I have attempted to write this article several times but stopped. This is partly because in many cases, the causes of epilepsy cannot be determined and the treatment options available are not very good. It is probable that most causes of epilepsy are genetic, however to date; no genetic tests have been successful in determining the cause. Sometimes, seizures can be caused by medical conditions such as liver shunt issues or brain tumors, but even when treated, the seizures may continue. The prognosis is most frequently called āidiopathic epilepsyā, which means it comes from unknown causes. Idiopathic Epilepsy I had my first dog with seizures 6 years ago. It was terribly frightening and even though I had researched symptoms and treatments and listened to stories about epilepsy from people writing me, I felt helpless. I immediately took him to the veterinarian the next day but after blood work, urinalysis and other diagnostic tests, along with a careful hands-on physical, we could not find any specific cause. It was most likely genetic; as he had a brother that was euthanized, due to episodes of aggression. His brother also had blood work, urinalysis, and numerous tests that came up normal and did not point to any specific cause. Rage Syndrome It was then that I began researching ārage syndromeā, which is a problem that can affect many breeds. A dog may display an aggressive episode or repeated aggression. The dog can be happy and well-adjusted and love his owner, but will then suddenly turn on him, growling and biting. The episodes donāt last long, and after each one, the dog acts as though nothing happened. He will be happy, want to love and kiss his owner and appear to have no memory of what just occurred. |