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People in England use the term “fits” to describe what happens to a person when their brain loses control over the body. In the U.S. these fits are more often called seizures. The purpose of this article is to provide a brief summary as to some of the many causes of dog seizures.

EPILEPSY. Perhaps the top cause of seizures in dogs is a condition called epilepsy, however it is important to note that epilepsy is not the cause for all seizures. The story behind the discovery of the most common form of canine epilepsy is that a group of idiots were walking through the forest and as they came up to a clearing in the woods, they all were able to observe a wolf that was doing the “hokey-pokey.” The scientific term “idiopathic epilepsy” was coined following the report of this event to a group of forest rangers. Well, that’s not exactly true, but the scientific reason is a bit more boring and doesn’t make any more sense. Basically, the term “idiopathic epilepsy” really describes any case when a dog has seizures and the experts can’t seem to pinpoint the reason why they are having them.

TOXINS. There are a lot of different types of toxins that dogs can become in contact with or ingest that will cause them to have seizures. These toxins range from poisons to get rid of rodents or slugs to flea powders or chemicals that are actually meant for dogs to wear as collars. Other things that are toxins that can bring about seizures, include paint, insecticides and antifreeze, which are also products that can be fatal. With early treatment and intervention, most animals have a good to fair prognosis of making a full recovery if they have a seizure as a result of an environmental poisoning.

BRAIN TUMORS. Obviously, one of the easiest things to rule out, as a cause of dog seizures, is whether there is an abnormal growth in the dog’s brain. Tumors cause pressure to build upon the brain tissue as they grow, causing neurological abnormalities such as seizures. There are tests, like an MRI or CAT scan, that can detect tumors, but it is important to know that most dogs do not get seizures due to tumors, so it is just a possibility. In the case of either a brain tumor or other type of head injury, if a dog is suffering from a seizure that was caused by one of these conditions, anti-epileptic medications will not help.

TICK INDUCED DISEASES. A tick, a bloodsucking arachnid, can cause Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in dogs, both of which can cause seizures. The chance of infection or disease is reduced greatly if the tick is discovered and effectively removed within the first 24 hours that it has come into contact with the dog. There are antibiotics that can kill Lyme Disease, and most dogs respond quite well in general to antibiotics.

DISTEMPER. Seizures in dogs can be caused by a disease called distemper, which often occurs in young puppies who no longer have the benefits of their mother’s antibodies; this disease causes diarrhea and can lead to a dog becoming dehydrated, as well. This is why it is vital to get your dog vaccinations as soon as possible, because vaccinations are the only way to prevent this disease – unfortunately once a dog gets it, it is in many cases fatal.

Sandra DeMers is the author of “Cory’s Story,” the story of a yellow Labrador retriever suffering from dog seizures that will absolutely AMAZE you. Cory is alive, happy and healthy at the age of 13 and hasn’t had a seizure in over 5 years. Visit www.corysstory.com to learn Sandra’s secret to good canine health–you’ll be surprised when you learn the truth.

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