Epilepsy

Most writers refer to two types of epilepsy, namely primary or ideopathic epilepsy, which means epilepsy of no known cause; and secondary epilepsy, which can have various causes.

Various causes have been identified, including :

o    degenerative (storage diseases);
o    developmental (hydrocephalus);
o    toxic (lead, arsenic, organophosphates, chlorinated hydrocarbons, strychnine, tetanus);
o    infectious (distemper, encephalitis, and others);
o    metabolic (such as transient hypoglycemia, hypocalcemia, enzyme deficiency, liver or kidney failure);
o    nutritional (thiamine, parasitism);
o    traumatic (acute injury)
o    hypothyroidism
o    neoplastic (brain tumor).
In dogs 1-3 years of age, a genetic factor is most highly suspected (summarised from Alicia Aylward Marcinczyk).
If these causes have been ruled out, ideopathic epilepsy is the diagnosis.

The behavioural fallout of seizures

The effects immediately associated with epilepsy, seizures, will be familiar to those who have had contact with a dog known to be epileptic. However, epilepsy can remain undiagnosed. Sometimes the owner does not witness the seizure, but may notice episodes of abnormal behaviour.

The abnormal behaviour may at first be interpreted as evidence of a training, behavioural or attitude problem on the part of the dog.

For example, I have seen the following behaviour in my own and other people's dogs :

o    not making eye contact
o    not coming when called
o    running in the opposite direction when called
o    sudden impulse to escape or run away
o    extremely loud, distressed barking when left alone
o    extremely loud, distressed barking when not in physical contact with owner
o    serious destructiveness when left alone - to the extent of ripping weatherboards off the back of the house
o    uncharacteristic ways of making physical contact
o    aggression

Obviously these behaviours could be typical of any dog on occasions. Dog owners have varying reactions to this, as do experienced dog trainers. People interpret the behaviour as a training problem, as evidence of stubborness, wilfulness, unresponsiveness, viciousness, spite and so on.  Unfortunately, there is a tendency to blame the dog and react with anger, frustration or punishment-based reprimands. The frustration and recourse to punishment can increase as the owner or trainer tries the standard training and behavioural remedies and finds that either they don't work, or they work some of the time ... then just as you thought the problem was solved, it happens again. Owners may then feel that they have “tried everything” and euthanasia or rehoming comes onto the agenda.
The challenge for the dog owner or trainer is knowing whether the “trying” behaviour is :

o    the result of insufficient training (most dogs are unreliable about coming when called, some deliberately “take off”);
o    an indication of a behaviour problem, such as separation anxiety, which could involve environmental factors, stressful daily routines, as well as the dog's predisposition;
o    some specific cause in the dog's previous experience, learned reactions or habits;
o    a problem in the nature of the relationship between dog and owner; or
o    some other health-related or external cause.