Epilepsy is the diagnosis given when seizures occur frequently, but it is possible for a pet to have seizures for many reasons during their life. The disease is an indication that a problem exists within the brain. For an epileptic dog, these seizures relate to having an electrical storm inside their brain.

As many as four percent of all dogs may have a seizure experience during their lives and it is really quite common. Certain breeds are even more likely to experience this disease as it has been confirmed as hereditary. Some breeds that are in the higher category are likely to be within the fourteen percent range.

A gene mutation is responsible for the inherited form of epilepsy. A particular research project is run by the Canine Epilepsy Project and funded by grants from breed clubs, various health foundations and private donations. Their goal is in determining the specific gene that is responsible for this disease.

Dogs that inherit this gene tend to begin having seizures between one to three years of age. The disease is unpredictable and seizures may be related to specific events that occur. Many suffer from regular occurrences, but the patterns remain hard to predict.

When there is not a tumor involved to cause the condition, treatment will most likely be medication. Controlling not only the number of seizures, but the intensity of them is very important. Cluster seizures are serious and can even be life-threatening. These frequently result in the dog losing consciousness.

Side effects are present with any medication, but the good must be weighed against the bad and this disease can be damaging. If a dog has more than one seizure for each couple of months, they are a likely candidate for medication. The more seizures that they experience, the more likely they are to have some degree of brain damage.

Phenobarbital is the first choice of medication for most dogs and very few have adverse reactions. There are some problems with long-term use of this particular drug and the damage that it may cause the liver. Liver functions will need to be monitored on a regular basis while the drug is being taken.

Because of liver difficulty, there may be a time when Phenobarbital can no longer be taken and bromide may become a substitute medication as treatment. Veterinarians have approval from the FDA to use it for the treatment of epilepsy and it has been successful for a number of years. It is important to monitor the salt intake of the pet while taking bromide and limit it accordingly.

Just changing their diet can make a big difference in the number of seizures that they are likely to have. Some food preservatives have been known to be responsible for causing seizures in pets. Do a little research on different types of foods and find one that is both low in sodium and free from preservatives to attempt to lower the possibility of seizures. This can be really important for those breeds that are more likely to have the condition.

Unfortunately, the pet will always be required to take medication to prevent seizure from occurring. Remember that it is extremely important to never adjust a dosage without the permission of their veterinarian. Like humans, their systems develop a dependency for these drugs and any change may cause a seizure in an epileptic dog.