Do you know what toxins can cause seizures in dogs? Read this article now to avoid harming your dog and know how to detox a dog from harsh toxins and heavy metals.
You as a pet owner are responsible for keeping your dog healthy and happy. You must ensure your dog eats a healthy diet and that he is getting plenty of exercises.
You should also avoid toxins. They can cause seizures and other health problems in dogs. You can prevent many health problems and make sure your dog is happy and healthy by keeping toxins out of your house.
Seizures are becoming more common in dogs. If you protect your dog from toxic substances and their source, it doesn’t mean that she has to have seizures like drooling, jerking, and foaming.
This article will help you understand the subtle effects of toxic substances your dog might be exposed to, and how to minimize them.
You’ll learn how to treat a toxic seizure in your dog if it has ever happened. If your dog has ever had a toxic seizure, you’ll be able to learn about the symptoms.
Here are some additional details about seizures and the possible toxins that could cause harm to your dog.
Table of Contents
What Toxins Can Cause Seizures in Dogs?
Although we don’t know the exact cause of seizures, there are many possible causes. Dog seizures are often triggered by toxins. Dog seizures are abnormally strong electrical activity spikes in the brain.
Seizures are one of the most common neurological conditions in dogs. Dogs may experience seizures for many reasons. These can include:
Idiopathic seizure
Idiopathic epilepsy is the most common cause of seizures in dogs. It is a hereditary condition that has no known cause. It can be caused by liver disease or kidney failure, brain tumors, and brain trauma.
Although idiopathic seizure can be very common, it is not easily identifiable. However, it may be genetic.
Manifested seizure
This type of seizure is caused by structural changes in the brain such as tumors, inflammation, and infection.
Adaptive seizure
This can be caused by metabolic disorders or brain toxins. Although toxicity is not the most common cause of dog seizures, the ASPCA reports more than 200,000 cases each year in the United States.
Dog seizures can be caused by toxins such as smoke inhalation, salt ingestion, sago palms, and killer bees. You would be able to agree that dogs are often unknowingly ingested in foods or the environment.
You need to be aware of any environmental and consumable items that could cause harm to your dog.
List of Toxins That Can Cause Seizures in Dogs
Home Products That Cause Seizures
What household products can cause seizures in dogs? Your dog could also experience seizures from insecticides or rat poisonings.
These include Bromethalin rodenticide, Strychnine (rat poisoning), 4-Aminopyridine, and Strychnine.
These are signs that you may have poisoning if you suspect ingestion of any of these chemicals.
- Seizures
- Appetite loss
- Muscle tremors
- Impaired movement
- Paralysis of their hind limbs
There are many treatment options available for rats poisoning. These include vomiting, activated charcoal administration, and medication to the dog to prevent seizures or muscle tremors.
It is best to keep any rodent poisoning or insecticides out of reach of your dog.
Make sure to read the label before you use these products in your yard. You may need to keep your dog away from certain areas of the yard for a few minutes in order to dry these products and prevent them from getting into their mouths.
Medications That Cause Seizures
These medications are commonly associated with seizures in dogs:
- Ibuprofen
- Fluorouracil (5-FU) cream
- Ivermectin
- Metronidazole
- Amphetamines
- Procaine Penicillin G
- Diphenhydramine
- Phenylbutazone
For example, your dog could get a stomach ulcer if he ingests Ibuprofen. This can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and weakness. Dogs who ingest a lot of Ibuprofen could experience kidney failure, liver failure, seizures, and tremors.
Antidepressant use
Pet owners need to be aware that there are other medications that can cause seizures in dogs. Side effects of antidepressants could include:
- Seizures and tremors
- Excessive salivation
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- There is confusion
- rapid heart rate/arrhythmia
- Rapid breathing
- Increased body temperature
- Increased blood pressure
It is important that your dog receives the correct dosage of antidepressants, and that they don’t interact with each other.
Talk to your vet before giving your dog prescriptions or over-the-counter medication. To prevent your dog from getting poisoned, make sure the medication is kept safe and secure.
Other Products That Cause Seizures
Antifreeze is another product you should be concerned about.
Ethylene glycol (the main ingredient in antifreeze) can cause severe kidney damage and secondary formation of calcium oxalate in the kidneys of your dog.
Antifreeze can be found in brake fluid, automotive radiator coolant, paints, solvents, and wood stains.
Antifreeze poisoning can cause vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, and walking drunk in dogs.
You must take your dog to the vet within eight to twelve hours of his ingestion. Otherwise, he may develop kidney failure which could lead to death. Antifreeze can be used on dogs. Make sure they are not exposed to it.
