While epilepsy is not as common in dogs, some breeds are prone to it including Cocker Spaniels and Poodles. As Cockapoo/Poodle cross owners we all need to be aware of this condition since there’s no cure for the symptoms but most lead happy lives with medication.
Maybe sometimes just taking a little medication each day can make a world difference! It might seem scary when you first notice your pup having an episode but don’t worry; they’ll go on living normal satisfying lives once more after treatment begins.
What Is Epilepsy In Cockapoos?
Epilepsy is a neurological condition that causes dogs to have seizures. Seizures are caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Epilepsy can be hereditary or can be caused by an injury or infection.
What Are The Symptoms Of Epilepsy In Cockapoos?
The most common symptoms of epilepsy are seizures. Dogs may have one seizure or multiple seizures. Seizures can last for a few seconds or several minutes. Some dogs will become rigid and shake while others may lose consciousness. After a seizure, most dogs will act normal and seem unaware that anything has happened.
Types Of Epilepsy Seizures
There are two main types of seizures Grand Mals and Petit Mals.
Grand Mals: These are the type of seizures that most people think of when they hear the word “seizure.” These seizures involve a loss of consciousness and a general body stiffening. They usually last for one to two minutes.
Petit Mals: These seizures involve short bursts of abnormal activity and dogs will typically remain conscious. They can last for a few seconds or up to a minute.
Further Categorizing Seizures
There are also three ways seizures can be further categorized:
Generalized Seizures: These seizures involve the entire brain. Dogs will usually have one generalized seizure every two to four weeks.
Partial Seizures: These seizures involve only a part of the brain. They may cause twitching or jerk in a specific area such as the face, leg, or trunk. Partial seizures can progress into generalized seizures.
Absence Seizures: Also known as petit mal seizures, these are brief episodes of unresponsiveness that last for about five seconds. Most dogs will have several absence seizures per day.
What Are The Symptoms Of Seizure Activity in Cockapoos?
The symptoms of a seizure will vary depending on the type of seizure. However, most seizures will cause some degree of abnormal behavior including:
- Drooling
- Muscle jerking or twitching
- Loss of consciousness
- Pacing and restlessness
- Inappropriate elimination
- Choking, gagging or gasping for air
What Happens When A Cockapoo Has A Seizure?
Grand Mal
If your cockapoo is having a grand mal seizure, he will lose consciousness and have a full-body convulsion. The seizure may last for one to two minutes, or it may continue for up to five minutes. During the seizure, your cockapoo may bite his tongue or lips, and he may drool excessively.
Petit Mal
A petit mal seizure is a much shorter seizure, typically lasting only a few seconds. Your cockapoo may seem to “space out” for a moment, and he may stare off into space with his eyes wide open. He may also twitch or jerk his head or body.
Partial seizures
Partial seizures can occur in any part of the brain. They may be simple or complex, and they may cause minimal or dramatic changes in behavior. A simple partial seizure may cause your cockapoo to twitch his head or body, while a complex partial seizure may cause him to bark, whine, or act out his dreams.
What Should You Do If Your Cockapoo Has A Seizure?
If your cockapoo has a seizure, you should:
- Remain calm and reassure your cockapoo. Speak softly and avoid sudden movements.
- Remove any objects that he could choke on or hurt himself with, and move him to a safe place where he won’t fall or hit his head.
- Don’t put anything in his mouth, and don’t try to restrain him.
- Note the time of the seizure and any unusual behavior so that you can share this information with your veterinarian.
- Keep a close eye on your cockapoo after the seizure to ensure that he does not have any further episodes.
- Once the seizure is over, offer your cockapoo some water and call your veterinarian. Seizures can be a sign of a serious health problem, so it’s important to get help from your vet as soon as possible.
Is There Anything I Can Do To Help My Epileptic Cockapoo?
The most common drug that vets use is Phenobarbitone (Phenobart). This normally shows an improvement quite quickly and the tablets need to be given at regular intervals. When your dog first starts taking them you may see some side effects like being unsteady on their feet or sedated but these should go away after a few days as long as liver function tests are done regularly
The main thing with this medication comes from its ability to damage tissue in dogs’ livers so it’s important for owners not only to monitor how much their pup drinks every day but also to keep track of their poo! Liver function tests need to be done every six months to make sure that the medication isn’t causing any long-term damage.
Alternative Therapies
Some owners will also look into using alternative therapies alongside drug therapy. One such example is potassium bromide (sodium salts), which has been found to be effective at reducing some seizure types in dogs with canine epilepsy and can help control your pet’s symptoms without having any negative side effects.
The vet will prescribe medicine if the episode is repetitive or severe. If your Cockapoo experiences only one or two isolated seizure episodes without causing serious health issues, then there’s probably no need for medication; however they may give it anyways because cockapoos can be prone to having seizures.
Conclusion:
We would like to conclude by saying that epilepsy and seizures can be very serious problems for cockapoos, but with the help of your veterinarian, you can control these episodes and keep your pet healthy and happy.