The dog is more frequently attacked with epilepsy, and indeed with all other nervous diseases, than any other domestic animal, being strongly predisposed thereto in consequence of the excitability of his nervous organization.

The true epileptic seizure may arise from worms, teething, hardened excrement, or some other cause of irritation affecting the nerves distributed to an internal viscus.* The fits may also be caused by disease of the brain, or of the cerebro-spinal system, such as, the inflammation of the brain, or of its membranes, which often proves a fatal complication of distemper. In some cases an epileptic fit ushers in distemper, but is not then necessarily fatal, nor does it hurtfully influence the subsequent progress of the distemper. Blows on the head have been known to be followed by occasional attacks of fits. Mental excitement, acting on a dog of nervous temperament, sometimes excites epilepsy. Thus, Youatt records a case of epileptiform fit, provoked by music. Pointers have fits during their work, especially at the moment of the "point." Fear and joy are alike exciting causes. Dogs that are travelling at a quick pace, especially if they are fat and unused to severe or long-sustained exertion, and if the weather be hot, not unfrequently have an attack. Sporting and high-bred dogs are those chiefly affected; and the young and old are equally liable to be seized, although generally speaking the attacks diminish in frequency as the dog increases in age. There is no doubt that epilepsy is hereditary. On this interesting point, Reynal states that he has met with one female and three male dogs that transmitted epilepsy to one or other of their offspring.

* A case of fits, induced by a curious cause, is recorded in the "Veterinary Record," 5th vol. The dog died, and on opening it a knitted garter was found extending from the pyloric opening of the stomach downwards along the intestines.

Symptoms

The attack is not ushered in by any particular symptom. The dog is suddenly seized, trembles on his legs, loses his sight; then falls down, struggles for a moment, and tries to recover his feet. Sometimes he succeeds, but generally, after stumbling about, he falls down again on his side, stupified and insensible. At the moment of seizure a low cry is sometimes uttered. During the attack, the head is in turns stretched out, bent on the neck, and violently struck on the ground; the legs are strongly convulsed, and so is the entire muscular system also, producing the most varied contortions of the body, from the convulsive contraction of the affected muscles. The gums and lips are of a livid colour; the jaws are violently champed and the teeth ground, and sometimes the tongue getting between the teeth, is bruised and lacerated; the mouth is filled with frothy mucus which dribbles from the lips, and which is coloured with blood when the tongue is bitten; the respiration is difficult and embarrassed from the convulsive and unnatural action of the respiratory movements, and it becomes rattling and suffocating from profuse accumulation of mucus in the mouth and fauces. The special senses of hearing, seeing, feeling, etc., are completely suspended during the attack. In about four or five minutes, more or less, those convulsive movements gradually begin to lessen in severity, and the dog's senses slowly return. He opens his eyes, raises his head, looks about him in surprise, and frequently gets up and runs about as if nothing had been amiss. The excretions escape, and in the faeces are sometimes found segments of the tenia, in which case the cause of the epilepsy cannot be uncertain.

The foregoing is the description of a typical attack; but in some cases the symptoms are different. Thus, under the influence of fright, the legs of the dog become stiffened; the eyes fixed, protruded, and staring; the muscles of the face and neck rigid from spasm; and the animal falls down bereft of all its senses and paralyzed. The fasces and urine are discharged involuntarily. Some dogs after the attack is over immediately recover themselves; others appear to be in a drunken-like state; others conceal themselves in some dark or secret place; whilst others, again, run away from home, and return after awhile with dread and doubt expressed in gait and look. In some cases, complete recovery does not take place until from half an hour to an hour after the beginning of the fit; in others, the fore legs are so helpless that they are almost palsied.

It is scarcely possible to confound a well-marked attack of epilepsy with any other disease; but sometimes chorea takes on an epileptiform character, and during the course of distemper dogs are occasionally seized with symptoms analogous to those of epilepsy.

The probability of cure depends on the cause. When epilepsy arises from structural diseases of the nervous centres it is incurable, but it can be cured when it owes its origin to some removable cause, such as worms, etc.

