Does Your Mastiff Have Epilepsy? 3 Things You Need To Know About Your Dog's Seizures
Mastiffs are huge dogs with huge hearts. Unfortunately, like other large dog breeds, Mastiffs are prone to developing a wide range of health problems, including epilepsy. If your Mastiff suffers from epilepsy, you're likely worried about your dog's health condition and want to know more. Here are three things you need to know about your dog's seizures.
1. Different Types of Seizures Occur
Not all canine seizures are the same. Some are fairly harmless, while others can be deadly. If your Mastiff has epilepsy, it's important for you to know the different types of seizures.
Mild seizures involve either one body part or one section of a dog's body. Some of these seizures are more noticeable than others. For instance, you may see one or two of your Mastiff's legs twitching repeatedly, which is easy to spot. But other mild seizures aren't as easily noticed. For instance, your dog may make chewing motions while not actually chewing anything. Mild seizures are harmless, but they can lead to biting and other bad behaviors.
Grand mal seizures are more severe. A dog's entire body is affected by grand mal seizures. These types of seizures are the most noticeable. When a grand mal seizure occurs, a dog falls to its side and begins shaking uncontrollably. In this state, dogs lose consciousness and become completely unaware of what's happening.
Short grand mal seizures are rarely fatal, and they typically just result in unwanted behaviors, such as defecating and urinating in less than ideal places. Occasionally, grand mal seizures can become dangerous if they last hours at a time. In these cases, emergency medical assistance is essential.
2. Excitement Increases Seizures
Canine seizures frequently occur when a dog is excited. Therefore, it's important to maintain a relaxing environment when your Mastiff suffers from epilepsy.
It's also important to remain calm when your dog has a seizure. Don't try to physically stop the seizure. Just make sure there are no dangerous objects near your Mastiff to prevent accidental harm, and teach children not to go near the dog when it's having seizures.
3. Medications Reduce Seizures
There is no cure for canine epilepsy; however, there are medications that reduce the frequency and severity of seizures. These medications are administered orally, and care needs to be taken to ensure no doses are missed.
If your Mastiff suffers from frequent seizures, improve your dog's quality of life by scheduling an appointment to see a veterinarian at an animal clinic like the Berlin Township Animal Hospital.
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