, you should stop taking the medication and contact your veterinarian again.

Video about a dog having seizures

Seizures in a dog are a frightening phenomenon. The animal falls as if knocked down, its body shaking. The spectacle is frightening; it happens most often suddenly, when the owner is not ready. It is not surprising that the owners of dogs overtaken by an attack are lost.

Cramps are involuntary muscle contractions. In veterinary medicine, types of seizures are distinguished depending on the nature and frequency of contractions:

Convulsions. Jerky muscle contractions.
Tonic convulsions, slow and prolonged.
Clonic. Frequent alternations of contractions and muscle relaxations.
Epileptic seizures are accompanied by loss of consciousness.

Convulsions are a heartbreaking sight and always indicate the presence of a disease that has struck your four-legged friend.

Epilepsy is a canine disease

Sometimes seizures are a consequence of epilepsy, a sign of neurological dysfunction of the brain. Primary epilepsy is caused by genetic disorders. Primary epileptic seizures occur in dogs for the first time between 6 months and 5 years of age. Secondary epilepsy is caused by diseases affecting the functioning of the nervous system:

Poisoning by toxins or heavy metals.
Bites of poisonous insects, snakes.
Defeats electric shock.
Worms.
Traumatic brain injuries.
Malnutrition.
Liver or kidney diseases.
Diabetes.
Lack of vitamins and minerals.
Metabolic factors (arrhythmia, cirrhosis, oncological diseases brain).
Eclampsia, or seizures that occur in postpartum period as a result of a lack of calcium in the body of a nursing mother.
Infectious diseases (toxoplasmosis, plague, tetanus).

Epileptic seizures in dogs are divided into three stages:

Aura, the dog is anxious, whines, wanders, tries to hide from prying eyes.
Loss of consciousness or ictal stage: the dog falls, the animal’s paws and head are cramping, the dog is breathing heavily, observed copious discharge foamy saliva.
Postictal stage when epileptic seizure passed, but the animal is restless, disoriented, and wandering.

Typically, epileptic seizures last up to five minutes. It happens that the animal cannot come to its senses within half an hour. What to do in such cases - the answer is clear. Take the sick animal to a veterinary hospital. It is better to transport a convulsing dog by wrapping it in a soft and warm blanket.

Dogs at risk should be protected from stressful situations, do not allow the dog to become overexcited. If an attack cannot be avoided, but convulsions occur, you should make your pet more comfortable, support his head, do not try to put a foreign object in his mouth, and keep him away from sharp corners and traumatic objects. Firstly, you will not be able to unclench your jaws, which are cramped, and secondly, you risk injuring the dog, while the opposite task is to protect your pet from injury. IN Lately There is an opinion that it is better not to touch epileptics; careless touching can provoke a new attack.

A comprehensive examination will help determine the cause

Lack of vitamins and minerals causes seizures. For example, a dog may experience cramps in its hind legs due to a lack of calcium. Convulsive spasms of the limbs occur in estrus or lactating bitches, dogs that have had various diseases. Unjustified excessive physical activity can lead to limb cramps. If the cause of seizures is a lack of calcium, the veterinarian will prescribe intramuscular injections of calcium gluconate.

If your pet suffers from seizures, a veterinarian has the right to make a diagnosis after a thorough examination, accompanied by research:

X-ray chest.
Ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity.
Magnetic resonance.
Tomography.
Analysis of urine, feces and blood.
Consultation and examination of the dog by a neurologist.

Cramp, cramp, discord

It is useful to know and remember a number of facts about the symptom:

Seizure attacks in dogs under one year of age are most likely provoked congenital pathology or an inflammatory process, metabolic disorders or poisoning.
Dogs between one and five years of age may suffer from epilepsy.
Animals over five years of age may become seriously ill, suffer from kidney or liver failure, pathology endocrine system, oncological diseases.
Small dogs are more likely to experience hypoglycemia, which can cause seizures.
Males are more likely than females to suffer from epilepsy.

According to the results of the study, the doctor will be able to accurately identify the cause that triggered the attack.

Animal first aid includes:

Measuring a dog's body temperature.
Drops of Valocordin or Corvalol, designed to relax the muscles and alleviate the pet’s condition.

See a doctor - the sooner the better

Diseases can cause seizures in dogs. Treatment varies accordingly. For example, meningoencephalitis, which in addition to seizures is indicated by other alarming symptoms: dilated pupils and stiffness of the neck muscles, increased body temperature, are treated with various medicines. The drugs are designed to stop seizures, prevent cerebral edema and support water-electrolyte balance in the animal's body.

