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Epilepsy is a non progressive brain disorder that induces recurrent seizures. It is very important to understand that there are numerous disorders that can cause seizures, and in order to make a diagnosis of true epilepsy, many of these other causes must be ruled out.

What is a Seizure?

A seizure is the clinical manifestation of a cerebral disorder that can appear suddenly out of a background of normality, and then disappear with equal abruptness. The term fit is often used colloquially when referring to a seizure.

In humans, an epileptic seizure is a definable event that can be classified according to categories set by the International League Against Epilepsy. A formal classification system specifically for dogs and cats does not exist, but seizures can nevertheless be classified as either partial or generalized episodes.

Partial Seizures

These are seizures in which a localized onset may be determined. They usually have a congenital (present at birth) or an acquired (cancer, encephalitis) cause, and can sometimes evolve into a secondary generalized seizure.

Generalized Seizures

Generalized seizures are the most common type of seizures in dogs and cats. There are several variations of these seizures:

1. Absence seizures (petit mal): sudden brief loss of consciousness, rare in animals

2. Myoclonic seizures: muscle jerk of one or more muscles

3. Clonic seizures: rhythmic muscle contractions

4. Tonic seizures: increase in muscle tone in all skeletal muscles

5. Tonic Clonic seizures (grand mal): the most common form of seizure in pets

Tonic Clonic Seizures

Tonic Clonic (grand mal) seizures account for 60% of seizures in cats and 80% of seizures in dogs. They are usually accompanied by a loss of consciousness, and consist of a tonic phase, where the increased muscle tone causes the animal to fall on its side with its limbs extended, and a clonic phase, consisting of intense muscle jerking or paddling movements.

Causes of Seizures

In order to diagnose true epilepsy, other causes of seizures must be first ruled out. The questions a veterinarian must answer are:

Is the cause inside the brain or outside the brain?

If inside the brain, is the cause progressive (e.g. cancer, infection) or non progressive (epilepsy)?

If outside the brain, does the cause originate inside the body (e.g. low blood glucose, kidney failure, a liver problem) or outside the body (e.g. lead poisoning, organophosphate toxicity)?

Making a Diagnosis

If an animal has a solitary seizure, most veterinarians will advise against expensive and time consuming tests for something that may never happen again. If an animal has more than one seizure though, tests are indicated.

A veterinarian will start by taking a detailed case history, focusing on the description of the animals seizures, their frequency and duration, and the animals behavior between seizures. Ideally the seizure should be videotaped by the owner, and then shown to the veterinarian. It is important to differentiate a proper seizure from other causes of collapse such as an episode of syncope (where the heart misses several beats), narcolepsy or weakness due to another neurological problem (e.g. myasthenia gravis). Features of the description which indicate a seizure are:

1. Tonic (increased muscle tone) and clonic (jerky) muscle movements

2. Loss of consciousness (though not always)

3. Increased salivation

4. Spontaneous urination or defaecation

The veterinarian will then conduct a full clinical examination, followed by a more specific neurological examination. Blood will then be taken for full hematology and biochemistry profiles. A fasting blood glucose is useful to rule out hypoglycaemia, which is a frequent cause of seizures in dogs less than 6 months old and dogs with an insulinoma, an insulin secreting pancreatic tumor. If liver enzymes are raised, a further liver function test (bile acid stimulation) may be done. Blood lead levels should be measured in animals that may have had access to lead containing materials.

Xrays of the chest and abdomen are sometimes performed to check for any other significant disease, and fecal analysis is recommended in puppies with seizures as heavy parasite burdens have been implicated.

If all of the above tests are normal, and no disease outside the brain has been detected, many animals will be diagnosed with epilepsy as further tests are of the expensive variety. If further tests for intracranial (within the brain) disease are to be performed, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis is the first step. CSF is tested for the presence of viral (e.g. Canine Distemper, Rabies), bacterial, fungal (e.g. Cryptococcus) and protozoal (e.g. Toxoplasmosis) infections. Electroencephalography (EEG) is useful for diagnosing malformations present since birth, such as hydrocephalus. Brain tumors are often only able to be diagnosed by advanced imaging techniques such as Computed Tomography (CT) Scanning or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). These must be done under general anesthesia as the animal must be completely motionless during the scan.

