Your pet gazes into space, wobbles, and maybe even falls over. Is it a seizure? A stroke? Or something else? Dr. Rose Peters, a veterinary neurologist at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital, explains the difference between seizures and conditions that present with similar signs and advises owners on what to do if this happens.
Is It a Vestibular Episode?
A vestibular episode is a common condition, but it can be scary for pet owners because it can appear that the pet is having a stroke or seizure. The hallmark of a vestibular episode might be a strange head and neck posture called a “head tilt.”
Vestibular episodes have a range of root causes but often arise from problems with an animal’s inner and middle ear, which regulates the sense of balance, or from inside the vestibular areas of the brain. Anything that damages these regions can throw off the animal’s equilibrium and cause symptoms. This can include a wide variety of diseases from infections and autoimmune diseases to trauma, strokes, and tumors.
Imagine if you were permanently stuck in a boat with motion sickness. That is how a pet with vestibular disease may feel. The pet may exhibit nausea, loss of balance, disorientation, a head tilt, strange rolling eye movements, and sometimes might paddle or wave its legs in trying right itself.
You might be alarmed if your pet falls over unexpectedly, but luckily your veterinarian may offer solutions for vestibular episodes depending on the underlying disease. For example, if an ear infection is causing the problem, treating with antibiotics often does the trick.
What about Seizures?
Plenty of other conditions can cause pets to fall over or otherwise act strangely, however, and one of them is seizures. Seizures originate from problems in the brain. While vestibular episodes can come from the inner ear, brainstem, cerebellum, or thalamus, we see seizures coming from the cerebrum, a separate part of the brain from the conventional vestibular system. Therefore, the way that seizures manifest can also be different than what we see in vestibular episodes.
If you own a breed prone to seizures—collies, retrievers, poodles, and more—or if you simply want to recognize a potential health concern in your pet, read on for information from Dr. Peters about seizures in pets.
A grand mal seizure, in which the body and legs thrash about, may come to mind when you think of seizures, but many kinds of seizures occur. Your pet may display a range of more subtle symptoms and behaviors you don’t immediately associate with a seizure.
“Face twitching, ‘zoning out’ or being nonresponsive, or a wobbly gait can indicate a seizure episode,” says Dr. Peters. “Some behaviors like ‘Biting at flies,’ or snapping at empty air, can represent seizures, but these can also be manifestations of other problems like OCD or problems in the mouth or gastrointestinal system.” Hallmark features of seizures can be short limited episodes (lasting less than 5 minutes), altered mental state during the episodes, changes in normal behavior for several minutes after the episode (like acting restless or clingy or confused), and episodes that occur more often at rest when relaxed.
Document the Episode
Dr. Peters emphasizes that seizures look different in every patient. If you think your pet is acting strangely in any way, one of the best things you can do is to record a video. If possible, take note of the pet’s pupil size, gum color, and breathing pattern. Because there are so many conditions that may manifest in strange behavior, writing down the duration and context of the episode—what the pet was doing immediately before the episode—provides highly valuable information for clinicians. Your observations can help your veterinarian narrow down the list of diseases that can cause the strange episodes.
“If your pet has multiple back-to-back episodes, a prolonged episode of over five minutes in duration, appears to be in distress, doesn’t return to “normal” shortly after the episode, or you are worried in any way about what you are seeing, then taking a trip to the ER is the best course of action,” advises Dr. Peters. “Seizures usually last a few seconds to a minute.”
Living with a Pet that Has Recurring Seizures
Seizures in a young adult animal that are not related to an identifiable underlying disease are known as idiopathic seizures. If your veterinarian diagnoses your pet with idiopathic seizures, the condition is managed with daily medication administration.
“Sticking to your veterinarian’s plan and not skipping medication doses is crucial, even if your pet is seizure-free for an extended period,” cautions Dr. Peters. “This means the medication is working!”
She also encourages owners of these pets to consider their own quality of life as well as that of their pet.
“Seizures can be highly anxiety-inducing for us humans. Installing cameras at home and hiring reliable pet sitters are ways to keep an eye on your pets while still allowing yourself to get out of the house and live life,” she says.
After all, avoiding caretaker burnout allows you to continue providing a safe and happy home for both you and your pet.
Idiopathic seizures are quite common in domestic species. Knowing what to watch for and how to manage seizures takes much of the fear out of the condition.
As always, talk to your pet’s veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns.
By Jenna Camargo
