Dog seizures are a frightening experience, not only for the animal but the pet owner as well. While the first time is often the scariest, you can feel the same apprehension every time the pet has one. Seizures may occur due to medical reasons such as idiopathic epilepsy, low or high blood sugar, liver disease, kidney disease, strokes, and cancers. At times, there isn’t a medical reason, but something triggers them instead. These triggers lead to a sudden change in activity in the canine’s brain, which results in an episode. Knowing these triggers helps as you can avoid them and prevent the seizure in the first place. Here is a list of the most common triggers.
Environmental triggers
The canine’s environment plays a role in seizure episodes. You can expect things to go wrong at home, but chances are greater outdoors where unknown threats exist. For example, lawn treatments, insecticides, and fertilizers may contain harmful toxins that can make your pet sick. Some harmless-looking flowers and plants can also pose unexpected dangers, as the animal may ingest them accidentally. Other potential dangers you need to look out for are wasp venom and toad poisoning. The best way to keep your dog safe is by paying close attention when the animal is outdoors. You can do your bit by avoiding exposure to toxins such as medicines, chemical cleaners, and fertilizers at home and in your garden.
Stress factors
Another trigger that you can easily avoid is stress, which is also a common cause of seizure in humans. Apart from anxiety, fatigue is a reason that can lead to an incident. Thankfully, you can rely on CBD to help your dog deal with both anxiety and fatigue. You can click here to understand how this natural wellness aid works for canines. Apart from these physical stress factors, lights can also cause seizures in dogs because they are photosensitive animals. Anything ranging from Christmas lights to camera flashes and even lightning can cause potential issues. Extreme hot or cold weather and sudden changes in barometric pressure are some other factors you need to be careful about.
Food
Surprisingly, your dog’s everyday diet may have some harmful foods that can trigger a seizure. Even worse, you may be feeding them the same. For example, a diet too high in sodium can cause salt toxicity. Some low-grade, processed dog foods can also act as culprits. There can be natural problem foods as well, including fruits like carrots and tomatoes, dairy products like cheese, and uncooked pork. Walnuts, caffeine, and spices like saffron, rosemary, and sage can also be troublesome. The triggers may vary from animal to animal, but being vigilant will help you identify what isn’t working for your pet.
When it comes to avoiding dog seizures, these are often preventable unless the animal is suffering from a medical condition. Everything boils down to keeping an eye on your pet and its sensitivities. If you are watchful enough, you will be able to understand their triggers and keep the dog safe from them.
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