Epilepsy in St Bernard's

 Epilepsy

Definition

The term epilepsy indicates a seizure or fit and it is thus a very vague definition for a disease since seizures or fits can take any forms and be occasioned by a multitude of causes.

The epilepsy with which the breeder is mainly concerned is idiopathic or functional epilepsy that is seizure disorders of a particular kind that cannot be explained by some other external or internal influence upon the animal. Before seeking to discuss the problem of idiopathic epilepsy it seems important, indeed essential, to outline some of the other factors, which might lead to seizures or epleptiform fits.

Extracranial causes

1. Hypoglycaemia: anything, which reduces blood sugar levels, can cause this complaint and it is known that seizures can result

2. Hypoxia: anything, which leads to a reduced supply of oxygen to the brain can lead to seizures. These difficulties may arise from heart and lung disease.

3. Liver disease: any severe liver disorder can give rise seizures.

4. Intoxication: the ingestion of strychnine, lead or other poison can lead to epileptiform seizures

5. Vitamin D: anything, which interferes with vitamin D Utilisation, can lead to parathyroid malfunction, which can bring about hypocalcaemia and hence fits.

Eclampsia is another condition, which resembles a hypoparathy-roid state and can give rice to fits.

6. Teething: severe teething troubles could give rise to seizures.

Intracranial causes.

1. Tumours: any brain tumour, both parasitic and malignant could cause seizures to occur.

2. Encephalitis: diseases such as distemper can give rise to this

problem and indirectly to fits.

3. Trauma: any accidental knock to the head could cause permanent or temporary brain damage which might occasion fitting over a long period of time.

4. Hydrocephalus: a state where excessive fluid exists within the

cranial cavity may result in a unusually large head and can be associated with fits.

All the above factors could lead to the production of a dog, which has fits.

In many cases the removal of the causal factor will lead to

recovery from the epileptiform problem.

Many of the above-named conditions will demonstrate other symptoms than simply seizures, which can be readily checked by any veterinarian. Only when other possible causes have been checked as far as possible and been eliminated should the breeder begin to consider idiopathic epilepsy.

Updated 4th of June, 2002

Since doing my web site, we have discoverd our male Saint Bernard Hero, is Epileptic. It isnt a nice thing to see your beloved pet laying on the floor thrashing about in the throws of a Siezure, but I have found a fantastic site on the net, they helped us immensely to understand Epilepsy in more detail.

It is still possible for your dog to have a good quality of life even though your dog is on tablets, One thing to remember, DO NOT reduce the tablets your dog is put onto, until the vets says so, Your dog may seem disorientated at first, but it wont take long before your dog settles down.

VetInfo - Veterinary Medical Information for Dogs and Cats

Canine Epilepsy Resource Center

canine epilepsy in dogs what to do if your dog has an epileptic seizure

 For more health links, Please go to my web page on Saints Health