Different Seizure Disorders: Symptoms and Causes
Seizures in healthy dogs are not always caused by toxins. If your dog has suffered trauma to the head, kidney disease, liver disease, embolism, or high blood sugar, he may experience seizures.
A few types of seizures could occur focal, idiopathic epilepsy, or grand mal. A grand mal seizure can be generalized and caused by the abnormal electrical activity within your dog’s brain. This may last from a few seconds to a few moments.
Focal seizures are only on one side of the brain. Psychomotor seizures can cause your dog’s behavior to change.
Your dog may run, chase or bite imaginary objects, while psychomotor seizures occur on both sides. When a seizure is not caused by any known cause, it’s called idiopathic epilepsies.
Your dog could be more vulnerable to idiopathic epilepsies if it is a Collie or German Shepherd, Australian Shepherd, Labrador Retriever, or Belgian Tervuren.
A seizure (also known as a convulsion) is an involuntary disruption to normal brain function. It is often accompanied by uncontrollable muscle movements.
Dogs with partial or focal seizures are those that have difficulty staying conscious due to abnormal movements in one body part (e.g. an ear, limb). Before your dog has a seizure, you may see warning signs.
Dogs can become anxious, clingy, and befuddled. You can still see your dog as if it is frightened, confused, temporarily blind, or wobbly. It all depends on whether the dog has swallowed poison or not.
You can expect gastrointestinal irritation, diarrhea, and vomiting to cause stomach upset, vomiting, restlessness, or disorientation in your dog.
Contact poisons can cause irritation in dogs. There would be discomfort, agitation, and excessive scratching or biting.
The skin may appear reddened and ulcerated if the condition is severe. Your dog might also have a bleed under the coat.
The most common indicators of a seizure are:
- Collapsing
- Drooling
- Foaming mouth
- Involuntary urination or defecating
- Stiffening
- Tongue chewing
- Twitching muscles
- The body’s jerking movements
- Unconsciousness
- Paddling motions
Dog seizure signs include:
- Jerking body movements
- Drooling
- Chew your tongue
- Foaming around the mouth
- Involuntary urinating and defecating
- Stiffening
- Loss of consciousness
- Muscle twitching
To calm your dog if he is having a seizure, speak softly. Once the seizure has ended, contact your veterinarian. Your dog may need to be given a dog seizure medication such as levetiracetam, phenobarbital, or potassium bromide.
Making Sure Your Dog Is Safe
Toxins can cause seizures and other problems for your dog. It is important to keep them away from your pet.
If your dog experiences a seizure or other symptoms after an accident, you should calm him down immediately and contact a veterinary clinic for possible treatment. You can make sure your dog lives a happy, healthy life.
Summary
The article has probably provided you with basic knowledge about toxins that can be the cause of seizures in dogs.
To make it easier to understand, I will summarize a list of toxins that can cause seizures in dogs below:
Medications
- Fluorouracil (5-FU) cream
- Ivermectin
- Fluoroquinolone antibiotics
- Isoniazid
- Lamotrigine
- Ibuprofen
- Metronidazole
- Phenylbutazone
- Amphetamines
- Vilazodone
- Diphenhydramine
- Phenylpropanolamine
- Procaine Penicillin G
- 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)
Any medications with the potential to cause hypoglycemia (such as sulfonylureas)
Plants
- Mushrooms
- Brunfelsia (Yesterday-Today-and-Tomorrow)
- Sago palm
Foods
- Xylitol
- Caffeine
- Ethanol
- Dark chocolate
Rodenticides/Insecticides
- Metaldehyde
- Bifenthrin
- Strychnine
- Zinc phosphide
- 4-Aminopyridine
Illicit Drugs
- Cocaine
- Amphetamines
- Cannabis
- Synthetic cannabinoids
Miscellaneous
- Ethylene glycol
- Mycotoxins
- Bee sting envenomation
- Homemade playdough or salt dough
This article was written to inform you about the effects of toxins on seizures in dogs. We hope you now understand the possible ways your dog might accidentally become poisoned.
It doesn’t mean you have to get rid of every item in your house. It would be a good idea to become more mindful of your surroundings and help your pet get rid of any items that could pose a risk to his health.
Frequently Asked Questions
What to do if your dog has a toxic seizures?
It is important that you note that emesis does not always indicate poisoning.
Emesis can be beneficial or dangerous for certain chemicals. Dogs are limited in how long they can go to eliminate toxins through emesis.
If you feel a toxic seizure coming on, keep cool and act quickly.
