Epilepsy in dogs and cats – what you need to know

What is epilepsy?

Epilepsy describes a condition where an animal has seizures (also called fits). These are the result of excess electrical impulses in the brain that create abnormal movements.

Sometimes, they can also lead to a loss of consciousness. The condition is more common in dogs than cats.

Seizures have many possible causes, including a high temperature, toxins, low blood glucose or problems with internal organs such as the kidneys and liver. It’s important to know that not all seizures are related to epilepsy.

 

What’s the difference between epilepsy and true epilepsy?

True epilepsy (or idiopathic epilepsy) is classed as seizures that aren’t caused by a different disease or a brain tumour. This condition usually affects animals aged between one and four years old, whereas other causes are more common in older animals.

Generalised seizures (sometimes called tonic-clonic) cause a loss of consciousness and involuntary movement of multiple body parts. Smaller or ‘focal seizures’ may only affect a smaller part of the brain, and are less common. These cause muscle tremors/spasms or hallucinations and absences, such as losing awareness of surroundings. They can also lead to behaviour changes and, occasionally, aggression. Pets don’t feel any pain during seizures and won’t usually be aware they’re happening.

 

What are the signs of epilepsy in pets?

When an epileptic seizure is imminent, your pet may start to look frightened and dazed. Some pets will hide or seek attention as they sense something wrong.

Once the seizure starts, the pet will fall on their side. They may also become stiff, chomp their jaw (opening and closing it), salivate, urinate, defecate, vocalise, and show paddling motions with all four limbs.

Seizures will usually last between 30 and 90 seconds, but it’s possible for them to be significantly longer. They can also occur with several shorter episodes (cluster seizures). If your pet has a seizure lasting more than five minutes, or they have several in a small amount of time, there’s a risk of permanent brain damage. You should contact a vet as soon as possible.

When a pet has a short, one-off seizure, they’ll usually recover quite quickly but they may be quiet and subdued. Some animals are very hungry and thirsty after a seizure. We still recommend contacting a vet to check your pet’s health.

 

Severe seizures

Sometimes, pets with severe epilepsy can get stuck in one very long seizure which won’t stop without medication. This is a medical emergency as the body gets very hot and puts stress on the heart. It could also result in more damage to the brain.

 

Testing for epilepsy

There’s no single test that can tell if a pet has epilepsy. The condition is diagnosed by excluding other diseases. This will involve various tests including bloods, blood pressure, imaging of the brain and a spinal fluid sample. These will depend on which other disease may be suspected and the likelihood of the cause being true epilepsy. For example, a brain tumour is unlikely in a young dog with a family history of epilepsy.

When it comes to cats, seizures are rarer. The cause is more likely to be another disease or a different problem in the brain, such a tumour or a clot. A vet will look at the general health of a cat to spot any health issues such as kidney disease and diabetes before making a diagnosis.

 

How is pet epilepsy treated?

If your pet has a seizure, we recommend contacting your vet for advice. Where possible, it’s helpful to note the length and make a video recording of the seizure if you’re able to.

Depending on your pet’s age, breed and the length/severity of the seizure, your vet may recommend that you monitor them and see if it happens again. They may also carry out blood tests to look for an underlying disease and ask you questions about potential toxins they’ve accessed.

If a brain tumour is suspected, the vet will carry out more tests including a brain scan. This is expensive and rarely changes the treatment, but it will give you an idea of the outlook for the pet. If a condition such as meningitis is suspected, the vet may take a sample of spinal fluid for analysis, but this is very rare.

Most pets with epilepsy can have a good quality of life. But the condition is chronic and sometimes progressive, with treatment possibly being harder on the pet in the long-term.

There are various medications available to control epilepsy, but not all animals need treatment – for example, a dog who’s had a short seizure every three months. For this dog, the side-effects of medication – potentially feeling drowsy – may outweigh the distress caused by the fits.

Some animals on medication will remain seizure-free, but in more severe cases the aim of the medication is to reduce the frequency and length of seizures. This gives the pet the best quality of life possible.

We recommend discussing costs with your vet before you begin diagnosis and treatment. If you don’t already have pet insurance, find out how it can help you save money on vet fees in our Insuring your pet article.

Unfortunately, for some animals, seizures can be so severe that the only option is to put them to sleep.

 

How do I help my pet avoid the condition?

Unfortunately, there is little you can do to prevent pet epilepsy. But many pets with the condition live happy and fulfilling lives. Sometimes, when certain causes are identified such as stress or certain foods, seizures can be avoided or reduced.