I think my dog had a seizure, what do I do?

Q: I think my eight-year-old boxer just had his first seizure. I am not sure what happened but he fell to the side and was very stiff legged. His pupils were dilated and he wasn’t moving. We picked him up and brought him inside and about 30 seconds later he started coming around. He continued to breathe real heavy for a few minutes and I gave him part of a valium to calm him down. He seems OK now, but I am concerned about future episodes. Is there anything specific I should look for? How do I help him when or if he has another one?

A: It is possible this was a seizure, but is also possible that you witnessed was syncope, a type of fainting episode. There are five major categories of disease that lead to the type of symptoms you describe:

- Toxins — usually this can be ruled out due to recent history and lack of other symptoms, like vomiting or salivation

- Metabolic disease — hormone imbalances, kidney disease, improper blood sugar levels, liver shunts, and problems with blood cells or proteins can all lead to seizures or similar episodes. Routine blood panels can help determine if any metabolic process is involved.

-Cardiovascular disease — especially in a middle aged boxer, this category should be carefully considered. Boxers are particularly prone to developing arrhythmias and heart muscle malfunctions. Episodes can look very much like what you describe. At a minimum, a veterinarian familiar with heart disease should listen to your dog’s heart. An EKG is probably warranted. Depending on what is found, or future episodes, other tests may be indicated.

- Intracranial disease — i.e. brain tumors, meningitis, inner ear infections, strokes, etc. These diseases also have to be very high on the rule out list for an eight year old boxer.

Some are more treatable than others. Frequently, this is a difficult area of the body to get an accurate diagnosis. We generally try to rule out the three categories above. If none is present, we need to investigate the brain. The best way to determine the presence of intracranial disease is a CT scan or MRI — both quite costly.

- Epilepsy — While boxers can experience epilepsy, it generally manifests itself between one and four years of age. It is unlikely the event you described at this late age is epilepsy. There is no test for epilepsy, so all other causes of the events must be ruled out.

The answer to the question of how to help your dog in the future depends very much on the cause of the episodes. If they truly are only epileptic seizures, they are generally not dangerous unless they last more than 10 minutes and elevate the body temperature to more than 105 degrees. The frequency and severity would dictate the course of treatment.

Be careful about the use of valium if you don’t know the true cause of his condition. Since what you describe is not likely to be epilepsy, valium may actually cause more harm or mask important symptoms.

Q: What do I do if I cut my pet’s nail too close and it starts bleeding?

A: When this happens, the small amount of bleeding can look severe when it spreads around your living room. Unless your pet has a clotting disorder, the bleeding will stop quickly and safely. You can use styptic powder, a bar of Ivory soap, or even baking flour to help speed the process. Perhaps the easiest way is to bring your pet outside and let him walk around in the grass for a few minutes. The blood will clot and your carpet will be saved.

Dr. Watts is a companion animal general practitioner and owner of Clevengers Corner Veterinary Care. He can be reached through Clevengers Corner.com or by calling 428-1000.