Rottweilers are dogs who are loving and devoted to their owners. They are medium-to-large or large domestic dogs. Rottweilers are excellent family companions, make good protection dogs for households, and are a perfect option if you want to adopt an adult dog. They tend to follow their favorite person, ensuring that they are always in their line of sight.
- Rottweiler Epilepsy Explained
- Causes of Epilepsy in Rottweilers
- How Epilepsy Can Affect Your Rottweiler
- Life Expectancy of a Rottweiler With Epilepsy
- Signs Your Rottweiler Might Have Epilepsy
- How to Care For and Treat Your Rottweiler for Epilepsy
- How To Help Your Rottweiler Live a Fulfilling Life With Epilepsy
Rottweiler Epilepsy Explained
One of the most frequent neurological diseases found in dogs is epilepsy. Despite this, it appears that dog epilepsy is more prevalent in the Rottweiler breed.
Epilepsy is the most widespread chronic (long-term) neurological illness in dogs, characterized by recurring seizures (which may be described as ‘fits’ or ‘strange twists’). In most situations, dog epilepsy lasts a lifetime. Epilepsy Seizures are caused by unusual electrical activity in the brain; it causes rapid but brief changes in affected dogs. Changes are mostly in their behavior and movement.
What Does a Dog Seizure Look Like?
You must know what a dog seizure looks like in order to best help your Rottweiler.So, what does a dog seizure look like?
Seizures are composed of three phases. The pre-ictal phase (aura) is a phase of changed behavior during which the dog may hide, act apprehensive, or seek the owner out. He might be agitated, anxious, whimpering, shaky, or salivating. This might last from a few seconds to several hours. This phase comes before the seizure activity, almost as if the dog understands something will happen.
The ictal phase can last anywhere from a few seconds to some minutes and can occur several times. The ictal phase can range from slight alterations in mental awareness, such as a dazed appearance, moderate shivering, aimless gazing, and licking lips, to complete unconsciousness and loss of body function.
When a dog has a grand mal seizure or a full-fledged seizure with loss of consciousness, all of the muscles in the body twitch spastically and irregularly. The epileptic dogs typically roll over on their side and swim their legs, appearing to be paralyzed. The head is frequently pulled backward. Urination and salivation are all possible consequences. The dog is in status epilepsy or prolonged seizure if the episode does not stop within five minutes.
The last stage is the post-ictal phase. There is confusion, disorientation, salivation, pacing, restlessness, or even temporary blindness in this phase.
Types of Epilepsy in the American Rottweiler
There are various types of seizures that occur in American Rottweilers and affect the question ‘what does a dog seizure look like?’
Focal seizures occur solely in one-half of the brain and a specific region. The appearance of different seizures is determined by where the irregular electrical activity began in the brain and the function of that brain region.
Focal epileptic seizures can manifest as irregular movements (“motor” signs) such as facial twitches, repetitive blinking, head shaking, and recurrent muscular spasms of one extremity.
Some of the symptoms are autonomic (arising from the autonomic nervous system) like excessive salivation, vomiting, and dilated pupils. Straits of changed behavior (episodic changes in the dog’s behavior), such as restlessness, anxiety, attention-seeking, and unexplained fear, are also seen in focal epileptic seizures.
Generalized seizures take place on both sides of the brain. These seizures can occur independently or due to a focal seizure (described below) that develops into a generalized seizure. The affected dogs lose consciousness in most cases of generalized seizures. Salivation, urine, and excrement may also follow. Motor movement takes place on both sides of the body. Tonic, clonic, tonic-clonic, and myoclonic seizures are all terms used to describe aspects of generalized seizures. Non-convulsive generalized seizures, such as atonic seizures (also known as drop attacks), result in an abrupt and widespread loss of muscle tone, causing the American Rottweiler to collapse.
Sometimes a focal seizure progresses to a generalized seizure. This is the most common form of seizure observed in dogs. The focal seizure is frequently brief (a few seconds to minutes), and secondary generalization occurs quickly. Due to the short duration of the focal seizure, it is crucial to inform your doctor what happened before the convulsions began for them to evaluate what sort of seizure your American Rottweiler is suffering.
Causes of Epilepsy in Rottweilers
Seizures in dogs can be caused by different underlying disorders and other conditions, resulting in dog epilepsy. In general, epilepsy can be categorized as ‘idiopathic’ or structural.