If your dog has seizures frequently (repeated more than twice a day or begins immediately after a series of seizures that have just passed), this is a serious reason to contact a veterinarian. First, try to remain calm and track the duration of the seizures. The doctor will certainly ask about the duration of the seizures. The sooner you contact medical care, the more chances the dog has for recovery, and the owner has a better chance of being in the company of a healthy, cheerful dog.

The problem is with the owners. It's like going to the vet and saying, “My cat hasn't eaten for two weeks, what should I do?” Animals should be treated like your children. And if for you it’s like a toy, then it’s better to buy a teddy bear, there won’t be any problems with it.

My pet started having seizures when he was a child. Now, in order to weaken the process itself, we order 10 drops of Valocordin with a small amount water, while rubbing the animal’s muscles.

Our Cani Corsica had his first seizure at 6 months, exactly 2 hours apart. We went to the clinic, they said it was poisoning, they put me on IVs for three days, gave me injections, fed me pills - the attacks continued. Until we ourselves read on the Internet that the reason could be low potassium, the puppy doubled in size in a month - there weren’t enough microelements. We did a potassium test and it was really low. During the treatment process, for about a month, we went to 5 veterinary clinics, and they didn’t tell us anything, even about the full moon. We treated (prescribed by the doctor): asparkam, calcium, carbamazepine, armadin, with frequent seizures- combistres. We thought it would outgrow. Now the puppy is 9 months old, today early in the morning there was another attack, half an hour later - again. They gave me carbamazepine, asparkam, potassium, I woke up with an appetite, ate well, 2 hours later I had another attack, injected Combistress, 2 hours passed and I had another attack. What doctors are you talking about? Where should I go? Veterinarians NO.

You have to understand that our pets are a little different from us humans. We can tell what exactly and how it hurts. Dogs cannot do this, and this complicates their treatment! Veterinarians, however, do everything they can, using all the knowledge that has been accumulated during work and training. Perhaps in 50 years veterinarians will be more competent and understanding of animal problems!

Do an urgent MRI examination of the head and chest, contact a neurologist and save the puppy, I didn’t have time for mine, I took it to clinics, a bunch of diagnoses and medications, and no examination, they treated me by eye... So the pet died...

We happened to get sick during the New Year holidays. On December 29, the dog, a German Shepherd puppy, 7.5 months old, was very lethargic and sleepy. We thought that he had a cold, as he was running around in the cold with his mouth open, plus the changes. He ate well and drank.
The next day he began to shake, as if he had a chill. Then mom sounded the alarm. But how? There are no doctors, holidays. I called a good one, she dropped everything and came running to us. The suspicion was either neurological plague or poisoning. But the tests didn’t find anything like that, and everything was within normal limits, nothing critical.
The dog's attacks became more frequent, we were told to inject Baralgin, but-shpa, since pharmacies are closed, and it is problematic to buy the necessary things, but this will alleviate the symptoms.
December 31, in the morning... the dog had an epileptic seizure with crazy eyes and foam, I was alone. This happened to me...my mother came running as fast as she could, meanwhile I was calming the dog...my mother injected whatever was needed and called the doctor.
No-shpa and baralgin calmed the dog. We need to call an ambulance. We called more than 100 hospitals! They begged you to come! Nobody gives a damn, we, they say, New Year. Finally, they agreed. But we waited for him almost all day! During this time we could already deliver it ourselves! But the dog is very weak, and there is severe frost outside. The doctor, who, alas, could not come then, at least supported me by phone.
A young guy arrived. I mixed a lot of things into the dropper, and the dog started having convulsions. I so wanted to throw him from the balcony! He said that he needed 400 ml of glucose at a time. Completely crazy?! Mom didn’t listen to me, she gave the dog such a dose through an IV.
New Year's Eve was the hardest. The dog was sick, he couldn’t drink, I suggested giving him water from a syringe (without a needle). I didn't sleep a wink all night. And even before that I caught a cold, because I was running around pharmacies that were at least somewhat open! In general, we had a terrible night. Mom’s hands had already given up, I tried my best to support her. So we have a second dog, he doesn’t understand at all why he was isolated.
In the morning, after a walk, I simply passed out. Mom was told that the doctor who came was simply a murderer, that the dog was so sick due to an overdose of glucose.
My mother was unable to place a second IV. And at such moments it’s simply better for me not to trust anything at all. I called the doctor. He was also a young guy, and a bit of a chump at that. The dog has convulsions again, he cries and yells. Finally, he calmed down.
Now he’s lying there, poor thing, with a drip. Rapid breathing, eyes either closed or darting around erratically. The attacks are similar, as if a current was passed through him, he jumps up, twitches, cannot stand on his feet, cannot hold his head up. They attributed a lot of everything, I don’t even remember. Basically, antispasmodics, painkillers, anti-shortness, sedative and anticonvulsant.
We don't know what to do at all. There are no doctors because of the holidays, and only interns come, whose hands are out of their ass.
And the doctor has already been found...
But we must not give up! The worst thing is that they cannot give us an accurate diagnosis. Just a virus. They don’t know which one. Tests don't give anything...

