THIS ARTICLE IS WRITTEN FOR THOSE WHO FIND THEMSELVES WITH A BOSTON THAT SUDDENLY DEVELOPED A UNPLEASANT MEDICAL CONDITION, AND JUST WANT AN OVERVIEW. THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO BE USED WITHOUT YOUR VETERINARIANS ADVISE.
Convulsions and seizures cause the dog's body muscles to contract and relax rapidly. Although they are not typically life threatening, the dog will lose control of its body, which can be frightening. In many cases, it is difficulty to determine their underlying cause. Frequent recurrences are normally termed as epilepsy.
For this topic we decided to contact or friends on Boozer's Miracle page on Facebook. This is a group on the front lines of this medical issue. This is a group that own these special dogs.Their advise, from day-to-day experiences, we hope will help anyone who is looking for answers.
Boozer was the first Boston we were introduced to with seizures. Rescued and then fostered and adopted by Judy Stewart who opened up this group page, has been a wonderful source of hands on knowledge. Judy in her continual quest to controlling Boozer's seizures, and willingness to share with others, has been remarkable. This is who we turn to first whenever dealing with a dog that develops symptoms of seizures.
Judy Stewart suggests that: "There are many types of z's (seizures), and different reasons for them. If someone comes to me with a dog who is seizing, the first thing I ask is their age. Anything older than 5 (years old), the vets are more concerned with tumors, anything 5 and under they are looking at poisoning, epilepsy, or even vestibular dz. In dogs 8 years old or younger, epilepsy is a common cause of seizures. And though an underlying cause has yet to be identified, epileptic seizures do respond well to treatment in most cases. Small breed puppies commonly suffer from low blood sugar, which is a another cause of seizures."
FIRST RESPONDER:
What To Watch For:
Loss of body control such as twitching, accidental elimination, dizziness, vomiting, and aimless pacing are all common indicators of seizures. After the episode, your dog may be disoriented for some time (called “post-ictal” period). In recurring cases, you will witness a change in the dog's behavior; you may even be able to predict the seizure (called “pre-ictal” period).
Signs of an impending seizure may include a period of warning, where a patient will experience what is called an aura. During this time a dog may appear worried, stressed, or frightened. It may experience visual disturbances or seek help from its owner. The dog may experience contractions in its limbs or in its muscles, and may have difficulty controlling urination and bowel movements. The dog may also experience an altered mental status before progressing to a seizure, as well as develop other neurological symptoms.
- Normally it is safe to approach a dog that is seizing, that is, unless you live in an area where rabies is prevalent and you are unsure if the animal has been vaccinated. Seizures are usually preceded by a short aura (or focal onset). When this occurs the dog may appear frightened and dazed, or it may
hide or seek attention. - Once the seizure(s) begin, the dog will fall on its side, become stiff, chomp its jaw, salivate profusely, urinate, defecate, vocalize, and/or paddle with all four limbs. These seizure activities generally last between 30 and 90 seconds.
Seizures most often occur while the patient is resting or asleep, often at night or in early morning. In addition, most dogs recover by the time you bring the dog to the veterinarian for examination.
- Other important tips:
1. Do not panic.
2. Focus on the dog's needs, as it is unlikely that the seizure is life-threatening.
3. Note the time of the seizure and the dog's activities prior to the attack.
4. Avoid putting your hands near the dog’s mouth unless absolutely necessary. Dogs do sometimes choke on their tongues, though it is very unusual, often occurring in breeds with flat faces like Pugs and Boston Terriers.
5. If the convulsions are mild, try getting the dog’s attention. This can prevent things from getting worse.
- If a full seizure is in effect:
1. Pull the dog away from anything that might harm him.
2. Get a blanket or towel and wait about a minute. If the seizure continues, wrap the dog in the blanket or surround him with cushions to protect him.
3. When the seizure stops, unwrap the dog. This helps to prevent him from going into hypothermia.
4. If the seizure stops within four minutes, dim the lights (or pull the curtains) and make the room as silent as possible. In addition, keep other animals away and speak soothingly to the dog.
5. If the seizure goes on for more than four minutes, take the dog to the vet immediately. Do not wrap her tightly in a blanket during the journey, as this may lead to hypothermia.
Primary Cause?
There are many reasons a dog may have convulsions, from low blood sugar levels to liver disease, poor circulation of the brain to a calcium deficiency. Brain tumors can even lead to convulsions and seizures.