Treatment of Epilepsy

Once a tentative diagnosis of epilepsy has been made (by excluding all the other known causes of seizures), the animal can be prescribed anticonvulsant drugs. These drugs are not appropriate for animals with seizures caused by a problem outside the brain. The overall goal of anticonvulsant therapy is to eradicate all seizure activity, but this is rarely achieved. Most pets benefit from anticonvulsant drugs by reducing the frequency, severity and duration of their seizures. A more realistic goal is to reduce the frequency of the seizures to a level that is acceptable for the owner, without having negative side effects for the animal. A minority of animals require such high doses of anticonvulsant drugs to suppress their seizures that the adverse effects caused by it outweigh the benefits.

Since epilepsy is not curable, the owner must be prepared to give the medication for the rest of the animals life. However, if after being on anticonvulsant medication for over a year no seizures have occurred, a cautious slow reduction in dose can be attempted.

The three most commonly used drugs in the treatment of epilepsy in cats and dogs are:

1. Diazepam

Known to many by its trade name Valium, diazepam is used in emergency short term situations to treat animals in status epilepticus, i.e. during a seizure. It is best administered intravenously so that it is delivered to the brain quickly, though finding a vein or placing a catheter in a fitting animal can be a challenge. In those situations, it is sometimes given rectally, where it is fairly rapidly absorbed across the rectal wall. If status epilepticus continues despite the repeated administration of diazepam, phenobarbitone can be given intravenously.

2. Phenobarbitone

Phenobarbitone is the most commonly prescribed anticonvulsant drug for both canine and feline epilepsy, owing to its efficacy and its low cost. Over three quarters of epileptic dogs have their seizures controlled by phenobarbitone alone. Sometimes it can take several weeks for the level of phenobarbitone in the blood stream to reach a high enough level to work properly, so many vets favor using a higher loading dose initially, reducing it for the maintenance phase. However, care must be taken as high doses of phenobarbitone can cause liver damage, and liver enzymes should be periodically checked in animals on long term therapy. Annual blood tests are also advised to check serum concentration levels of the drug, to calibrate the dose effectively. High doses can also cause sedation.

3. Potassium Bromide

A proportion of dogs are resistant to phenobarbitone. In such dogs, the addition of potassium bromide, i.e. a second drug, can be tried. The potassium bromide may also be tried alone as an alternative to phenobarbitone, but generally only after phenobarbitone has been thoroughly investigated at various doses and found to be inadequate. Phenobarbitone is also deemed unsuitable if the dog has liver dysfunction of any kind, in these cases potassium bromide (often referred to simply as bromide as that is the therapeutic part) can be used. Potassium bromide is not used in cats, only diazepam and phenobarbitone are recommended in this species.

Dog grooming is an important aspect when attending to your pet dog’s care. If we do not put enough attention to dog grooming, it is inevitable that our beloved animals will develop many kinds of illness and health conditions.

First step in grooming involves the processes such as regular maintaining of fur, ears and nails.  Coat or fur maintenance primarily involved regular bathing and cleaning, drying and combing. Dog grooming supplies such as shampoos and special dog brushes should be used to properly clean and groom the dog.

There are soft brushes meant to really care for the dog fur. There is even a brush available for a specific type of dog breed. Combing of the dog fur should be done regularly. However, as many dogs shed hair quite easily, you must also be ready to regularly sweep away fallen dog hair.

One of the important dog grooming supplies is the clipper that is especially designed for dog use. When clipping the nails of the dog, it is best to placed it on a higher level for easier control. You have to be a stable position, in front of your dog while having a firm grip on its feet. This ensures safe and hassle free clipping of the nails of your pet.

When it comes to the ear canals of the dog, it has to be checked too on a regular basis. When you need to have them cleaned, you must have some clean and sterile cotton. Cleaning must be done on a slow and gentle manner. Do not go deep enough lest you might unnecessarily inflict harm or damage to the ears. 

For more pet grooming, dog care and other pet and dog articles, do visit our Pinoy Pet Blog site.