My Doberman is 2 years old. A month ago, attacks similar to those described above began. We came to the veterinarian, unfortunately we live in a small town and he is the only such specialist in all of us, he says that he doesn’t know what the reason is, some kind of heart problem. I had an assumption that such convulsions occur in male dogs due to dog weddings taking place in the area, I explained this version to him, for which I prescribed antisex for male dogs. Sometimes he can’t find a place for himself, he runs around the house, looks out the windows, whines. I had 3 attacks in a month, a couple more of these and I would start having attacks.

Hello!
So what's wrong with your Dobermashka?
I have a Doberman female. May 26, 4 years old... 3 seizures in February... started giving Pagluferal-3 - no seizures for a couple of days now... I hardly sleep for a month, when I fell asleep I woke up to her screams... doctors don’t help, don’t even want to take tests, they say there’s no point ...and her legs have already begun to lose their strength...
And it’s true, a little more and I’ll start having seizures.
- Pagluveral - pills for epilepsy, my neighbor has a black schnauzer - at the age of three he was cured of epilepsy with this drug (he took the pills for a year). I bought it for my 15 year old dachshund, but it says that it is a contraindication. cardiovascular diseases and difficulty breathing... What is present in a 15-year-old dog... Doctors (in 2 clinics) were unable to make a diagnosis. More dog I didn’t torture him... Let him live like this for as long as he was allotted. I have been having attacks for a year now (1-2 times a month). Convulsions for about 5 minutes, then he lies down for a couple of minutes, and for an hour and a half he runs around the apartment, at first he falls and bumps into everything. This is how my heart turns on. No medications help (no-spa, glycine, even started giving citramon - she scratches her head all the time, and makes her stroke it - it hurts).

Today my Chihuahua suffered a triple attack, usually I give her *Cat-bayun* and half a spoonful of coffee honey, but now *Cat* is over, it’s Sunday, and I’m panicking. Damn, tomorrow I’ll buy half the pharmacy so that I have both Corvalol and valerian in the refrigerator and *Bayun* doesn’t run out. Such a long-awaited dog and so many problems, three years in total, losing teeth, seizures. And they also ask me about puppies(((Disabled dog, what the hell are puppies(((Here they would live to be old.

GOD! HOW I UNDERSTAND YOU. I HAVE A MINI YORICK. GIRL. BABY, and 14 TEETH HAVE BEEN REMOVED, AND MY LEGS HURT FOR A YEAR, AND CRAMPS... I'm going crazy... I love her endlessly, but I started feeding her with medicinal food - there are improvements))) Try it. Abandoned meat completely.

The dog falls when leaving the house for a walk. It all starts with the hind legs, then in a couple of seconds the dog falls backhand unconscious and has a seizure. The mouth is open, there is no foam, unconscious. Then the seizure gradually goes away, the dog doesn’t understand what’s going on and tries to run away. The hind legs don’t obey, he still crawls - he doesn’t know where. When he comes to his senses, he growls and gets aggressive (apparently in pain). Then he runs off for a walk as if nothing had happened. Comes after a walk, eats and plays. The next time you leave the house, everything repeats. We live on the 3rd floor of an apartment building. We go out for walks on a collar and leash. As always, however. Springer spaniel breed, 2.5 years. Explain why.

Our 2 month old puppy had seizures. Foaming at the mouth. Whined. I saw this for the first time. I took her to the doctor. He said it was worms. He gave an injection and some medicine. The cramps stopped. But the puppy lost his sight. I took her to the doctor again. He said that he sees, but everything is upside down. She said it would pass. But I'm worried. He is nervous and whines from shock that he does not see me, the food, and everything else normally. What should I do, help?

My dog rarely has convulsions, his muscles are very cramped, and the dog falls.
Previously, she was bitten by a tick, and after that she began to have convulsions. Maybe there are some medications?

Our dog is having seizures, we contacted all veterinary services and private veterinarians! There’s no point, there are different versions and all they can prescribe is vitamins and Corvalol during an attack! They took blood from the dog and it doesn’t help!

My dog is having muscle cramps! The vets ruined him!!! He now walks and constantly sausages him in different sides!!! He whines at night, and during the day too! When he lies down, he supports him! And when he walks it’s like a muscle contraction! Now I don’t know how to cure it.

The dog was sleeping calmly and suddenly it started having convulsions, after which everything became fine. The next day everything happened 8 times in 4-5 hours. I don’t know what to do, you can’t look at me without tears ((((((

And our dog has had seizures for several years. She is not sick with anything, her spine is slightly curved. She sits, then suddenly falls and her paws move strangely. We calm her down ourselves. She has them very rarely.

We rented a house from friends. They have two dogs that live on the street. One of them runs without a leash. To be clear, we are talking about a village. This afternoon the one on the leash started barking hysterically. Looking out the window, I saw the one without a leash lying on the ground and convulsing. Not in convulsions, but in convulsions. I love animals very much and was very scared for her. Running out to her, I didn’t know what to do and just started calling her. The attack resembled epilepsy, but without any foam from the mouth. The dog, focusing its gaze on me, began to bare its teeth and try to get up. Her look was wildly insane. I got scared and started running away. At this time, the second one barked loudly and began to break from the chain, which distracted the dog from me. He rushed at his friend, and I managed to run into the house. After which the dog ran around the yard in circles and periodically sat down, as if trying to concentrate. When I called him through the window, he ran behind the house, as if he wanted to find me and it was clear from his habits, not so that I could pet him. As a result, the dog ran into the field and I didn’t see him again until dark. I haven't seen it yet. The dog's owner believes that it is not rabies, but that the dog was simply poisoned by a neighbor. The dog had not acted suspiciously prior to these convulsions. Tell me, what could it be? I'm afraid to even go outside.

First, it is important to understand that seizures and convulsions are the same thing! Possible reasons- epilepsy, poisoning... According to what was described, it doesn’t really look like rabies. The fact that the dog snapped and ran somewhere can also mean that it was no less scared than you!

I have a Chihuahua, 2 kg, 1.3 years old. This morning she ate as usual (I give her boiled beef). I cut into small pieces. I see the dog trying to walk and falling. She begins to pull, her paws are pulled, she’s all tense. I take it, but it’s already soft and can’t get up.
I looked in my mouth and there was a piece of meat stuck there. I took it out with my fingers.
Tell me, could this happen because the dog simply choked? Or did she have an attack while she was eating?
This has never happened before.
Thank you in advance.

My Lika is 6 years old. I took it from homeless people when I was on vacation in the Tver region. They, as the neighbors said, mocked her as best they could. And I cannot say whether this sore is congenital or acquired. She has been living with us for 5 years. And we constantly have such attacks, similar to epilepsy. Previously there were once every two months, but now more often. She has them for about 10 minutes, and sometimes lasts up to 2 hours. Only one passes and then the next one passes. The doctors prescribed us a lot of things, advised us, nothing helps. Every day we take a quarter of Corvalol; during an attack, I dilute Corvalol with some water and pour it into the mouth from a syringe. 1 drop per 1 kg of animal weight. Just the other day they advised me to inject calcium gluconate intramuscularly during an attack. Recommended by a volunteer from an animal shelter. Maybe someone tried it? Our dog is a mixed breed, weighs 7 kg.

I have a shelter and have epileptic dogs. Kolim no-shpu. And recently they brought me seven puppies - two days old, they were thrown under a garbage barrel, and it’s freezing outside, it’s very difficult. Several days passed and they began to diarrhea and began to hurt. And die one after another, I don’t know the reason. No matter how hard I fought for their lives. There is only one left, he is now having seizures. But the spa didn't help. Lord, how bad he feels, he has frequent seizures, and he’s only three weeks old. He is in so much pain. You can cure the dog, but you need money, and now it’s seven in the evening and there’s no one to call for help. I pray to God that he survives.

We have a puppy. Since 2 months he has been tormented by vomiting, they took him to all the veterinarians, some said one thing, others another, they took all the tests. The dog began to suffer from seizures, convulsions, vomiting, and walked around. They took him to the veterinarian, discovered a tumor in the kidneys, had an operation, removed a kidney that was unrecognizable, and he did not immediately understand that it was a kidney, since it had fallen off, was born with abnormalities, progressed from birth, the second kidney is also in poor condition, but they say it is impossible to cure. It’s night, he’s shaking, convulsing, foaming at the mouth, I’m amazed at how many tears I have, but I can’t do anything. I don’t understand why he does all this. I can’t look at his suffering and I’m afraid to put him to sleep, he’s fighting so hard for his life. This is how he wants to live. I love him so much. And no one can help us. The puppy only had surgery and it was even worse.

