Seizures In Dogs: The 5 Most Important Natural Remedies

If your dog has epilepsy, then you really should be looking at some of the alternative remedies for treating seizures. Conventional treatment typically consists of 2 veterinary drugs, Phenobarbital and Potassium bromide, which both have numerous side effects. This article will cover the types of seizures in dogs, causes, and the most important natural remedies.

A seizure is defined as abnormal muscle activity, as a result of uncontrolled messages from the brain. There is a sudden, brief change in how your dog's brain is working. When the brain cells are not working properly, your dog has the physical changes called a seizure.

Dog seizures are classified as either grand mal seizures, or localized. Grand mal seizures affect your dog's entire body. Generally the legs are extended and paddling and the head is rigid and extended. They may go through cycles of being stiff then relaxed. Some dogs may lose bowel/bladder control, and if the seizure occurs at night, this is all you may see in the morning. Localized seizures affect only certain areas of your dog's body. Typically you may see their head shake or their jaw chatter.

In the majority of cases the cause of the seizure is unknown, and it is then called epilepsy. Some of the other possible causes include: cancer (i.e. brain tumor), infections, brain trauma, poisoning, low blood sugar, hypothyroidism. Your veterinarian can discuss a variety of diagnostic tests such as blood work, x-rays, CT scan, MRI, Spinal fluid tap.

The age at which the seizure starts will give you a fairly good idea as to the underlying cause. For pets less than 1 year old, most are caused by brain infections (i.e. meningitis); some dogs though will develop epilepsy as puppies. For pets between the ages of 1-5, the most common diagnosis and seizure cause is epilepsy. If your pet has his first seizure over the age of 5, the most common cause is a brain tumor.

There are reports that show a link between diet and seizures in dogs. One human study showed a marked reduction in seizure activity with patients on the Atkins diet. Every seizuring pet should at least try a commercial hypoallergenic diet for 12 weeks. Most alternative practitioners are strongly advising a holistic diet, naturally preserved, free of grains, and primarily animal protein.

There is one acupressure point that can be particularly helpful. GV26 is the most important one, as it can help stop a seizure. It is where the nose meets the upper lip (immediately below the nostrils). This is a key one for CPR, as it can trigger your pet to breathe, and for seizures. Hold the point for 1 minute during a seizure.

Essential Fatty Acids may potentially decrease brain inflammation. Here you want to have high doses and therapeutic levels of the EFA's; the dose being 1000mg per 10lbs of body weight daily. That equates to 1 tablespoon of flax oil per 50lbs daily.

There are 2 homeopathic remedies that have been reported to be helpful by some holistic practitioners. Belladona can be given twice daily in addition to the conventional medication; the dose being one 30C tab per 30lbs twice daily. Aconite is useful for sudden conditions ( such as during a seizure), dosing it at one 30C tab per 30lbs every 15 minutes.

Choline is used for certain human nerve disorders; it helps make a nerve chemical called acetylcholine. A specific choline product that can help seizures in dogs is called Cholidin. It can be given with conventional medication, at a dose of 1-2 pills daily for a small dog, and 2-4 pills given daily for a large dog.

You should now have a good understanding of seizures in dogs, and the classification of grand mal or localized. Most causes of seizures are unknown; they are then called epilepsy. If you have a seizuring dog, I encourage you to try some of the holistic options in conjunction with your veterinarian. You may be able to decrease the frequency of the seizures, or lower the amount of conventional medication.

Dr Andrew Jones is the author of a Free Ebook, Dog Health Secrets, which gives you over 100 safe, natural and effective at home remedies to solve your dog's health problems quickly and easily at home. He reveals what Vaccines to AVOID and what to give, The BEST food to feed, plus HOW to save money on veterinary fees. Your FREE DOG HEALTH SECRETS BOOK is at http://www.theonlinevet.com/

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Descriptions About Seizures In Dogs

We are very familiar with this type of problem being associated with epilepsy however, there are many different reasons it may appear in a pet. Some of the causes are genetic, while others can be caused from head injuries, brain tumors, and even particular diseases such as Lyme and canine distemper. Not only are there several ways to develop the problem, but there are also several types of seizures in dogs.

The first type can present in both mild and more severe forms (Grand Mal) is classified as Generalized. This Generalized seizure type can also be divided into two separate phases called the Tonic and Clonic, which are likely to cause a pet to mimic the behavior of running in place and lose their balance. Petit Mal is the second type, but is rarely seen in canines, and it can result in periods of unconsciousness with the eyes rolling in an upward motion.

Classification type three is called the Partial and may progress into a Generalized type in some cases. With the Partial, it is likely that a particular body part is affected, like a limb. The jerking repetitive movements can be noticed in a particular area on the pet on one or more occurrence.

The Complex Partial is classification type four and can be determined by a series of behaviors which are much more complex. It causes the animal to experience visual events, sensory events or both, and to repeatedly perform an action. A pet may uncontrollably bite a particular limb, lick their lips, or even bolt in a particular direction for no apparent reason.

Classification number five is a type known as Status Epilepticus which must last at least five minutes and may continue up to thirty minutes. This type can certainly be life-threatening, and it presents some challenges when trying to record the number of actual seizures during the entire episode. Cluster Seizures which are type classification six and Status Epilepticus are very difficult to distinguish from one another.

Not only are there different types, but there are also different phases associated with this problem. There are generally three phases that each pet will go through during an episode. These phases include the Pre-Ictal, Ictal, and Post-Ictal Phases.

In a Pre-Ictal phase, the pet can be found to be experiencing feelings of uneasiness and often whining for a period of a few minutes to a few hours. When this phase has progressed into the Ictal Phase, the seizure should have already started and spastic motions of some of the muscles should be visible. In most cases, the pet will have fallen down unable to maintain their balance at this point.

If the duration of this stage is longer than five minutes, it is then categorized as Status Epilepticus as discussed earlier. It becomes very likely for many pets to lose control of bodily functions during this time. During the Post-Ictal phase, a pet is likely to be very disoriented, confused, and may experience a loss of sight for a brief time.

The best thing to do for your pet in the event that they experience any type of this problem is to refrain from restraining them in any way. Also, do not attempt to stick anything in their mouth to hold their tongue in a particular position. Trying to remain calm and keeping the area around your pet clear is the best thing to do when dealing with seizures in dogs.

I have more information about canine epilepsy at my Website. You may also be interested in reading my article on dog seizure symptoms.

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