Why did my puppy get seizures?

[SheltieChe]

As much as we know about seizures many of them do happen "just because"
there could be anatomical abnormalities, ingestion of toxin, viral or bacterial, epilepsy as idiopathic /means no known cause/ disease, brain tumor, liver shunt, thyroid problem... It is electrical storm in the brain.
Humans often start showing them as teens, probably equivalent to young doggy age.
Some breeder lines have inherited predisposition to seizures. There is no known method to diagnose epilepsy until it happens.
To the OP -there might have been nothing you did or did not do to cause or prevent seizure in your pup. My thoughts and best wishes for your pup.

 

[corbinam]

I'm also sending good thoughts your way. Hope you get some answers and are all able to prevent the seizures from returning.

 

[Justicemom]

As much as we know about seizures many of them do happen "just because"
there could be anatomical abnormalities, ingestion of toxin, viral or bacterial, epilepsy as idiopathic /means no known cause/ disease, brain tumor, liver shunt, thyroid problem... It is electrical storm in the brain.
Humans often start showing them as teens, probably equivalent to young doggy age.
Some breeder lines have inherited predisposition to seizures. There is no known method to diagnose epilepsy until it happens.
To the OP -there might have been nothing you did or did not do to cause or prevent seizure in your pup. My thoughts and best wishes for your pup.

Pretty much sums it up. Idiopathic epilepsy or possiblity genetic is fairly common is dogs. Alot of times, the cause can not be pin pointed even with an extensive workup of history review, bloodwork, CSF tap and CT scans. Now cats, there is almost always a know cause-viruses and toxins being the big ones.

There are some thoughts that light/shadow chasing, fly biting and such OCD behaviors are a form of focal seizures in dogs. Not a cause but a syptom. Focal seizures being seizures in only one part of the brain such as the visual cortex in these cases. Sometimes those dogs go on to develope grand mal seizures(the full blown shaking type).

You said she was a light chaser. When did that behavior start and have you seen improvement with the phenobarb? If you can pin point the beginning of the shadow/light chasing behavior did anything occur around that time?

Sending good thoughts for your little girl. Take heart. My brother has had 2 Labs with epilepsy and one lived to be 16yrs old and the other is currently 10.5 yrs. The 2nd is genetic as there where 2 littermates with seizures as well. The 1st, I don't believe the cause was ever found. Both very healthy other than the seizures which were very well controlled by phenobarb.

 

[Bellesmom]

Pretty much sums it up. Idiopathic epilepsy or possiblity genetic is fairly common is dogs. Alot of times, the cause can not be pin pointed even with an extensive workup of history review, bloodwork, CSF tap and CT scans. Now cats, there is almost always a know cause-viruses and toxins being the big ones.

There are some thoughts that light/shadow chasing, fly biting and such OCD behaviors are a form of focal seizures in dogs. Not a cause but a syptom. Focal seizures being seizures in only one part of the brain such as the visual cortex in these cases. Sometimes those dogs go on to develope grand mal seizures(the full blown shaking type).

You said she was a light chaser. When did that behavior start and have you seen improvement with the phenobarb? If you can pin point the beginning of the shadow/light chasing behavior did anything occur around that time?

Sending good thoughts for your little girl. Take heart. My brother has had 2 Labs with epilepsy and one lived to be 16yrs old and the other is currently 10.5 yrs. The 2nd is genetic as there where 2 littermates with seizures as well. The 1st, I don't believe the cause was ever found. Both very healthy other than the seizures which were very well controlled by phenobarb.

wow, this is scaring me now.. our last little dog died from complications of idiopathic epilepsy in July, 2010.. regarding the shadow chasing, when I took Belle for a walk a month or so ago, she saw a shadow reflection of herself on a cement wall on the street where we walk, and she was very interested in it, I just thought that she assumed it was another Sheltie.. should I be concerned? I will be extremely upset if she develops seizures like our Jamie did. It was awful.

 

[take4roll10]

wow, this is scaring me now.. our last little dog died from complications of idiopathic epilepsy in July, 2010.. regarding the shadow chasing, when I took Belle for a walk a month or so ago, she saw a shadow reflection of herself on a cement wall on the street where we walk, and she was very interested in it, I just thought that she assumed it was another Sheltie.. should I be concerned? I will be extremely upset if she develops seizures like our Jamie did. It was awful.

I had to read Dr. Shelli's response two times to make sure I got it right. I think she is saying that shadow chasing is a symptom of seizures. Shadow chasing does not cause symptoms. So, I think Belle will be just fine.

Bailey doesn't chase shadows, but she chases reflections caused by watches or anything metal. She does this because I made the mistake of playing with a laser pen with her. So, hopefully I read correctly what Dr. Shelli wrote.

 

[Bellesmom]

I sure hope that you are right about it being a symptom and not a cause.. I have nothing else to make me think that she might be seizure prone.. but then there was nothing about our Jamie that would make us think he was seizure prone either when he got his first grand mal seizure.. except that he was grumpy, very grumpy.. didn't like being touched. whereas Belle loves to be patted and groomed.

 

[Justicemom]

wow, this is scaring me now.. our last little dog died from complications of idiopathic epilepsy in July, 2010.. regarding the shadow chasing, when I took Belle for a walk a month or so ago, she saw a shadow reflection of herself on a cement wall on the street where we walk, and she was very interested in it, I just thought that she assumed it was another Sheltie.. should I be concerned? I will be extremely upset if she develops seizures like our Jamie did. It was awful.

Most likey nothing to be worried about. Some of being drawn to shadows and light is normal dog behavior. Part of natural curiosity. The problem is when it becomes abnormal or excessive.

I would just not encourage the behaviors and do not play with flashlights or laser pointers. As we do know that these behaviors can be learned as stress relievers or to displace aniexty.

The dogs I have seen with focal seizures ODC like behaviors were very detached when they are practicing the behaviors. Almost like they are zoned out into their own little world. You can not physical distract them from it and they are not responsive to their name or commands.

 

[Justicemom]

I had to read Dr. Shelli's response two times to make sure I got it right. I think she is saying that shadow chasing is a symptom of seizures. Shadow chasing does not cause symptoms. So, I think Belle will be just fine.

Bailey doesn't chase shadows, but she chases reflections caused by watches or anything metal. She does this because I made the mistake of playing with a laser pen with her. So, hopefully I read correctly what Dr. Shelli wrote.

yes you got it right.

 

[Bellesmom]

Most likey nothing to be worried about. Some of being drawn to shadows and light is normal dog behavior. Part of natural curiosity. The problem is when it becomes abnormal or excessive.

I would just not encourage the behaviors and do not play with flashlights or laser pointers. As we do know that these behaviors can be learned as stress relievers or to displace aniexty.

The dogs I have seen with focal seizures ODC like behaviors were very detached when they are practicing the behaviors. Almost like they are zoned out into their own little world. You can not physical distract them from it and they are not responsive to their name or commands.

thank you for easing my mind..

Belle's breeder told me that she never breeds until the female is 2 years old and has been seizure free.. so hopefully Belle will remain seizure free.. although I have read that if a dog has a hernia there might be other problems as well..

 

[jeds friend]

seizures

My shelties have never had seizures, but if they see a reflection of themselves in a mirror they will bark at it madly.

I had a near death cerebral bleed several years ago and so I am very at risk for seizures.
I was told, by doctor, to avoid alcohol and to avoid any medicines, either prescribed or not... as much as possible, and I follow this advice religiously, and it seems to keep me seizure free, although I am not a K9!