Many different factors, including the pattern of seizures, can influence the development of future seizures. For example, how old a dog is when it first develops a seizure may determine the likelihood that it will develop future seizures, reoccurring seizures, and the frequency and outcome of those seizures.
Diagnosis?
Your veterinarian can perform several tests to help ascertain the cause of seizures, including CBC, chemistry panel, liver function test, and advance imaging of the brain (i.e., CT or MRI scans). However, it is helpful if you note when the attack occurred, the duration of the seizure, and what the dog was doing prior to the incident.
Physical symptoms may include tachycardia, muscle contractions, difficulty with breathing, low blood pressure, weak pulse, fainting, swelling in the brain, and obvious seizures. Some dogs will exhibit mental behaviors that are out of the ordinary, including symptoms of obsessive and compulsive behaviors. Some will demonstrate shaking and twitching. Others may tremble. Still others may die.
Prevention?
Most forms of prevention will depend upon the frequency and underlying cause of the seizures. Your veterinarian may prescribe medication(s) or, if there is a behavioral cause (loud surroundings, etc.) to the seizures, he or she may teach you techniques for avoiding such triggers or direct you to a behavioral specialist.
Dietary management may also be recommended for small breed puppies suffering from seizures due to hypoglycemia. These meals will typically consist of food that is high in protein, fat, and complex carbohydrates.
Treatment?
Most of the treatment is outpatient. It is recommended that the dog does not attempt to swim, to prevent accidental drowning white it undergoes treatment. Be aware that most dogs on long-term antiepileptic or anticonvulsant medications become overweight. Therefore, monitor its weight closely and consult your veterinarian for a diet plan if necessary. 
First, a bit of background. A seizure is a symptom, not a disease in and of itself. Sometimes veterinarians can find an underlying cause for a pet’s seizures. Electrical activity in the brain may be disrupted by tumors, inflammatory diseases, infections, metabolic abnormalities, and more.
If this is the case, treatment should be aimed at the primary problem, although medications to control seizures may also be necessary for either the short or long term. If no underlying cause for a pet’s seizures can be found, he or she will be diagnosed with primary epilepsy, in which case seizure control (not eradication - this is rarely possible) is the main goal of treatment.
Phenobarbital and potassium bromide have long been, and still are, the go-to drugs for seizure control in veterinary medicine. But they don’t work well in all situations.
Symptoms and Types: There are several different types of seizures or epilepsy that can affect dogs.
- Status epilepticus, or epilepsy, is a neurological condition that results in recurrent seizures in dogs. Epilepsy is used to describe recurrent or reoccurring seizures that originate from the brain.
- Idiopathic epilepsy describes a form of epilepsy that does not result in brain lesions or damage to the brain.
- Symptomatic epilepsy is used to describe primary epilepsy resulting in structural lesions or damage to the brain’s structure.
Probably symptomatic epilepsy is used to describe suspected symptomatic epilepsy, where a patient has reoccurring seizures, but where no lesions or brain damage is apparent. Status epilepticus involves constant seizures, or activity involving brief periods where there is inactivity, but not complete relief from seizure activity.
- Cluster seizure describes any situation where an animal has more than one seizure in consecutive 24-hour periods.
- A focal seizure will affect only a small part of the brain.
- Generalized seizures tend to affect both sides of the brain.
The more seizures a dog has, the more likely there is to be damage among the neurons in the brain, and the more likely the animal is to seize again.
Make sure you take your dog to the veterinarian early if you suspect it may be at risk for this, or any other type of disease. Together, you and your veterinarian can determine the best possible course of action for your dog.
J S Smith shared with us: :Awww that is scary! My Boston, Chevy who is 2, had a seizure today. The vet had to sedate him to get it stopped. He sent him home with a script for Phenobarb, and after we got it in his system, the shaking and twitching finally stopped. Going back for lab work tomorrow. I pray it isn't anything that cant be treated."
POTENTIAL SEIZURE TRIGGERS
- Most seizures seem to occur spontaneously, however, certain chemicals and emotional stress factors can trigger a seizure. Any kind of stress to your dog is a potential seizure trigger.
- In order for something to be considered a seizure trigger, the time between the trigger and the seizure is within 30 hours except in the case of vaccinations which can be up to 45 days.
- Keeping a journal of seizures and suspected seizure triggers, will help you identify anything that might contribute to seizures in your dog.
- R. Martineau said: "Triggers---:Flashing lights, yes! We were driving, and there were two police cars with lights on, Chaos almost went into a seizure. And actually did cluster the next day."
Want to read more? Here is a couple links you might find helpful: