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If you have ever seen an animal or a human seizuring, you know how distressing it can be. Epileptic seizures seldom last more than five minutes, but if you are not used to observing them, they can seem to last much longer. If your pet is epileptic and is in the middle of a seizure, there are a couple of things you should keep in mind: 1. Handling of your pet should be done very carefully if at all. It is very easy to get bitten when your pet is thrashing around. Remember that when your pet is seizuring, it doesn't recognize you and may accidentally bite or scratch you. Sometimes it is a good idea to place a blanket or a coat on top of the seizuring pet to try and limit the chance that the pet will injure itself while convulsing. Take the blanket off right away when then seizure is over because convulsing usually increases the body temperature quite a bit. 2.Be patient and don't panic. Remember, the seizure won't last very long, and there is not a whole lot that you can do but let the pet ride out the seizure. Just talk lovingly to the pet and be there for them. Most seizures occur in three distinct phases. The first phase is called the aura and is the period before a seizure during which the affected animal seems overly anxious. It may scramble from behind a piece of furniture, jump down from a chair with its eyes widely dilated, stair up at the ceiling; some behavior that is out of the ordinary for that particular pet. This phase usually lasts around one to three minutes. The second phase is the seizure itself. Each attack may be different and can range from mild muscle spasms to a severe convulsion lasting five or ten minutes. Growling or loud moans or meowing are common during this time as are urinating or defecating. Loss of consciousness may or may not occur. Status epilepticus is a constant seizure state where each seizure seems to stimulate another resulting in one continuous seizure. This condition can be fatal and requires immediate medical attention. This is a case when we cannot just "ride it out." Call your veterinarian immediately! The third phase immediately after the seizure is called the postictal stage. This stage is characterized by weakness, confusion, rapid breathing, and possible total exhaustion. Temporary blindness is not uncommon during this phase The severity and duration of the phase depends on the severity of the seizure episode and the individual pet. Epilepsy is relatively common in dogs, but much less common in cats. There are many different causes of seizures ranging from viral diseases, toxins, trauma, and inherited conditions. There are several metabolic problems that can cause seizures and of course, brain tumors have to be on the list as well. It will be up to your veterinarian to rule out the most obvious possible causes depending on your particular pet. When no obvious cause can be found, then the seizuring pet's condition is known as "idiopathic epilepsy." Idiopathic just means that the cause is unknown. This is very common. About 80% of all cases of epilepsy are idiopathic. About 50% of the feline cases are idiopathic. Idiopathic epilepsy usually becomes apparent between 6 months old and 5 years. All breeds can be affected, but we seem to see an awful lot of Cocker spaniels, Dalmatians, Beagles, and Huskies.		Normally, nerve cells in the brain function by transmitting electrical impulses in an orderly manner. What happens in the epileptic pet is that a sudden rapid discharge of electrical energy occurs in groups of brain cells at the same time. We don't know why this happens, but we do know that the result is a seizure or convulsion. If your pet is epileptic, the first thing that your veterinarian will do is a very careful neurologic examination. They will discuss with you the symptoms that your pet has been exhibiting and a general history of the pet. Your ve terinarian will also probably draw blood for lab tests, which can rule out many causes of epilepsy. There are many other test that your vet may or may not recommend depending on the particulars of your pet's condition. But a thorough examination is definitely the first step in the diagnostic process. Many pets that have an isolated seizure never have another one. Therefore, your veterinarian will probably not immediately put your pet on medication after just one seizure. Normally the diagnostic work-up will include a period without medical therapy to determine if the pet is in fact epileptic. Once it is determined that medical therapy is indicated, it is very important to keep the medication up. Many epileptic pets become much worse if left untreated. Skipping or discontinuing treatments may cause seizures to start again. Important Points in Treatment: - Treating the pet with medication does not mean that the pet will no longer seizure. Even well controlled epileptic pets may have occasional seizures. The main objectives of treatment are to limit the amount and severity of seizure activity and increase the time interval between seizure episodes. - Medication may have to be given for several days before it is effective and determining the correct dosage for your pet may take weeks or months. Medication is very often given multiple times a day for the remainder of your pet's life. Many times, it is necessary to administer more than one drug in order to effectively control seizure activity. Your veterinarian will have to take regular blood samples to check for any unwanted side effects of the medication and to make sure your pet's medication is being administered at an appropriate level. This is important for the safety of your pet. Caring for an epileptic pet calls for good communication between you and your veterinarian. But with a little love and patience at home and regular check-ups, most epileptics live relatively normal, happy lives. Dr.Anderson is a graduate of Auburn University. He owns and practices at Sabal Chase Animal Clinic near the Kendall campus of Miami Dade Community College, in the Shoppes of Sabal Chase, at 10710 S.W. 113th Place, Miami, Fl33176. He does volunteer work with Animal Care and Education, and Adopt-A-Pet, and is a member of the South Florida and American Veterinary Medical Association. He can be reached at: 305 595 1450.
