Dog Convulsion
Questions and AnswersQ: Odin, my 5 year old collie, had a convulsion a few days ago. I took him to the veterinarian who examined him and he said that everything was normal and then he told me that this could be an isolated epileptic case, however he wants to get a blood test of my dog. What is this test for?
A: Epileptic fits are caused by a momentary brain disorder. The problem is that once the crisis is over, it leaves no trace whatsoever. If the dog has only had one epileptic fit, usually the veterinarian will not prescribe any medication. Blood tests are done to discard any other possible disorders that sometimes cause similar fits. If your dog has another convulsion, make sure to get a blood test on him. Q: My 14 year old German shepherd has been diagnosed with hereditary epilepsy. Tara started her treatment four and a half months ago and everything seemed to be going well, but she has had three attacks in the last two weeks. She's currently in heat and I am not letting her out of the house. Does her being in heat affect anything?
A: It's possible that Tara is having epileptic attacks because of hormonal changes that occur when a female dog is in heat. The veterinarian might need to readjust the amount of medication your dog is taking for a little while. Talk about this concern with your veterinarian. One option you have to get her ovaries removed before she goes back into heat next time in order to avoid the same thing from happening. This will also evade the dog from passing this disorder on to a possible descendant. |