Hello.
I live in Italy and would like to tell you what medications veterinarians here prescribe for animals with epilepsy.
My Nika is 5 years old ( Yorkshire Terrier), she had her first attack at 6 months, and repeated once every six months. After giving birth, the attacks became more frequent and reached 1 time per month lasting up to 3 hours. After an examination at the clinic, the veterinarian prescribed a new generation of tablets created specifically for epileptic animals, Pexion (imepitoina).
They didn’t work for Nika, although they helped many other dogs.
Nika is currently taking Gardenae (fenobarbitale), a pill for humans, but it is also prescribed for dogs.
The most important thing that I want to recommend is Valium (diazepam) in ampoules, at the time of an attack it should be injected into anal hole using a syringe (without a needle, of course), after 5, maximum 15 minutes, the attack goes away completely.
I hope that this information will help you and be useful in treating your pets.

Marina, please tell me why you bred a sick dog? You don’t have children yourself, don’t you know how a bitch’s body gets exhausted during pregnancy, childbirth and feeding puppies? The cause of the attacks was not established, the diagnosis was not made, and if this genetic disease and is passed on by inheritance... What kind of stupidity?! Don’t you feel sorry for your girl, it’s all about profit or something???
Do you know that Valium is addictive and is not a treatment, but a relief of symptoms! Have you heard anything about the “withdrawal” syndrome?
I’m simply amazed at people like this, they still give out advice!

Hello.
I'll start from the very beginning. 3 months ago we bought an adult spaniel dog (we didn’t see the owners through friends, we just handed over money and they brought it to us). The fact is that they did not give us the documents and passport, they called the owners, they claimed that all vaccinations had been done. After some time, contact with former owners was lost, they moved to another city and phone numbers are unavailable...
Yesterday afternoon our dog behaved as usual, there was no sign of trouble, when suddenly, while lying on the floor, his head began to stagger, a profuse salivation, convulsions appeared, all this lasted 5-7 minutes. Afterwards he got up as if nothing had happened... I called the veterinarian to come, he refused (for reference, we live in a village, there is only one doctor, he works mainly with cattle), he said that he could not help. I ran to the pharmacy, where they advised me something like gamavit (I don’t remember the exact name), vitamin B6 and B12... That’s all I’m saying, since we don’t know whether the dog was vaccinated, whether it’s possible that it’s rabies (I read that there different shapes there are, even without aggression), and if not, where should we start, with what vaccinations? Previously, dogs were adopted from puppyhood and vaccinations were done as required, but now what should we do? Help me please!!

It is important to monitor the dog's condition. If the attacks recur, then you need to look for a good veterinarian to help with treatment. But this is not rabies. And vaccinations are not the primary task here. But if they said that the vaccinations were done, then most likely it is so.

I have had a pavilion for 5.5 years. Dear, kind, smart! We get vaccinations, I even take them to the vet just to have them looked at! Three years ago in August, around six in the morning, he began to have terrible diarrhea and a fever! I pick him up and run to the vet, I look - he wants to go to the toilet, I put him on the ground, diarrhea again. He did his business, stands and suddenly falls on his side, shaking all over, in some unnatural position, his head and neck seem to be stretching upward (to stand up), and everything else is shaking in convulsions, but there is no foam and, judging by the look at me, in his right mind, tears flowing from his eyes!!! At the branch they did some kind of blood test, measured the temperature (nothing else). I don’t remember the exact diagnosis (it roughly sounds like ehrlichiosis, i.e. a tick bit me and intoxication began). They said he was dying. I decided that while I was alive I needed to save him. They put me on IVs and antibiotics several times for two weeks. Survived. They said that he might live for six months! Now he is six years old, he is just as sweet and kind, but he has become even smarter. We don't make puppies because... the consequences in the form of seizures remained. Runs, jumps, plays, and then suddenly has seizures. I showed it to other veterinarians, they prescribed a diet without meat at all, they also sold us special veterinary food and all sorts of vitamins, and for three months, on the doctor’s recommendation, I was given Convulex (we don’t have a dog drug in our city, so I begged for this medicine at a pharmacy for people). As a result: the attacks of convulsions did not decrease at all, the attacks were repeated within an hour after taking Convulex. They did not become less frequent or last longer, the dog lost weight. It became clear that if the dog did not die after illness, it would most likely die of hunger. Let me clarify that in our city, the only special examinations we have are ultrasound and X-rays (accordingly, they did not do MRI or CT). I came to the conclusion that no one wants to harm the animal, BUT! the treatment is prescribed by poking at about 50% (that's why they say the animal will die). I myself know that he will die, but when, I think 90 percent of it depends on the owner’s desire to put his friend on his paws. If your friend is sick and they tell you that’s it!.. Don’t believe it! Try until the last! And when he recovers, you will see how grateful he is to you for it! I will add that when an attack occurs, I pour Corvalol into the mouth with an insulin syringe (the dog weighs 4.5 kg, about 5-7 drops diluted with water). We don’t follow a meat-free diet; he eats good dog food (which he liked best) and gives him boiled meat (chicken, beef, liver, heart) a couple of times a week. Patience and health to everyone!!!

