Seizures and the Grooming Salon

By Mary Oquendo

Here's a quick multiple-choice test: I place Toby, a 12-year-old Golden Retriever, onto the table and turn on the high-velocity dryer. He proceeds to pee, poop, and bark non-stop. Toby is:

A.) misbehaving.
B.) poorly trained.
C.) having a seizure.

And the answer is C.) having a seizure.

What Is a Seizure?

"Seizure," "convulsion," "epilepsy," and "fit" are all different terms for the same condition. Something triggers abnormal electrical activity in the brain, sending a scrambled message to the muscles of the body. In other words, there is a short circuit in the pet's electrical panel. Both cats and dogs can have seizures. In Toby's case, it was the noise of the HV dryer that induced his seizure.

What Causes a Seizure?

There are two different categories. The first is idiopathic or primary epilepsy. The second is symptomatic or secondary epilepsy.

Idiopathic epilepsy is generally a genetic defect. Seizures begin at an early age. Causes include:

• Breed type - specific breeds are prone to seizures (e.g. German Shepherds, Keeshonds, Belgium Tervurens, St. Bernards, Poodles, Beagles, Irish Setters, Cocker Spaniel, Labs, Goldens, Malamutes, and Huskies)
• Hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain) - toy breeds and brachycephalic dogs (pushed-in faces) are more at risk.
• Juvenile hypoglycemia (diabetes)
• Pets with genetic endocrine or metabolic disorders

Symptomatic epilepsy is caused either by a brain lesion or a specific disorder. Causes include:

• Any of the non-genetic causes of idiopathic epilepsy
• Plant botanicals, essential oils, and chemicals typically found in topical grooming supplies such as shampoos and conditioners
• Ingesting or inhaling poisons found in typical grooming cleaning supplies such as disinfectants, chemical sprays, and flea and tick products
• Toxic food, such as chocolate, onions, or grapes, left within reach of pets
• Infectious agents such as Lyme disease, rabies, distemper, parvo, FLV, and FIV
• Thiamine deficiency from certain long-term fish diets
• Kidney disease
• Sudden blunt force trauma
• Stress, such as might be caused by a HV dryer
• Vaccinations
• Full moon. Oh wait, that's werewolves. Never mind.
• Brain infections or tumors
• Low thyroid

What Are the Signs of a Seizure?

There are four stages to a seizure. The signs can vary not only from stage to stage but from cause to location in the brain where the short circuit occurred.

The prodome is the period of time just prior to the seizure. There is a subtle change in the mood or behavior of the pet. In Toby's case, he would get a little anxious when he was in the tub.

The aura signals the start of the seizure. The pet may be whiny, restless, trying to hide, trembling, excessively salivating, or unusually affectionate. In Toby's case, as soon as I put him on the table, he would dance around and start to whine.

The ictus is the actual seizure, and here is where the signs can wildly vary. Pets could experience muscle contractions, facial twitching, drooling, defecation, urination, barking, clamped jaws, running in place, aggression, irrational fear, and "fly-snapping." I knew of a dog that would rear up on his hind legs, come back down stiff as a board, and stay that way until the seizure passed. The most common sign is a vacant, "lights are on and no one is home" stare. In Toby's case, as soon as I turned on the HV dryer, he would bark non-stop, pee, and poop all over the place.

The post-ictal phase is after the seizure ends. They will be very hungry and thirsty and could experience blindness, deafness, disorientation, pacing, or a change in behavior. I had a client who had to put down her sweet Golden Retriever, Penny. She would turn into Cujo for several hours following her ever-increasing seizures. In Toby's case, he would be disoriented for a couple of hours.

What Should I Do During a Seizure?

• Don't interfere unless the pet is in danger. If it is on the grooming table, then get them off.
• Move tables and workboxes away from the pet - not the other way around.
• Kick a towel under its head to protect it from blunt force trauma. Do not use your hands. This pet is not in control, and you may get bitten.
• Turn off the lights, clippers, and dryers. The pet's brain is already over stimulated. Think hangover or migraine.
• Do not wrap the pet in a towel to stop the thrashing. It runs the risk of tearing ligaments.
• Talk to the pet in quiet, soothing tones with your face away from it. Remember that this pet is not in control, and you may get bitten.

What Should I Do After the Seizure?

This groom is over. This pet is now in the post-ictal stage and needs quiet. Contact the owner for pickup and the veterinarian if warranted. Its body temperature will have risen, so do not cover it in towels to comfort. The pet's blood sugar will have dropped, which is a serious concern for diabetic pets. Be cautious if offering it food. The pet will be very hungry, and you don't want to lose a finger or cause aspiration pneumonia. Aspiration pneumonia can happen when food or water is gulped down too quickly, especially following a stressful event.

When Is It an Emergency?

• The first time the pet goes into a seizure, as you are not certain of the cause. This is why it is so important to know the medical history of pets in our care. It will differentiate between a first seizure and an established medical condition.
• Status epilepticus - a series of continuing seizures or one lasting more than 10 minutes
• Cluster seizure - multiple seizures in a 24-hour period
• Pale white gums are an indicator of pulmonary edema in the lungs caused by the seizure.

Contact the veterinarian first for any instructions and to give them time to prepare for your arrival. In addition to knowing the medical history of every pet in your care, you should also have a "consent to treat" release filled out by the owner.

Knowledge is power. While seizures are life threatening, they can be managed through veterinary care, owner awareness, and your knowledge.

Mary is the owner of Pawsitively Pretty Mobile Grooming Salon In Danbury, CT. She is Certified Master Pet Tech Instructor and teaches Pet CPR, First Aid and Care across the country as well as offers webinars geared for both the pet professional and pet owner. Mary's blog can be found at www.groomwise.com and is the author of Let's Go Fido. Mary is a Reiki Master and a Certified Crystal Therapist whose practice is solely devoted to animals.