Dogs and cats are the most popular pets nowadays, with retail stores charging between one thousand and three thousand dollars at the cash register for pure-bred dogs. There are shelters to adopt dogs and you may not care if the dog is a mix-breed, but in all cases the pets are an investment in cost and time. They must be fed, taken to the vet, given shots, and in the case of dogs, washed or groomed. For this, we human owners get companionship and often some comic relief. There are basic questions involved when deciding on a pet and most of this article will deal with dogs. Cats are known for being low-maintenance pets: they clean themselves, dutifully do their business in the litter box, and they spend 80% of the day sleeping. The real activity in a household centers around the family dog.

Each breed has its own activity level, from the laid-back hound dog to very active breeds like the Jack Russell Terrier or the Pomeranian. Dogs are loyal to their owners, and they expect a fair amount of playtime with the family. They have emotions of their own and the training and psychology of the dog’s role should reflect this. They have temperaments common to the breed, but also may have traits that are individual. Higher mammals develop personalities to aid in survival; they have to establish a presence in the ranking of the food chain.

There are important points to consider when acquiring a dog. What size dog is appropriate for the space do you have? How much exercise can you give the dog? Where will the dog live? How much experience do you have with dogs? What do you plan to do with the dog? Remember that they were bred to fulfill certain roles such as herding, hunting, guarding, or killing rats. If your garden is very important to you, you might not want to get a terrier; almost all of them will dig. Dalmatians, pointers, and retrievers need hours of hard exercise – they were meant to go for miles and miles without tiring and they need to run.

North America’s most popular dog breed is the Golden Retriever. They have a sunny disposition, they love children, and they’re loyal and affectionate. Golden Retrievers are widely used as guide dogs for the blind. They were originally used as a soft-mouthed retriever for wild game hunting. They were developed in the 1800s in Britain, a mix of various sporting breeds – the wavy-coated Retriever, the yellow Tweed Water Spaniel, Irish Setter and the Bloodhound (to sharpen the breed’s scenting skills). The Golden Retriever was recognized as a pure breed by the English Kennel Club in 1913. To accommodate the needs of this treasured family pet, they should be kept in homes with a large yard or a country home with lots of room for outdoor exercise.

Boxers and Bulldogs are next in popularity. They are solid dogs, forty to fifty pounds in weight. Even though they love exercise, they can exist well as apartment pets; they’re extremely loving and playful, as are Chihuahuas, the smallest of breeds, weighing in at two to four pounds fully grown. They don’t require a lot of space and are ideal companions for adults in apartments and families with older children who can appreciate the fragility of the tiny Chihuahua. They come in long and short coat varieties, so they should be clad in sweater and booties when going for walks in cold temperatures.

Number five in popularity is the Maltese, one of the first of the purebreds to be exhibited at dog shows in North America. The Maltese dog is affectionate, intelligent and sturdy, and loves to romp and play – especially with children. This tiny breed measures up to 10 inches at the shoulder and they weigh up to seven pounds maximum. The Maltese dog has a gorgeous, long, pure-white, silky coat that hangs straight to the ground from a center part running from nose to tip of tail. Its expressive dark eyes and dark nose, lips and eye rims enhance the Maltese dog’s exquisite face. Grooming requirements for the Maltese are fairly intensive – the coat needs daily brushing to stay tangle-free and frequent bathing to keep it sparkling white, even if you choose to give it a shorter ‘pet’ trim. The Maltese dog is a great choice for elderly or disabled people, since its exercise needs are minimal. A similar situation exists in the Shih Tzu breed, good for city-dwellers – loving and playful. They also need frequents brushing.

One breed you don’t want in an apartment is the Labrador Retriever, the seventh most popular pet dog breed. They love the outdoors, especially the water…if you throw something in a pond or lake, they’ll gladly jump in and fetch it. If you leave the door open when you’re in the bath you may end up with a large bathing partner. They’re easy to train and have a high energy level, so they’re best for suburban or country homes.

