08
Jul
Only a small percentage of dogs are likely to experience seizures in their lifetime¹. Dogs are the same as humans in many ways when it comes to their seizures especially with how they react to having one.
Both kidney and liver disease can lead to seizures as well as brain cancer strokes anemia and head injuries.
How long can an older dog live with seizures. When a dog has recurrent seizures either as single events or in clusters its called epilepsy. Dog seizures can vary dramatically ranging from a twitch to severe convulsing and can last for a few seconds or several minutes. The most well known of the different types of dog seizures is a generalized seizure or a grand mal seizure.
Seizures can sometimes last just seconds or they can last up to ten minutes or more. Dogs are the same as humans in many ways when it comes to their seizures especially with how they react to having one. If you think your pup may be susceptible to having seizures you need to keep a watchful eye open for these signs.
If your dog gets seizure medication ie. Phenobarbital most seizures may be prevented. However some seizures may still be experienced.
Its important to be able to detect the first symptoms of a seizure and administer help so that your dog wont get hurt. If your dog gets medication and you are constantly monitoring him for seizures his life expectancy will be normal. However if your dog is not under treatment he may have a shorter life expectancy.
Dog seizures are scary. They happen suddenly and you might feel helpless and unable to comfort your pet during an episode. While the event may only last for a few seconds a seizure is a serious health problem.
As dogs age we know to expect new. As you witness your dog grow older and inevitably experience some of common symptoms of aging in dogs your older dog might also experience unusual panting shaking or seizures. Just like humans dogs can suffer from seizures too.
Only a small percentage of dogs are likely to experience seizures in their lifetime¹. But before we explore abnormal panting shaking and old dog seizures. A normal seizure last about 5 minutes but they can last longer.
If your dogs seizure lasts longer than that its called a prolonged seizure duh right. Your Dog is Coming Out of the Seizure. This is the recovery stage when your dog will feel the seizures effects.
Four nights ago he had a big seizure that lasted about 60-90 seconds. He was on his side panting pawing etc. Really scary for my wife and I.
We took him to emerg vet and he said probably a brain tumor. Some older dogs develop brain tumors which can put pressure on the brain as it grows resulting in a seizure. Other symptoms to be on the lookout for include a loss of vision and motor coordination.
If your vet suspects your dog has a brain tumor he will most likely recommend diagnostic tests like an MRI magnetic resonance imaging or CAT computed axial topography. The life expectancy for dogs with a brain tumor can be difficult to answer as there are multiple factors which come into play. Some could live up to a year or more while others may only have a few weeks remaining.
Aside from the health condition a dogs lifespan is affected by its diet lifestyle and environment. In general an epileptic dog has a median lifespan of around 8 years. This is in comparison to healthier canines that can live full lives.
Take note that dogs suffering from multiple seizures are more likely to succumb to death. Even if a large percentage of a liver is diseased it has a remarkable way of still working. Depending on the severity of the illness dogs can live comfortably for years after a diagnosis.
As I keep saying get your dog to the vet when you notice any change in behaviour. Older dogs can go downhill very quickly so time is of the essence. If a seizure lasts more than three to five minutes this is an emergency and you should bring your dog to a veterinarian.
Their body temperature can rise quickly and can be a problem. Especially as pets age seizures that last that long can cause. This part of the seizure can last for anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes but somewhere between 30 seconds and two minutes is most common.
If the seizure lasts for more than two minutes your dogs body can overheat and they can be at risk of hyperthermia. Both kidney and liver disease can lead to seizures as well as brain cancer strokes anemia and head injuries. Seizures in dogs can also be caused by something unknown.
In those cases it is called idiopathic epilepsy and it generally occurs in dogs between six months and six years old. If your dog lives past the first few months of being diagnosed and arent left untreated then their median survival time is another 2 years. But be aware thats the average not what they could have.
They could potentially have another 5678 happy years of their life. It can present as several seizures over a short time or as one long seizure that can last up to half an hour. Even more worrisome this type of seizure can occur in dogs that have no prior history of seizures and they can be life-threatening.