There are many medical problems we see in the animal world that are the same as human conditions. Epilepsy is certainly one of them. It’s usually caused by an abnormal chain reaction of nerve cells firing in the brain, they in turn trigger the physical manifestations of seizures. Sometimes this is caused by an obvious injury or damage to the brain, but other times it develops with no underlying cause and this is the traditional form of epilepsy that we associate with fits and convulsions.

It can be particularly distressing to see a pet dog or cat having seizures. They are dramatic events with the pet often collapsing to the floor, sometimes hyper-salivating, limbs paddling, and toileting themselves. In many ways though, it is more distressing for us as pet owners as we worry about what our pet is feeling during a seizure. Are they in pain? Is it distressing for them? What we know however, from the human world, is that during the convulsion phase of the seizure the animal is unconscious and completely unaware they are even having a fit. Some times there can be a pre-seizure phase where an animal may be slightly disorientated and it is quite common for a period of disorientation after a fit. Some animals can appear temporarily blind and quite confused but will eventually return to normality and usually show no signs of ill effect from the seizure.

Some breeds more prone than others
In the UK, dog breeds which are most prone to epilepsy include Border Terriers, German Shepherds, Golden and Labrador Retrievers and Border Collies, with male dogs more prone than female. It’s a rarer condition in cats generally and pedigree cats seem to be more prone than domestic moggies. True epilepsy is more likely in young animals, with seizures in older animals more likely to be triggered by damage or a lesion in the brain.

There is no blood test for epilepsy, we can only really diagnose it but ruling out other causes of seizures. This will usually be done by performing blood tests and sometimes even brain scans like MRIs. Ultimately if no underlying medical problem can be identified it is assumed that the seizures are likely to be caused by idiopathic epilepsy.

Treatment for epilepsy can be extremely effective at stopping or greatly reducing the frequency of seizures. Lifelong medication is likely to be required if a pet is having frequent fits. There’s an array of different medications used to control epilepsy, and some pets with severe fits may need several different types. Newer medications are now available that are safer and easier to use.

Most seizures only last a few minutes and the general advice is not to panic or interfere – as long as they can't hurt themselves – as they may accidentally bite or scratch if they are disorientated. Seizures lasting more than a few minutes can be harmful so immediate veterinary help is required. Epilepsy is a distressing condition but very treatable and pets can live with it for many years.