Causes of Canine Epilepsy

Canine epilepsy is caused by many things, the most common of which include:  genetics, shortage of oxygen, brain injury, or birth injury.  Epilepsy is a state of repeated intermittent seizures.  If the development of epilepsy is due to a brain infection or trauma, seizures may not even be seen until several months later.

Seizures due to epilepsy tend to begin as mild episodes that become more frequent and severe after the occurrence of the first seizure.  Seizures often take place when a dog is relaxing or lightly sleeping.  It is very common for seizures to occur during the night.

The frequency of the seizures can be affected by many factors, some of which include drugs, hormones, emotions, and the dog’s environment.

Two different types of canine epilepsy exist; primary epilepsy and secondary epilepsy.  Primary epilepsy, or idiopathic, occurs when there is no known cause for epilepsy and it must be assumed that it is a genetic or inherited condition.  Seizures of this type usually occur between the ages of six months and five years of age. 

Secondary epilepsy, also known as idiopahic epilepsy refers to epilepsy for which a cause can be determined.  Dogs less than a year old that develop epilepsy usually suffer from some type of infection.