Because many seemingly normal pets have kidney disease, we recommended all adult pets avoid excess dietary phosphorus. This can be accomplished by meeting the minimum recommended dietary allowance for phosphorus. The National Research Council employs the same logic for human nutritional guidelines. Check the level of phosphorus in your pet's food. The minimum dietary allowance is 0.55% (dry matter basis). Some pet foods contain up to three times this amount. More information about Kidney Disease The kidneys are two of the most important organs in the body. They remove protein and mineral excess and toxic substances, reabsorb needed nutrients, recycle water, and control the balance of acids or bases in the body. When kidney disease affects animals, they eventually lose the ability to remove waste products and excess nutrients from the blood, which can ultimately lead to death. Research shows that excess dietary phosphorus can accelerate the progression of kidney disease. Many pet owners are unaware of the high incidence of kidney disease in dogs and cats. Studies by the Morris Animal Foundation in 1986 and 1991 concluded that kidney disease was the leading cause of non-accidental death in cats and the second leading cause of non-accidental death in dogs. Another researcher found kidney disease was second only to cancer as the leading cause of death in dogs. A third study concluded that 20% of dogs over five years old have more than a 75% reduction in kidney function.2 Once started, kidney disease is unstoppable. As the disease progress (months to years), kidney function continues to decline. Health reaches a critical level when the kidneys fail. Kidney disease is not easy to detect, especially in its early stages. Routine tests used by veterinarians to identify kidney disease (serum creatinine and serum urea nitrogen) cannot do so until about three-fourths of kidney function is lost. 1 What is the link between kidney disease and excess phosphorus in pet foods? Causes of kidney disease are difficult to avoid. Causes include aging, bacterial infections, hypertension, toxins (e.g., antifreeze and certain drugs), or it can be an inherited trait from the parents. Thus, prevention of kidney disease is difficult, but the progression of kidney disease can be slowed. Research in dogs and cats with advanced kidney disease revealed that decreasing the level of phosphorus in the food slowed the progression and reduced the severity of kidney disease, thereby improving the length of survival. 4,5 In the study using dogs, two identical foods were fed except for the level of phosphorus. The high level of phosphorus was 1.50% and the low level was 0.44% of the food's dry matter. After two years of feeding these foods, only 33% of the dogs fed the high phosphorus food were alive, but more than 75% of the dogs fed the low phosphorus food were alive. In the study using cats, the food's dry matter phosphorus levels were similar to those used in the dog study (0.42% and 1.56%). The kidneys of the cats fed the low phosphorus food had little or no changes. The kidneys of the cats fed the high phosphorus food had deteriorated when examined under the microscope. Because low phosphorus foods slowed the deterioration of kidney function in dogs and cats with advanced kidney disease, it is logical that limiting excesses of phosphorus throughout an animal's adult life can reduce the progression of kidney disease in its earlier stages when diagnosis is so difficult. The health care profession applies the same reasoning to our foods for limiting the intake of cholesterol, fat, and sodium. Since we cannot predict accurately who among us will get coronary disease or high blood pressure, the experts recommend that all adults eat less cholesterol, fat, and sodium as part of a sensible nutritional plan.		Sometimes what's not in the bag is what counts. How can pet owners pick a pet food that contains lesser amounts of phosphorus? Either ask your veterinarian or call the pet food manufacturer's customer service department for information about the level of phosphorus in their foods. Formulating a pet food, with adequate but not excessive levels of phosphorus, requires medical knowledge, nutritional expertise, and careful selection of ingredients. Ingredients such as meat and bone meal and fish meal can contain high levels of bone that adds excess of phosphorus. Because pet food manufacturers are not required to list phosphorus on the nutritional label guarantees, products containing fish meal and other meat and bone meals should be evaluated with added attention. The minimum dietary allowance for phosphorus in adult dogs and cats is 0.5% (dry matter basis).6 There are products sold in both specialty stores and grocery stores that contain 1% to 11/2% phosphorus--two to three times the minimal necessary amount.To do the best for our pets we should select foods that contain lesser amounts of certain nutrients. In the case of phosphorus, more of this nutrient is not better for your pet and could be influencing the progression of undiagnosed kidney disease. 1. Bronson, R., American Journal of Veterinary Research, 1982, 43:22057-2059. 2. Leibesteder, J. & coworkers, WSAVA World Congress Proceedings, 1991, p. 271-274. 3. Osborne, C. And Stevens, B., Handbook of Canine & Feline Urinalysis, 1981, p47. 4. Brown, S. & coworkers, Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 1991, 1:1169-1179. 5. Ross, L. & coworkers, American Journal of Veterinary Research, 192, 43: 1023-1026. 6. 1995 Association of American Feed Control Officials, Official Publication, p.134-135. The Authors. Kathy L. Gross, Ph.D., P.A.S. Dr. Gross joined Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. in 1990 after serving as postdoctoral research associate at the US Department of Agriculture Research Service Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University. Dr. Gross' expertise is in gastrointestinal tract nutrient metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and interactions of nutrition and immunology. She has authored or co-authored 41 research publications and is adjunct professor at Kansas State University. Timothy A. Allen, D.V.M., Diplomate A.C.V.I.M. Dr. Allen completed and in internship and medical residency at the Animal Medical Center in New York City after receiving his D.V.M. in 1972. He then served two years as Research Associate in the Laboratory of Medical Biochemistry at the Rockefeller University, New York City. Dr. Allen was in private veterinary practice for four years and then a faculty member at Colorado State University for eight years before joining Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. in 1988. Dr. Allen is board certified in Veterinary Internal Medicine. He is an expert in nephrology and urology. He has authored or co-authored over 90 research publications. Dr. Allen is an affiliate faculty member at Colorado State University and an adjunct professor at Kansas State University. "Reprinted with permission of Hills Science Diet"