Epilepsy is a widespread disease of the central nervous system in dogs. It involves a disruption of the nerve cells, to which the cerebrum reacts with an epileptic seizure. The dog either only notices this in certain parts of the body, for example, individual limbs or muscles twitch (focal epilepsy), or it affects the entire body (generalized seizures). In the latter case, epilepsy in dogs often manifests itself over several minutes or even hours. The animal becomes more restless, drools, stays with its owner or barks more often. In the second stage, the skeletal muscles stiffen, causing the dog to fall over with its legs outstretched, twitch convulsively or perform paddling movements in the air.
An epileptic seizure in a dog usually ends after two minutes. Fortunately, subsequent damage is rare in the case of individual seizures. However, if the seizure lasts longer than five minutes or if several seizures occur within a few days, you should go to an intensive care unit immediately.
After an incident, be patient with your four-legged friend. The seizures put strain on muscles that might otherwise be neglected. This is why the animals are often exhausted or even dazed afterwards. This can also lead to "minor" neurological problems, such as disorientation or visual disturbances.
The treatment of epilepsy in dogs usually involves medication that you can mix into your animal's BARF diet. It can take a long time to find the right dosage that can actually control or reduce the epileptic seizures. Unfortunately, many dogs are resistant to the treatment. This is particularly often the case with Border Collies and Australian Shepherds.
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