Indian River Animal Hospital

July News

 

 

 

 

     We made it back from Italy in spit of flight delays, missed connections and train strikes. We walked where the gladiators and lions were, visited the Roman bath’s, the temples, Sistine chapel, Catacombs, held up the Leaning Tower, rode on the gondoliers, etc, etc, etc. We saw so many churches that if any of it rubbed off, certainly we should be better people.   Wonderful trip but now back to the world of reality.

EPILEPSY      

   What is this malady causing my pet to go into muscular contractions and possibly lose consciousness for a short time (usually less than 5 minutes) and then recover with little after effects?

     Epilepsy is a complicated syndrome caused by many conditions including:

  1. Congenital- (abnormal brain development from birth)
  2.  Metabolic (low blood sugar caused by diabetes complications-occasionally hunting dogs after heavy work- abnormal electrolyte blood levels such as hypocalcaemia)
  3. Neoplasia – cancer (primary or metastatic)
  4. Nutritional – vitamin b1 (Thiamin)
  5. Inflammatory-bacterial and viral agents
  6. Trauma- head injuries
  7. Toxic- poisons
  8. Vascular- blocked blood vessels (vascular embolism)-
  9. Parasitic – various intestinal and blood parasites can migrate through the blood to abnormal organ locations (the brain being one) and develop into a cyst causing complications
  10. Idiopathic- Occasionally, in spite of all test and available examinations the cause cannot be found.

     Epilepsy is not usually treated unless the episodes are more frequent than every          two months. Over a long period of time the medication for seizer prevention can cause liver discrasia. At the time of an episode, a veterinary examination is indicated. Blood test and a physical exam may reveal the cause and treatment initiated. If idiopathic epilepsy is diagnosed, medication can be initiated.

     We hope you and your pet had a great 4th. Hopefully your pet was not overwhelmed with the celebrations.