Next is the Pug, a playful, mischievous, and intelligent companion who loves attention. Dogs are social animals, so you’ll find that all of them crave attention and play. The pug is a favorite breed of royalty since the sixteenth century. They were at first considered a breed from Holland but many breeds like Pugs, Chihuahuas, and Shih Tzus are now thought to originate in China. Pugs are great for apartments, as their exercise needs are minimal. They do tend to get overweight, so a controlled diet is a good idea.

The Pomeranian is the next most popular dog breed. They make good apartment dogs, and you couldn’t have a better watchdog. They have intense curiosity and keen senses; they’ll be glad to warn the owner of any noise near or far by going on alert and barking incessantly. They seek approval and attention and with their high metabolisms they can pack away the food without gaining an ounce.

Number ten in popularity is the Yorkshire Terrier, or “Yorkie”. It’s small, highly energetic, and clever. The Yorkie seems unaware of its small size – they are brave and eager for adventure, and can be aggressive towards strange dogs and small animals. The human must establish pack leadership to keep the Yorkie from taking over the house because the dog can become yappy, doing his best to tell you what HE wants YOU to do. As a cute dog, owners might let them get away with outrageous behavior that no dog should display. They need a lot of human attention and should be given proper boundaries. They are trainable, but can be difficult to housebreak. The Yorkie is an excellent watchdog. Owners should learn to give them some gentle leadership.

Domestic dogs are universally good-natured unless humans cause them to act in another fashion, and they want and deserve love. When looking for a family pet, research the different types of dogs so that when you meet the dog in person, you’ll have a better idea of some general traits that will match your family’s situation and needs. It’s fair to everybody involved, especially the pet who is dependant on you as a loving owner.

There once was a man who wanted to make money utilizing his pet dog. So what did he do? He took all of his dog’s expenses and deducted them on his taxes, dog food, leashes, dog food bowls, veterinary bills, etc. His rationale was that his dog acted as a watchdog for his home and was therefore a security system, an allowed deduction by the IRS.

Was his deduction legal? I have no idea, I’m not an accountant. But I can certainly sympathize with the man. Pets, dogs especially, can be an expensive endeavor. In any given year you will spend on your dog hundreds of dollars on veterinary bills and medical treatments, hundreds or thousands more on dog food, and then you’ve got equipment, leashes, collars, and such. Your annual dog maintenance bill could easily reach into the thousands. What if you could take your love of dogs and turn it into a money making venture? Thousands have and are much better off for having done it.

There are several traditional ways to turn your dog-loving self into a pet entrepreneur. Thousands have gone into the dog training industry. These professionals spend thousands of dollars and years learning their craft. Dog training can be a tough and competitive industry, but very rewarding for those who are successful.

Thousands more have turned their love of dogs into a career as a dog groomer. This is another dog career that requires extensive training and ongoing learning. Commissions can be high, though, given enough clientele.

Within the last decade there have been an increasing number of pet professionals in the pet sitting/dog walking industry. This can be a fun dog-job for a pet lover. This job provides variety and a good living.

None of these pet careers compares, however, to a burgeoning new industry for people who wish to make a care working with dogs. Direct sales has typically been a career dominated by products marketed to people. Only in recent years has this business model been adopted to cater to pet products.

The pet food industry is a multi-billion dollar industry. Pet owners for years have purchased their pet food at grocery store or big box pet outlets. The pet foods purchased are typically full of fillers, preservatives, rotting animal carcasses not fit for human consumption, covered in throw-away grease purchased from restaurants, and completely lacking in nutrition.

A few pioneering companies are fighting this trend. These companies are creating quality dog and cat foods without these damaging by-products, and are selling them in a way never before attempted in the pet industry; direct sales and network marketing.

These new pet food representatives are finding an opportunity to not only provide superior pet foods and supplements but to line their wallets in the process. A successful pet food representative can quickly build a network of consumers who find that their pets are healthier and happier due to quality food, but are also saving money on vet bills, allergy treatments, and smaller portions. Representatives are able to harness the power of the internet, word-of-mouth, print advertising, etc. to build their business effectively. Representatives work part time, full time, and around their own schedules.

Do you love dogs? Do you want to have a career working with dogs and other pets? Consider becoming a pet food representative.