There are many things that can cause a seizure in a person or a dog. Epilepsy is a subset of one of the many things that cause seizures. Just because a dog has a seizure does not mean that the dog has epilepsy. Seizures come in two types, primary and secondary. Some external influence or some outside stimulus causes secondary seizures. A few examples would include distemper, brain tumor, head injury, toxins, hypoglycemia, hypocalcemia, hypoxia or hyopoxemia, hepatic encephalopathy or liver disease, renal (kidney) disease, hyperkalemia, hyperlipoproteinemia, gastrointestinal disease ("garbage" poising), tick bites, toxoplasmoisi, etc. With secondary seizures, the source is known. Primary epilepsy, also known by the names of idiopathic or genetic or inherited or true epilepsy, has no known source.

A seizure begins unexpectedly and ends suddenly and may occur again. Seizures fall into two classifications - partial and generalized. A partial seizure (or petit mal seizure) may consist of staring, air licking or biting, minor tremors in one part of the body, etc. A generalized seizure (or grand mal) may consist of paddling of the legs, foaming of the mouth, release of anals and urinating.

As the uncontrolled discharge of neurons in the brain spreads, a partial seizure can become a generalized seizure. A generalized or grand mal is the most common form of a seizure. The seizure itself is broken into 3 stages, the pre ictal, ictal and post ictal. The pre ictal stage is the time before the seizure actually occurs when the dog may become uneasy and seeks out its owner. The ictal stage is the actual seizure - either partial or generalized. The post ictal stage, which may last for several minutes or days, is the time following the seizure where the dog may pace, may be blind, or may not recognize its environment.

If your dog experiences any "odd" behavior, do not jump to conclusions and assume an inherited problem. Diagnosis is VERY important! The following should be performed to determine the cause of seizures in your dog: complete blood panel, urinalysis, neurological exam, MRI, and spinal fluid (CFS) analysis. It is best to work with both your veterinarian and a neurologist, if possible, or seek assistance from a veterinary teaching hospital.