Idiopathic epilepsy occurs due to unknown causes. Idiopathic epilepsy often affects young to middle-aged dogs (6 months to 6 years old). Idiopathic epilepsy is frequently thought to be the result of a mix of hereditary and environmental causes. Rottweilers may be more prone to epilepsy than others, and their prevalence may be higher. Epilepsy may run in some families, and pedigree studies have shown that various kinds of epilepsy have a genetic foundation in Rottweilers.
In some circumstances, an underlying cause of seizures can be found in the brain and lead to structural changes. This includes issues in the blood supply, such as blockages and bleeding, inflammation, infection, trauma, developmental issues, brain tumors, and degenerative brain disorders. MRI and/or cerebrospinal fluid studies can both confirm these abnormalities. In addition to these structural factors, metabolic diseases of the brain can also trigger neuronal degeneration.
A reactive seizure typically develops due to momentary difficulty with brain function, such as metabolic changes or poisoning. It is reversible once the cause or disruption is corrected.
How Epilepsy Can Affect Your Rottweiler
When approaching strangers or dogs, in unusual circumstances, or with unexpected movements, dogs with epilepsy are more anxious and fearful. They are generally more aggressive, barking for no apparent reason, chasing lights and shadows, pacing and gazing.
Seizures, despite their dramatic and violent aspect, are not painful. However, the American Rottweiler may experience disorientation, terror, uncertainty, and maybe fear.
A single seizure is rarely hazardous to the American Rottweiler. However, if the Rottweiler experiences numerous seizures in a short period (cluster seizures), or if a seizure lasts more than a few minutes, the body temperature rises. A new set of issues may arise if hyperthermia (elevated body temperature) occurs due to a seizure.
Life Expectancy of a Rottweiler With Epilepsy
It is recognized that dogs with epilepsy have a reduced survival period, estimated to be between 2.07 and 2.3 years when poor seizure management and a high initial seizure frequency are present.
Around 40-60% of dogs with epilepsy have one or more episodes of cluster seizures or status epilepsy, with an average lifetime of only eight years, relative to 11 years for those with epilepsy who do not experience attacks of status epilepsy.
Signs Your Rottweiler Might Have Epilepsy
What Signs or Symptoms Should Dog Owners Look For?
Collapsing, jolting, stiffening, muscular twitching, loss of consciousness, drooling, chewing, tongue chewing, or foaming at the mouth are all symptoms of dog epilepsy. Dogs can tumble to the side and use their legs to paddle. During a seizure, they may defecate or pee. They are likewise unconcerned about their surroundings.
Before a seizure, some dogs may appear bewildered, unsteady, or confused, or they may stare in space. Your American Rottweiler may become disoriented, shaky, or even blind as a result. They may wander in circles and collide with objects. They could also try to flee.
If you find these symptoms are present in your Rottweiler, contact a veterinarian for assistance and ask him what a dog seizure looks like, to be sure.
How Can Dog Owners Accurately Determine if Their Dogs Have This Health Condition?
For seizure control, dog owners can accurately determine if their American Rottweiler has epilepsy or not through a medical diagnosis. A diagnostic strategy for this disease is developed after a physical examination and a comprehensive dog history are obtained from the pet owner, including the age at which seizures began, the number of seizures at initiation, reaction to previous therapy, and the patient’s neurological state.
Blood tests, urinalysis, serum levels of the anti-epileptic medicine prescribed, and an ocular assessment are routinely conducted on dogs who are highly suspected of having idiopathic epilepsy.
How to Care For and Treat Your Rottweiler for Epilepsy
Owners should consult with their veterinarian to determine the proper medicine dose. Please remember to take your American Rottweiler for regular blood tests to monitor medication levels and liver function.
Veterinarians and guardians should also keep a careful eye on how dogs react immediately after having a seizure. Although some animals may rapidly return to normal, others will have difficulty standing or moving; blindness, drowsiness, nervousness, or other behavioral abnormalities may also be present. These symptoms might linger for a variety of lengths of time and can influence treatment options.
Most importantly, keep the dog physically safe by keeping him away from stairs and water. Seizures that occur in clusters of three within 12 hours or continue longer than five minutes are considered emergency cases. The dog should be taken to a veterinarian as soon as possible. Following a seizure, an owner should confine a dog to a safe place so that he or she does not walk off or into something that might cause injury.
You never know where or when a seizure will strike, so be prepared at all times. This includes keeping medicine in hand and ensuring your American Rottweilerwears ID tags at all times in case they escape. It’s also a good idea to have a strategy in place in case of a seizure. Create your plan based on your Rottweiler’s requirements.
