epilepsy in animals especially canine and feline

1. Epilepsy in animals

2. Epilepsy in animals
• Epilepsy in animals is a group of neurological disorders
characterized by seizures, caused by abnormal bursts of
electrical activity in the brain. They can start and stop
very abruptly and last any amount of time from a few
seconds to a few minutes.
• Canine epilepsy is often genetic but epilepsy in cats and
other pets is rarer, likely because there is no hereditary
component to epilepsy in these animals.

3. Characteristics
• Epilepsy is most commonly recognized by involuntary
movements of the head and limbs.
• Other characteristics include salivation, lack of bodily
functions and anxiety. Animals often lose consciousness
and are not aware of their surroundings.

4. Dogs
• An inherited condition.
• The incidence 0.5% - 5.7%.
• In certain breeds, such as the Belgian Shepherd, the
incidence may be much higher.

5. Types Of Epilepsy in dogs
• There are three types of epilepsy in dogs:
1) Reactive
2) secondary
3) primary

6. TYPES:
• Reactive epileptic seizures are caused by metabolic
issues, such as low blood sugar or kidney or liver
failure.
• Epilepsy attributed to brain tumor, stroke or other
trauma is known as secondary or symptomatic
epilepsy.

7. Primary or idiopathic epilepsy
• There is no known cause.
• It is only diagnosed by eliminating other possible
causes for the seizures.
• Dogs experience their first seizure between the ages
of one and three.

8. Diagnosis in dogs
• history of seizers
• a physical and neurological exam
• a complete blood count
• serum chemistry profile
• urinalysis
• bile tests
• thyroid function tests.

9. Diagnosis in dogs
• These tests verify seizures and may determine cause for
reactive or secondary epilepsy.
• Veterinarians suggest owners keep a "seizure log"
documenting the timing, length, severity, and recovery of
each seizure, as well as dietary or environmental
changes.

10. Treatment in dogs
Antiepileptic drugs are:
• Oral phenobarbital, in particular, and imepitoin
sold under the brand name Pexion.
• Other anti-epileptics such as zonisamide,
primidone, gabapentin, pregabalin, sodium
valproate and felbamate may also be effective
and used in various combinations.
Successful management.

11. Treatment in dogs
• A bottle of potassium bromide oral solution 250mg/ml
used in dogs, primarily as an antiepileptic (to stop
seizures).

12. Cats
• Seizures in cats may be reactive, primary (idiopathic) or
secondary seizures.
• Idiopathic seizures are not as common in cats as in dogs
however a recent study conducted showed that of 91
feline seizures, 25% were suspected to have had
idiopathic epilepsy.
• In the same group of 91 cats, 50% were secondary
seizures and 20% reactive

13. Classifications
• Idiopathic epilepsy does not have a classification due to
the fact there are no known causes of these seizures.
• Further Classifications based on that diseases in which
epilepsy/seizures is present.

14. Classifications in cats
1) Cancer
• Meningioma
• lymphomas
• glial cell brain tumors
2) Vascular disease
• feline ischemic encephalopathy,
• polycythemia

15. Classifications in cats
3) Inflammatory/infectious
• feline infectious peritonitis,
• Toxoplasmosis
• Cryptococcus.
4) Reactive seizure disorders
• hepatic encephalopathy
• renal encephalopathy
• hypoglycemia and hypothyroidism.

16. Diagnosis in cats
History of seizures
1) perform a physical exam of your cat.
2) blood tests
3) serum chemistry profile

17. Treatment in cats
• Treatment options are limited.
• Phenobarbital is the most commonly prescribed
medication.
• Phenobarbital is an anticonvulsant that works as
decreasing neural excitability and increasing the activity
of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA.

18. Treatment in cats
• Diazepam :
Diazepam is given directly after a seizure in order
to decrease the likelihood of a cluster of seizures.
• The risk of side effects from using potassium bromide is
higher.

19. Treatment in cats
• Levetiracetam (Keppra) has been used in cats.
• Medications such as zonisamide, felbamate,
pregabalin, and gabapentin have not been well-
studied in cats.

20. Handling seizures
• Remain calm and not leave the animal alone.
• During seizure, animal must lying down on the
floor away from any water, stairs or other
animals.
• Do not try to grab their tongue or clear their
mouth.
• Take notes of seizures.

21. PREVENTION
• You should avoid touching your pet .
• Any stimulation such as touch, sound, or even
smell, stimulates the brain and can prolong the
seizure.
• Place cushions around your pet to protect her
during a seizure.
• Consider keeping an epileptic pet indoors