EPILEPSY is a serious condition for pets as well as humans says a Solihull vet.
Willows Veterinary Centre and Referrals Service is drawing attention to the fact epilepsy is a relatively common problem in dogs and cats, which can be distressing for both animals and their owners.
Sebastien Behr, a specialist in veterinary neurology and head of neurology at Willows, said signs to look out for in dogs, in particular, include loss of voluntary control, often seen with convulsions, irregular attacks which start and finish suddenly and attacks which appear very similar each time and have a repetitive pattern.
He said: “As in humans, epilepsy in pets is a chronic condition which causes repeated seizures and is the most common chronic long-term neurological disorder in dogs.
“Symptoms can include collapsing, sudden jerking movements, stiffening, muscle twitching, loss of consciousness, drooling, chomping, tongue chewing, or foaming at the mouth.
“It can be scary for owners to witness such symptoms in their pets however, as in the human world, epilepsy in pets can be effectively managed with the correct diagnosis and treatment.
“Our world class specialist-led team of six neurologists have a wealth of experience and expertise and offer a dedicated epilepsy clinic.
“That’s a huge benefit to our patients and their owners as, with the correct investigations and treatment, epilepsy can be treated very successfully and animals can enjoy an excellent quality of life.
“At Willows, we have state-of-the art facilities enabling us to perform a large number of investigations to help deliver the best possible results for our patients.
“In some animals, an underlying cause of the condition can be identified, such as inflammation of the brain, a malformation or even brain tumours, but in many patients the condition is termed ‘idiopathic ’when no obvious underlying cause can be identified.
“Whatever the problem is, we have the multi-disciplinary specialists, clinical support team and the facilities, to be able to provide the best possible care.”
Willows offers specialist services in anaesthesia and analgesia, cardiology, clinical nutrition, dermatology, diagnostic imaging, emergency and critical care, internal medicine, neurology, oncology, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, soft tissue surgery and spinal surgery.
