Years ago, while I was growing up, we had numerous dogs and knew of many other people with dogs and never, to my knowledge, did I hear about seizures in dogs. Today, I can think of at least 5 dogs that have or have had seizures in the not-too-distant past, two of them being my own dogs, and have read of many other situations of seizures in dogs.
What is different between now and then? Why are there now so many cases of seizures in dogs? Are they caused by diet? Environmental toxins? Vaccinations?
Because my 3-year-old Jack Russell terrier recently had his first seizure, I wanted to know the possible causes of seizures in dogs and did some research. What I found was this very long list:
1. Epilepsy - This is probably the most common cause of seizures in dogs. It is a neurological disorder which is characterized by frequent seizures. It is often idiopathic (no known cause) but may be caused by abnormal brain tissue which causes abnormally excited electrical signals in the brain, leading to involuntary muscle movement, with or without loss of consciousness, loss of bowel or bladder function and/or excessive salivation. This leads to another question: What causes the abnormal brain tissue?
2. Canine distemper - This is a viral disease that is common in young dogs, is highly contagious and often fatal. It can cause muscle weakness, loss of basic motor skills and seizures.
3. Genetics - Seizures in dogs may be hereditary in some breeds, including Beagles, Collies, Dachshunds, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Keeshonds and Poodles.
4. Brain tumor - This is an abnormal growth in the brain that can cause seizures in dogs and other symptoms, depending on where it is located. Another question: What causes brain tumors?
5. Head injury - A severe head injury can cause seizures in dogs if there has been damage to brain tissue or if there is pressure on the brain.
6. Environmental toxins - Some household products are detrimental to dogs and can cause neurological symptoms, including seizures. Some of these include organochlorines (found in some brands of flea powders and in products that control parasite infections), lead (found in some rat poisons and paint), methylxanthines (found in chocolate and chocolate products) and zinc phosphate (found in some rat poisons).
7. Lyme disease - This is a disease caused by the "deer tick," which usually causes arthritis but may involve the central nervous system and cause seizures in dogs.
8. Congenital hypoglycemia - This is low blood sugar levels that are present at birth.
9. Hypothyroidism - Low thyroid function. Another question: How does a dog develop low thyroid function?
10. Infections causing brain damage.
11. Vaccinations - Some veterinarians say that routine vaccinations on a frequent basis are not necessary and actually do harm to dogs that receive them. There have even been reports of seizures in dogs after receiving the rabies vaccination. A vet can check the titers in a dog to see if it needs vaccinations.
12. Preservatives in food such as ethoxyquin, BHT and BHA - Some commercial dog foods contain preservatives, dyes and fillers.
13. Hypocalcemia - An endocrine disorder characterized by low levels of calcium. Yet another question: How does a dog develop an endocrine disorder?
14. Hypoxia or hypoxemia - Low blood oxygen levels usually caused by lung disease. My question: Why would a dog get lung disease?
15. Hepatic encephalopathy or liver disease - Excess ammonia in the blood from liver disease may cause seizures in dogs. What causes liver disease in dogs? Diet? Environmental toxins?
16. Kidney disease - The kidneys help to regulate acidity in the blood and the body, and high acidity can cause seizures in dogs. What causes kidney disease in dogs?
17. Hyperkalemia - High concentration of potassium in the blood. How does that happen?
18. Hyperlipoproteinemia - Defective lipid metabolism. Fatty acids in the blood are not broken down properly and can result in seizures in dogs. Why are the fatty acids not broken down properly?
19. Gastrointestinal disease - "Garbage" poisoning. Staphylococcal and/or botulism toxins may be found in decaying or rotten garbage.
20. Lissencephaly - A rare disease in dogs that exists at birth and is a brain malformation. Seizures usually occur within the first year of life.
21. Poisonous mushroom ingestion - This can cause vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, lethargy, jaundice (yellow skin color), seizures, coma and excess salivation. It apparently destroys the liver.
My research uncovered many causes of seizures in dogs but also led to many more questions such as what causes the causes? Why do dogs get brain tumors that cause seizures? Why do dogs have abnormal brain tissue that causes epilepsy? Why do dogs get metabolic disorders that cause seizures? Why are dogs born with diseases that cause seizures?
If dogs are given the proper nutrition, exercise and attention and their exposure to environmental toxins is kept at a minimum, they should live long, healthy lives, right? So why do so many dogs have health problems, and why are there so many cases of seizures in dogs?
The only conclusion I can reach is that seizures in dogs and their causes must be caused by something the dog eats or something the dog is exposed to. What's your conclusion?