Yesterday at 22:30 our Cane Corso (will be 4 years old in February, weighs about 50 kg) had a terrible epileptic attack: loss of consciousness, convulsions of the whole body, involuntary urination and defecation, foam from the mouth. My husband and I were very scared. I'm in a position, so I was generally hysterical. The following attacks took place at intervals of 1.5 hours, 55 minutes, 20 minutes, 8 minutes 1 hour, 1 hour 15 minutes, 1.5 hours, 35 minutes, 1 hour 20 minutes, 50 minutes, 30 minutes, 2 hours (Here finally - then early in the morning we called the veterinarian. He told us to buy Corvaltab - 2t. * 2r per day, observe and call back. We haven’t called yet, we observe), 3 hours, 3 hours 35 minutes. The last attack occurred at 16:34 today. That is, over 16 hours the dog had 14 seizures, each lasting about 30 seconds.
Between attacks he howls horribly. After the attack, the dog is completely disoriented, has a dull look, does not respond to the name, wanders aimlessly, bumps into a wall, furniture, and climbs up on cabinets. Vision tends to deteriorate during convulsions, but if the interval between the cramps is longer, then the dog becomes more conscious and even more cheerful, but still stumbles and drags its legs. When it stands still, it begins to tilt. We walk him in the yard and make him move. His husband massages him. He eats well, with an appetite, doesn’t drink water, we give him milk and water, and devours his dear soul. I don't know what this night will be like. The previous one was terrible and absolutely sleepless. Some of us are with the dog all the time. We'll see later, I hope everything works out in the best way for the dog.
Good luck to us and everyone who has a similar situation!

Today my dog was running like healthy and a minute later he fell and started shaking. I called veterinary help. They also had a seizure, the dog had terrible fear and an epileptic seizure, they gave many injections and left. They said that this would happen again and that the dog should not be left with children, it was better to euthanize it. So what if I love her?

Yesterday we put our baby to sleep (((Jagdterrier, 2 years old. There were no signs of trouble. In the morning she ran after us around the yard, played with the children, and at 16:20 she began to whine, then had a seizure: her mouth was open, drooling... She lay on the ground, thrashing for a minute . I came to my senses, stood up staggering and ran three circles around the house whining and squealing, and the speed was crazy. Vision was impaired, because she crashed into all the objects on the way, and even at speed... She sobbed... They called a doctor while the doctor was driving for 1.5 hours 6 seizures. The doctor arrived, examined him and said that the seizures would continue, despite the treatment, or euthanize and not torture the animal. The first thought: “How are we without her? Or maybe everything will be fine? Her children are very they love what I tell them?” My head was spinning.
Having calmed down, my husband and I decided to euthanize the child and not torment him. I considered it selfishness to spare my feelings and doom our baby to such torment. And this is really torment, for ours it is very good friend my brother is epileptic, so we know what’s what.
I imagined that an attack would happen, but I was gone all day and my girl would lie for hours, convulsing...
I cry all the time... I know that many will judge me, but I don’t see the point in continuing to support the dog’s painful life, a person will not want to live like that... And I trust our veterinarian, because... he saved the eyes of our Persian when everyone else said to remove it.
To everyone who has decided to treat, I wish you strength.
In the evening I will call the breeder, maybe this information will help him in planning the next mating.
I shared it and it seems a little easier.
All prosperity and health to our little friends.

Hello, my dog is 6 years old (Pekingese). An attack occurred - she fell to the side and began to tighten her paws, it lasted a couple of seconds, it happened at the moment when my husband came home. Everything seemed to be in order - as always, she greeted me, rejoiced, and suddenly fell. What could this be, tell me?

Sometimes dog owners may observe convulsive twitching of the limbs in their pets - from small muscle contractions to frightening convulsions. Such conditions appear in animals at any age, and it is impossible to speak unequivocally about their danger/harmlessness without knowledge of the provoking causes.

What are convulsions?

Cramps are muscle twitches caused by overactive neurons. The pet cannot control this process, because if the dog involuntarily twitches its paw, it means that a large number of impulses that the subcortex does not have time to process.

Depending on the causes, seizures are classified into several types:

Convulsions are small muscle contractions that often occur during sleep. The animal’s behavior is adequate; it reacts to the owner’s voice and the environment.
Clonic twitching is an alternating contraction/relaxation of muscles. The animal may stand up for a couple of minutes, fall again and twitch convulsively.
Tonic cramps are muscle contractions in a slow rhythm. The dog whines and expresses a feeling of fear.
An epileptic seizure is the most severe type of seizure; not only the legs, but also the torso contract. Maybe unconsciousness, foam release. A clear sign of a serious illness.