Try to find out when the dog may have been poisoned. Record a video if possible. Set up an appointment with your veterinarian.
If your dog experiences more than two seizures per hour or has a seizure lasting longer than three minutes, it is considered an emergency. Get your dog to the veterinarian as soon as you can.
If a seizure continues for more than three minutes, do not wait to have it stopped. The longer the seizure goes on, the greater the chance of fatal complications.
For any potential exposure, inspect the property or house. Recuperate any poisonous substances that remain. Collect the vomit sample from your dog if it has vomited.
Your veterinarian will need to see the container containing the poison so that they can determine the best course of action. Activated charcoal or Endosorb can be used to treat poisons such as chocolate and bromethalin.
If your pet is suffering from toxic fumes, gas, or both, take them outside. Wear protective gloves and wash the chemical off the skin if the seizure is caused by contact.
Use paper towels or clean cloths if the seizure is caused by liquids. You should not use any solvents or water to get rid of the toxin unless your vet has instructed you otherwise.
Your veterinarian may advise you to use soap or dishwashing liquids to clean the toxin. Rinse with warm water to ensure your dog does not feel cold.
You should never cause vomiting, even if the toxin has been swallowed. This is because certain toxins can cause more harm if they are ingested than if they are swallowed whole.
How to reduce toxins in your dog?
If your dog has toxic seizures or is suspected of being poisoned, it is important to take your dog to the nearest veterinarian right away. Then find out the cause and conduct treatment so that the convulsions caused by poisoning do not recur. Here are some measures you can refer to to help prevent your dog from having toxic seizures.
Improve Air Quality
Indoor air pollution can be caused by household pollutants. It's important to remember that cigarettes and cigar smoke can have a negative impact on dogs.New synthetic household products such as flooring finishes and furniture emit gaseous compounds that can also cause airborne toxins.
If items emit high levels of chemical residues, ventilate certain areas and keep your dog away.
Bathroom fans can reduce the chemical residues in spray-on colognes.
Reduce your pet's exposure to chemicals and pollutants in the environment
Pets who spend time outdoors will be exposed to pesticides, weed killers and fertilizers.You should supervise your dog when they are outside, especially if they enjoy chewing grass or other plants. This can be reduced by adding greens to your dog’s diet.
Make sure your pet is not exposed to traditional medication.
Traditional heartworm medication, flea and tick treatments and a wide range of pharmaceuticals including immunizations can contain toxic chemicals.Although conventional and chemical drugs are sometimes necessary, it's important to know the dosage frequency and to look into natural alternatives if they are suitable for your pet.
Help your pet's liver and kidneys
Your pet's liver is responsible for most of the toxin removal.This can be done by using antioxidants. Many detoxification therapies, such as milk thistle, are good for your pet's liver.
Even though pets are healthy and young, they do not require daily liver support. However, it is a big advantage for older pets or pets who are taking medication.
You can make your dog's kidneys healthier by making sure they get plenty of water every day.
The kidneys release toxins that can be dangerous to delicate tissues.
When urine is very concentrated, mineral particles can also form.
The formation of crystals or stones can lead to irritation and/or obstruction of the urinary tract, which can lead to repeated infections and damage to the kidneys.
You can add broth or water to your dog's food for more moisture.
Boost Your Pet’s Immune System
The immune system works in concert with the elimination organs to keep your pet healthy. Maintaining immune health will ensure that your pet's liver, kidneys, liver, intestines, and skin are healthy so they can perform their detoxifying tasks.
A high-quality multivitamin and mineral supplement can provide daily immunological support for pets that are healthy.
Additional immune support is provided by antioxidant vitamins, which are especially beneficial for active or elderly pets.
Take care of your pet's skin and coat
Dogs can be exposed to toxins through their skin. Regular brushing will help your pet's skin breathe and improve this process.
Regular grooming removes any debris or dust that could contain hazardous residue. Your pet will be less likely to inhale toxins if they are regularly groomed.
Make sure you evaluate the quality of products used to bathe your dog. You should opt for natural products that do not contain hazardous ingredients so your pet absorbs less toxic substances through its skin.
- References:
Metabolic and toxic causes of canine seizure disorders: A retrospective study of 96 cases https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19939714/ Most Common Causes of Seizures in Dogs https://www.aspcapro.org/resource/most-common-causes-seizures-dogs I Think My Pet Had a Seizure. Now What? https://vetmed.illinois.edu/pet-health-columns/pet-seizures/ Things In Your Yard That Are Poisonous To Dogs & Cats! https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/pet-safety-tips/things-in-your-yard-that-are-poisonous-to-dogs-cats/
