Do not easily approach the dog when it has an epileptic seizure

The twitching of the dog is a phenomenon that deserves our attention. Besides calcium deficiency, twitching is mostly caused by diseases. The worst cause is distemper. If the dog has distemper and has reached the stage of twitching, the chance of cure is very slim. Of course, besides distemper, epilepsy is also one of the causes of twitching in dogs, and this disease requires a long period of medication to control.

Dogs with epilepsy mostly take phenobarbital + anticonvulsant drugs. Since these are prescription drugs, they are not easy to buy without a legitimate source. The dosage needs to be given according to medical advice because medications should not be taken randomly.

In addition, dogs with epilepsy must be supplemented with calcium because calcium is very important for stabilizing the nerves. It is also said that one side effect of phenobarbital is causing calcium deficiency. We can also supplement compound vitamin B to nourish the nerves. Besides medication, we can also record the dog’s seizure times, duration, seizure movements, food intake that day, climate conditions, whether the dog was particularly excited or scared, or any possible stimuli, including special behaviors of other dogs, as well as medication status, dosage, frequency, and other related information.

When the dog has a seizure, the owner should not panic but stay beside it, help it maintain balance. If it can stand, do not force it to lie down. Stroke it and speak to it gently and calmly. Your panic will make it more nervous. Epilepsy medication is not an emergency treatment; it only works when it reaches a certain concentration in the blood. Therefore, giving a large amount of medicine when they have a seizure is not good and excessive dosages can cause poisoning or death. You should ask the vet clearly about the maximum dosage for your dog.

Dogs with epilepsy need calcium supplements regularly

If the dog’s condition is severe, it should be sent immediately to a hospital for brain decompression. You should first understand which hospitals have this capability and operate 24 hours. Otherwise, it’s easy to miss the treatment opportunity. For dogs whose seizures are closely related to their heat cycles, they should be neutered; but neutering can only be done after they have gone more than two months seizure-free, because there is an anesthesia risk for epileptic dogs. If seizures cannot be controlled for over two months, it is probably best to avoid contact with the opposite sex to prevent emotional fluctuations.

If you find your dog’s seizures occur mostly in the morning, then the evening medication dosage should be higher than the morning dose, and vice versa. Some severely ill dogs may bite themselves during seizures; you should prepare something soft to protect their teeth. It’s best not to use your hands when restraining a large dog. For severely affected dogs, do not encourage them to climb high places. If unavoidable, cover the area around the high place with mats so they can be cushioned if they fall.

Most dogs show some signs before seizures, for example some may become very clingy or like to fight with another dog before a seizure.

Finally, for dogs with epilepsy, try to arrange a reasonable diet to ensure nutritional food, normally feeding dog kibble. Avoid feeding miscellaneous things, keep their mood relaxed and happy, and try to avoid boarding wherever possible.