It is very difficult to independently determine the type of convulsive contractions, and there is no practical benefit in this. Without special diagnostic examinations, it is impossible to understand exactly how to treat an animal.

"Safe" convulsions

If a dog's paw twitches while sleeping as a puppy, this is evidence of the immaturity of the part of the central nervous system responsible for the movement of norepinephrine in the brain. This substance is produced by the adrenal medulla, but due to the same immaturity, too much of it is released at the moment when the puppy experiences strong emotions.

The baby, like a child, absorbs everything that is offered to him the world, falling asleep, relaxes, and the subcortex at this moment still works. Emotional outbursts are expressed in the form of muscle tremors, involuntary movements, stretching.

Besides the young ones, similar conditions may occur in adult dogs with an easily excitable psyche. Zoologists explain this phenomenon by disturbing dreams and call it “puppy” tremors. It is not considered a pathology if development proceeds according to norms, but it can manifest itself as whining in sleep, shaking of the paws and ears, and small twitches. It is enough to caress your pet, talk in a quiet soothing voice and the trembling will stop. It is recommended to take emotional, excitable animals out for walks in unfamiliar places more often - this strengthens the nervous system.

Seizures as a sign of health disorder

If a dog constantly twitches its back paw, this is not a pathology in itself, but a manifestation of one of the symptoms of the disease. Only professional doctor. There are several most common causes of convulsive conditions:

Hypoglycemia is a deficiency of glucose in the blood of an animal. A serious deviation that entails a whole “bouquet” of complications: metabolic failures, impaired functioning of the kidneys and liver. Hypoglycemic tremor most often affects puppies or dogs small breeds. A predisposition to the disease is possible at the genetic level, and after several generations. When choosing a pet, it is a good idea to study its pedigree in order to be prepared for the unexpected.
Eclampsia is a lack of calcium in the blood. This element is essential for normal operation muscles and other processes in the body. Small breed animals, pregnant and lactating females are susceptible to eclampsia. In addition to muscle spasms, the disease manifests itself as snoring during sleep.
Infections. Viral infections can cause your pet's paws to twitch. The most dangerous infection– rabies. When a sick animal comes into contact with a healthy animal, there is practically no chance of not becoming infected. Other pathogenic microorganisms and pathologies causing muscle spasms: fungus, bacteria, helminths, toxoplasmosis, peritonitis complicated by infection.
Intoxication and inflammatory processes can also provoke convulsive twitching.
Epilepsy is the most common reason convulsive contractions. Epileptic disease is a very serious and dangerous health disorder, indicating a dysfunction of the central nervous system and brain function. May be congenital (hereditary) or acquired as a result of traumatic brain injury, inflammation, malignant neoplasm. Epilepsy affects males much more often than females, and the disease is mainly characteristic of large, long-haired breeds. The primary form of pathology that provokes brain dysfunction and seizures, occurs between the ages of 6-60 months of the dog. Secondary develops against the background of diseases associated with the functioning of the nervous system.

Therefore, if twitching does not go away for a long time, or even more so, tends to worsen, it is better to seek help. specialized assistance, since such conditions are extremely dangerous if caused by a disease.

Other reasons

If your dog is twitching hind leg(as a rule, but tremor of the forelimbs is possible) in the absence of diseases, the cause may be associated with external influences or injury:

Damage to the spine, abdominal organs, skull (this may be the consequences of long-ago injuries that seemed insignificant to the owner at one time).
Electric shock, lightning.
Intoxication as a result of insect bites, snake bites, poisoning with poisons, heavy metals, toxic and chemicals, incl. household use.

If a dog’s front paw or back paw, or even all limbs at once, twitches, it is important to remember the process of convulsive contractions in as much detail as possible, to remember past illnesses, injuries and do not hesitate to visit the veterinarian.

If convulsions are accompanied by clouding of consciousness, foaming and other epileptic symptoms, then the pet can be taken to the doctor immediately (or called to your home, whichever is more convenient). In case of an epileptic attack, you need to wait until it ends and only then transport the animal to the clinic. It is better to call a doctor immediately at home, especially if the seizure lasts longer than 10 minutes or is repeated in a series of short convulsions.

For a dog owner encountering seizures in a dog for the first time, this sight comes as a real shock. However, you must try to pull yourself together, calm down and help your pet, who is in this moment really needs it.

Let's look at the reasons why seizures occur in dogs and how you can help your pet.

