A seizure is a brief episode caused by excessive, synchronized activity of cerebral neurons; epilepsy is a brain disease that produces recurrent unprovoked seizures. Seizures are among the commonest neurological emergencies in dogs, and canine epilepsy affects about 0.5–0.8% of dogs seen in primary care (Merck). The exam expects you to sort a seizuring dog into the right cause category, choose the right first drug and act fast when a seizure will not stop.
Key facts
Seizure disorder at a glance- Species: Dog
- System: Nervous (forebrain)
- Cause categories: idiopathic epilepsy (genetic or presumed genetic), structural epilepsy (identifiable brain disease) and reactive seizures (normal brain, metabolic or toxic insult)
- Classic presentation: a young adult dog with recurrent generalized tonic-clonic seizures and a normal examination between them
- Emergency: status epilepticus, a seizure lasting more than 5 minutes; mortality in animals 25–39%
- First-line maintenance drug: phenobarbital (target 15–35 µg/mL); bromide, levetiracetam, zonisamide as alternatives or add-ons
What's inside
12 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnoses
- Treatment and management
- Prevention, control and client education
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 7 tables, 2 figures, 3 self-test questions and 11 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
The full guide is part of every NAVLE plan, with diagnosis and treatment tables, figures, a quick review and self-test questions. Start a free trial to try the question bank, or log in if you are already a member.