Speak to your American Rottweiler in quiet, soothing tones. After the seizure days, some owners try playing calm, gentle music for their pets. This is acceptable as long as you don’t play anything too loudly. Your Rottweiler may enjoy it more if you let him return to normal without adding distractions.
Seizures produce a rapid rise in your dog’s body temperature. As a result, it might be beneficial to gently drape cool washcloths over his feet when the seizure has finished. Wait till your American Rottweiler is awake before doing this, as he may bite you if you don’t. After a seizure, some owners cover their Rottweiler in a towel or blanket and hold him to comfort their dog. This is OK if your Rottweiler has become active and is generally back to normal after the seizure. However, if this is not the case, do not advance.
Try hugging and comforting your American Rottweiler after a seizure. Avoid doing this if your Rottweiler dislikes being hugged since he will not find it reassuring in this scenario. Your Rottweiler may be quite sleepy once he is alert again. Allow him to sleep; you may check on him occasionally, but it’s better to let him relax.
Preventative Measures
You should avoid trying to open your dog’s mouth during a seizure. Contrary to common perception, dogs do not swallow their tongues when they are having seizures. You will not help your pet if you put your fingers or an object into its mouth, and you face a great chance of being severely bitten or harming your American Rottweiler. The main goal is to protect the dog from falling or injuring itself by running into items. There is little risk of injury occurring as long as your Rottweiler is on the floor or ground.
What Treatment Options Are There for Epilepsy?
There is no cure for dog epilepsy. However, certain medications can help minimize the intensity and likelihood of seizures in your dog while avoiding intolerable side effects. This method is effective in roughly 15-30% of dogs. Following a comprehensive examination, testing, and diagnosis, your veterinarian or veterinary neurologist will prescribe the appropriate medicine for your dog depending on the type of seizures he is having as well as his overall health, weight, and age. If the initial treatment fails to control your pet’s epilepsy, veterinarians may prescribe more drugs.
If your American Rottweiler is on seizure medication, you must give him the medicine at the same time each day. It is also vital you give them the right amount specified by your veterinarian and that you never stop the prescription without first seeing your veterinarian.
If you observe that your Rottweiler has far fewer seizures than before and they are shorter or less severe, treatment is deemed effective. In general, the overarching objective is to cut the number of seizures in half.
Are There Specific Ingredients That Can Be Incorporated Into the Dog’s Diet To Help Combat Epilepsy?
Diet has been proven to play an important influence in the regulation of dog epilepsy in American Rottweilers. Changes in your dog’s diet have an impact on how effectively anti-epileptic medications perform. This includes feeding your American Rottweiler odd table scraps or giving him treats. Consistency in your dog’s food can frequently pay off when it comes to treating dog epilepsy.
A specific diet has also shown promising effects in managing seizures in dogs. Dogs that transition to a diet high in medium-chain triglycerides (MCT high in medium-chain experience a reduction in the amount and severity of seizures.) To assist your dog with epilepsy, your veterinarian may prescribe a specific meal. If you believe that nutrition is a factor in your pet’s epilepsy, consult with your veterinarian about the best food for your Rottweiler breed.
How To Help Your Rottweiler Live a Fulfilling Life With Epilepsy
Sure, dog epilepsy is frightening, but it is not fatal. Regardless of the diagnosis, your American Rottweiler may have a happy, healthy, and fulfilling life.
You can still go camping, swimming, hiking, and cuddling with your epileptic Rottweiler! Epilepsy should not affect any of the enjoyable activities you like doing together. It will simply make you appreciate the good moments even more. If the seizure frequency increases, you should visit a veterinarian immediately.
Learn everything there is to know about the medications given to your American Rottweiler. Many medicines are efficient, but they frequently have unique adverse effects or might create problems in some dogs.
Side effects in dogs using AEDs are common, although they usually go away within a few weeks. Sleepiness, increased hunger and thirst, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, weight gain, restlessness, and other behavioral changes are possible adverse effects of anti-epileptic medicines. Be vigilant, educate yourself, and always see your veterinarian if you have any concerns about your dog’s care. And don’t forget to ask any and all questions!
Confirm that everyone around you is well-informed. This includes your dog sitter, family and friends coming over for lunch, your dog park pals, and so on. The more help you have, the better, and you won’t have to worry about others freaking out if they witness your American Rottweiler having a seizure.