Causes of seizures

Cramps are not independent disease, but arise as a consequence of some pathology of the body. The causes of seizures in dogs can be:

Congenital or acquired diseases - epilepsy, diabetes, dropsy of the brain.
Severe weakening of the body due to poor nutrition or illness.
A drop in your dog's blood sugar.
Bite of a poisonous insect or snake.
Intoxication of the body due to poisoning with chemicals, drugs or poor-quality food.
Head injuries, both recent and past.
Neoplasms of the brain and spinal cord.
Infectious diseases.
Problems with the cardiovascular system.
Serious diseases of the liver, kidneys, gall bladder.
Electric shock.
Vascular problems.
Unbalanced diet, which results in a deficiency of vitamins and minerals.
During the period of estrus and feeding puppies in bitches due to a decrease in calcium levels.
Severe overvoltage.

As you can see, there are many reasons for a dog to have a seizure, so only a professional can identify the exact cause.

Types of seizures in dogs

Cramps are uncontrolled muscle contractions that have a paroxysmal nature. It is difficult to confuse a seizure with something else, so the dog owner will immediately understand what is happening to his pet, even if he has encountered it for the first time.

Most often, a seizure occurs in one of the following ways:

If your dog has clonic seizures, these appear as alternating contraction and relaxation of certain muscles, such as those in the paws. They last on average about a minute, after which the animal rises to its feet, but sometimes the attack can resume.
Convulsions and loss of consciousness are observed.
Tonic spasms are characterized by slow contractions of various muscles that last long time and scare the dog. At the same time, she worries and whines.
Convulsions look like sharp, jerky muscle contractions. The animal does not lose consciousness during convulsions.

It is important for the veterinarian to have a clear description of the seizure pattern, which should be given by the dog owner, as this will help in making a diagnosis, so try to remember how the dog behaved during the seizure or film it on your phone.

In addition, there are several factors, taking into account which you can try to determine the cause of a seizure:

seizures in a puppy under one year of age are most often a consequence of congenital epilepsy or occur after poisoning with chemicals or drugs;
epilepsy makes itself felt in dogs under the age of 3 years and is more common in males;
seizures in adult dog, older than 5 years, usually caused by neoplasms of the brain or spinal cord, endocrine pathologies or serious illnesses internal organs;
Hypoglycemia is more common in short breeds.

Course of a seizure

Typically, a seizure can be divided into several stages:

The first stage, preceding the attack itself, is called an aura. At this time, the dog may drool excessively, become restless and begin to wander aimlessly. This condition can be observed in a dog from several minutes to several days, depending on the condition of the body.
Most difficult stage- a blow, that is, a direct attack accompanied by convulsions, and in some cases there is a strong flow of saliva and involuntary urination. This stage lasts for several minutes.
After the attack, a post-traumatic stage begins, during which the animal becomes lost and disoriented. During this period, the dog may avoid the owner or, conversely, show excessive affection towards him, and profuse salivation may also continue. The duration of the post-traumatic stage varies, and it can end in minutes, or it can drag on for a day or two.

A single attack does not pose a particular danger to dogs, but frequently repeated seizures lasting for 10-15 minutes are a serious threat to the life and health of the animal.

Diagnosis of the disease

To diagnose the causes of seizures in your pet, you will need to conduct a number of tests and instrumental studies:

Having received everything necessary information, you will need to see a veterinarian who specializes in neurological diseases, because convulsive syndrome this is most often a sign of neurological diseases.

First aid for seizures and their treatment

If your pet has had a seizure for the first time, we once again ask you not to lose your presence of mind, try to remember how the seizure goes and provide first aid to the dog. What to do if you have seizures?

Create a calm environment, try to remove bright lights and loud sounds.
Place the dog on a flat, fairly soft surface, for example, on a thick bedding on the floor.
Place the animal on its right side and make sure that saliva can flow freely from the mouth and not interfere with breathing.
If the attack happened for the first time, and the dog did not lose consciousness, then you need to immediately go to veterinary clinic.
If you lose consciousness, you must wait until the attack ends, carefully wrap the animal in a blanket and take it to the doctor.
You can try giving it to your dog medicine, helping to reduce muscle tone and relax the animal. Such drugs include Corvalol, Valocardin, Valoserdin.

If you bring your animal to the clinic during an attack, the doctor will prescribe injections of an antiallergic drug and magnesium sulfate, which will stop the attack.

Any seizure, regardless of its duration and intensity, should prompt an urgent visit to the veterinarian!

After examining the dog and making a diagnosis, the veterinarian will prescribe treatment that will help your pet live without seizures. For epilepsy, these will be anticonvulsants, and if seizures are concomitant signs of another disease, then the main attention will need to be given to getting rid of this disease.

In order to make your dog’s life fulfilling in the future, you will need to carefully follow the veterinarian’s prescriptions, monitor its nutrition, physical activity and emotional state.