Epileptic attacks vary in frequency. The dog may have several in the same day; then they cease for a considerable interval, and return as before.

The mental capacity of the dog seems to be impaired by frequent attacks of epilepsy. Reynal states that he has seen several epileptic dogs that had lost their former fondness for their owners, and that had become indifferent to caresses. One dog in particular, that used to be brisk and mettlesome when it heard the slightest noise, became reserved and scarcely barked after having had several epileptic attacks. And Gohier speaks of a dog that had been taught tricks, and that appeared to have forgotten everything, as after recovery it could not or would not perform as before.

Fits of an epileptiform character sometimes seize the bitch when she is suckling too many puppies. These are absurdly called by some writers puerperal fits, - a term which is only applicable to the human, and not to the canine disease. They depend on a low and exhausted condition of the system consequent on the excessive drain imposed by the requirements of providing milk to a large progeny. They occur in two classes of cases: - in fancy pet animals, whose natural irritability of constitution is not diminished by the overfeeding and pampering to which they are subjected; and in those that are sacrificed to secure a large litter to the owner, and are not sufficiently supported under the large demands made upon them by their young. For some time the mother goes on "as well as can be expected," or she becomes gradually weak and thin. Suddenly, she staggers, falls, and lies in a half-unconscious state. The convulsions which ensue are either confined at first or exclusively to the respiratory muscles, the breathing being panting and laboured; or, in the most severe cases, they involve the whole body. The fit lasts from five to ten minutes, and may prove fatal at once; or death supervenes after repeated attacks of the convulsions, which follow each other rapidly.

Treatment

The treatment of epilepsy should begin with the removal of its ascertained cause. The fit usually ceases of itself, or restoration to consciousness may be aided by the use of a warm bath, at a temperature of 94° F., and by dashing cold water on the patient's body. Then the recurrence of the attacks must be prevented, if possible. If the fits are due to over-suckling, all the puppies, except one or two, according to the stamina of the nurse, should be taken away, and food of a nutritious kind offered, or, if necessary, given. A dose of China, three times a-day, will assist in the restoration of strength, appetite, and flesh.

If the fits are connected with worms,* or constipation, the treatment must be mainly directed to the removal of these two exciting causes.

* Consult the Chapter on "Parasitic Diseases."

When they occur towards the termination of distemper, or any other disease, and when they are symptomatic of injuries to, or organic diseases of, the brain, they are usually fatal.

If epilepsy occurs in dogs that have been overfed and confined, the diet must be reduced, and moderate exercise allowed.

When caused by the irritation of teething, it may be necessary to lance the gums, and it is always advisable to give Belladonna.

It sometimes happens that particular articles of food, such as flesh, disagree with some dogs, and, by exciting stomachic irritation, induce fits. In such a case, the diet must be regulated.

Youatt records the case of a patient, suckling at the time, being thrown into the Serpentine. Under the influence of nervous shock or fright, the milk was suppressed, and fits ensued. This cause of fits can be easily guarded against.

When the attacks have become habitual, it is imperative not only to remove the existing causes, as far as they can be discovered, but also to place the animal under a persevering course of treatment.

The medicines most useful in epilepsy are the following: - Belladonna * for irritability of the nervous system, with twitching of the muscles, contortion of the face, and convulsive action of the muscles of the mouth; protrusion, redness, and sparkling appearance of the eyes; rigidity of the body, with the head and body drawn backwards during the actual seizure.

* For the dose, etc., of these medicines, consult the Introductory Remarks.

Chamomilla in pups, with derangement of the stomach, and colic, as denoted by vomiting of sour fluid and indications of abdominal pain, preceding the fit.

Nux vomica when the attacks are referable to indigestion, or to constipation.

Arnica is suitable when the fits are the result of a blow on the head.

Argentum nitricum has acted most beneficially in the convulsive seizures which come on during distemper.

Calcarea carbonica, when the fits are connected with teething; it then appears to expedite the appearance of the teeth, thereby lessening the irritation of the dental nerves.

Cuprum is specially indicated when the attacks are caused by disease of the great nervous centres.