Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
A Review: Emergency Management of Dogs With Suspected Epileptic Seizures.
- Journal:
- Topics in companion animal medicine
- Year:
- 2018
- Authors:
- Meland, Tessa & Carrera-Justiz, Sheila
- Affiliation:
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences · United States
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
This article talks about how veterinarians should handle dogs that are suspected to have seizures, which can be very distressing for pet owners. The most common cause of seizures in dogs is idiopathic epilepsy, meaning the exact reason is unknown. It's important for vets to know the different types of seizures, how to gather detailed information from pet owners, and when to start treatment with medications to help control the seizures. The article emphasizes the need for clear communication with pet owners about what to expect. However, it doesn't go into detail about other possible causes of seizures or long-term treatment plans.
Abstract
Dogs with seizure disorders are commonly presented to the general practitioner for initial evaluation. The most common diagnosis provided is idiopathic epilepsy. As witnessing seizures is often traumatic for owners, it is important for the practitioner to understand seizure classification, know when to initiate antiepileptic drug therapy and be comfortable with client education regarding seizures. This review briefly discusses the most up-to-date classification of seizures, the necessity to obtain accurate histories and complete examinations, base-line diagnostics to perform, the importance of owner education, and when to start medications. This is not intended to discuss detailed differential lists, in-depth information on antiepileptic drug therapy, long-term management of epileptics or those refractory to their current treatment.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29793724/