Convulsiones en perros adultos

Tu perro dormido de pronto comienza a mover sus patas, pero sus ojos siguen cerrados. Su cuerpo comienza a temblar y a brincar, e incluso empieza a hacer sonidos. Pareciera que está corriendo, posiblemente esté persiguiendo algo en sus sueños. ¿Qué está pasando?

Fever (febrile convulsion)

A convulsion caused by fever is called a febrile convulsion. Febrile convulsions usually occur in infants and children who have a sudden spike in body temperature. The temperature change can be so rapid that you may not even be aware of the fever until the convulsion.

Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological condition that involves recurring seizures not caused by another known condition. There are many types of seizures, but a tonic-clonic seizure, otherwise known as grand mal seizure, is the type that usually involves convulsions.

Having had febrile convulsions does not increase the risk of developing epilepsy.

Some conditions that can lead to convulsions or seizures with convulsions are:

• brain tumor
• cardiac arrhythmia
• eclampsia
• hypoglycemia
• rabies
• sudden drop in blood pressure
• tetanus
• uremia
• stroke
• infections of the brain or spinal fluid
• heart problems

Seizures with convulsions can also be a medication reaction or reaction to drugs or alcohol.

Convulsions are easy to spot, with symptoms such as:

symptoms of convulsions

• lack of awareness, loss of consciousness
• eyes rolling back in the head
• face that appears red or blue
• changes to breathing
• stiffening of the arms, legs, or whole body
• jerky movements of the arms, legs, body, or head
• lack of control over movements
• inability to respond

These symptoms usually last from a few seconds to several minutes, though they can last longer.

Children may be cranky after a febrile convulsion and some may fall into a deep sleep lasting an hour or more.

Seizures, even with convulsions, don’t always require emergency medical care; however, call 911 if a person:

• has never had a convulsion or seizure before
• has a seizure or convulsions lasting more than five minutes
• has trouble breathing afterward
• has difficulty walking after the convulsion ends
• starts to have a second seizure
• injured themselves during convulsions
• has heart disease, diabetes, is pregnant, or has other medical conditions

Be sure to tell emergency responders about any known conditions, as well as drugs or alcohol that the person may have taken. If possible, record the convulsion so you can show the doctor.

WHen to seek emergency care for a child with convulsions

In the case of a child, go to the emergency room or call an ambulance if:

• This was the first convulsion your child has had or you’re not certain what happened.
• The convulsion lasted over five minutes.
• Your child won’t wake up or looks very sick when the convulsion is over.
• Your child was already very ill before the convulsion.
• If your child had more than one convulsion.

If a febrile convulsion was less than five minutes long, call your doctor and make an appointment as soon as possible. Give as many details as you can about what you observed.

Your medical history and other symptoms will help guide your doctor as to what testing may be necessary. This may include:

• blood and urine tests to check for infection or the presence of toxic substances
• EEG to check electrical activity in the brain
• imaging tests such as an MRI or CT scan of the brain

When it comes to febrile convulsions in children, there may not be a need for treatment other than to address the cause of the fever. Sometimes your doctor may prescribe medication to use if another febrile convulsion occurs.

If seizures and convulsions become frequent, your doctor may recommend medicines that can help prevent seizures. Treatment options will depend on the cause.

¿Qué hacer ante las convulsiones en perros?

A continuación te explicaremos qué hacer ante las convulsiones en perros, un procedimiento que debe conocer cualquier tutor con un perro a su cargo que presente este tipo de problema:

1. Para empezar lo más importante es mantener la calma.
2. Pediremos que se marchen niños y otros animales de la habitación.
3. Debemos asegurarnos que todo aquello que rodea al perro no pueda hacerle daño. Retiraremos cualquier objeto de alrededor y le rodearemos cojines siempre que sea posible. Intentaremos bajar la intensidad de la iluminación y grabarle con un móvil.
4. Llamaremos al veterinario de urgencias, ya que las crisis graves y largas pueden resultar mortales.
5. Cronometraremos el tiempo que dura la crisis, prestando especial atención si supera los 3 minutos.
6. En ningún caso debemos intentar «despertarle», pues el perro no es consciente de ello. Además, las estimulaciones sonoras o luminosas pueden generar estrés en el perro, alargando aún más la convulsión.
7. Esperaremos a que la convulsión finalice al lado del perro.
8. Una vez la convulsión haya finalizado reconfortaremos al can de forma suave. Evitaremos gritar o forzarle a levantarse rápidamente. Es importante que todo sea muy calmado.
9. Acudiremos al veterinario o solicitaremos la visita de un veterinario a domicilio.

What to do if you’re with someone who’s having a convulsion

It can be unsettling to see someone having convulsions, but it’s important to try to remain calm.

Synonyms for convulsion

a sudden uncontrollable attack

violent uncontrollable contractions of muscles

a physical disturbance such as an earthquake or upheaval

References in periodicals archive ?

Electroencephalography and convulsion behavior scores were recorded.

Case-control study of the relationship between anemia and febrile convulsion in children between 9 months and 5 years of age.

Consult your doctor immediately as soon as the convulsion has passed.

Simple convulsion usually takes less than 10-15 minutes, generalized tonic colonic, tonic, colonic or atonic.

Injuries after an epileptic convulsion have been seen commonly such as burns, head injury and dislocation of the extremities.

Pregabalin, trademark Lyrica, is an anti-epilepsy and anti-convulsion drug that is used for controlling convulsion and the treatment of fibromyalgia (muscular pain and toughness).

Symptoms include high fever, convulsion and frigidity around the neck area.

frutescens (MEIF) using MES-, PTZ-, and INHinduced convulsion models in rats.

KEY WORDS: Febrile Seizure Convulsion Serum zinc level Epilepsy.

Objective: Although the mechanism of febrile convulsion is not yet clear, some changes in the level of trace elements such as zinc have been suggested to be responsible for the pathogenesis.

It is important to differentiate a febrile convulsion from acute symptomatic seizures secondary to central nervous system infection or seizures triggered by fever in children with epilepsy.

An animal owner presented his nine month pregnant adult buffalo showing history of anorexia, transient convulsion, salivation and in recumbency from last few hours.

A seizure, also called a convulsion or fit, consists of involuntary contractions of many of the muscles in the body.

Seizures were induced in mice with PTZ (60 mg/kg, ip) or PIC (8 mg/kg, ip) and the animals were observed for convulsion for a period of 15 or 20 min, respectively.

NEW SHOCK TREATMENT–Neither electric stimulation nor convulsion may be necessary components in the electroshock treatment of certain types of mental illness.

Causas de las convulsiones en perros

(Foto via: expertoanimal)

Las convulsiones no tienen una única causa, hay muchas situaciones que las pueden originar:

• Causas traumáticas: el traumatismo cerebral es una de las principales causas de las convulsiones en perros. Pueden ocurrir en el mismo momento del traumatismo o un rato después. Si tu perro sufre un traumatismo craneoencefálico, ¡acude al veterinario cuanto antes!
• Tumores: las crisis nerviosas también pueden venir ocasionadas por un tumor, especialmente en casos de perros ancianos. ¿Cómo saber si las convulsiones vienen causadas por un tumor? Cuando esto ocurre, normalmente las convulsiones no son el único síntoma, sino que además el perro tiene problemas para moverse o caminar, su carácter se altera sin causa aparente, pierde visión o pone la cabeza en posturas extrañas.
• Causas relacionadas con el metabolismo: la hipoglucemia, hipocalcemia y otras alteraciones del metabolismo también pueden ocasionar convulsiones en los perros. Para saber si esta es la causa, es necesario realizar análisis de sangre.
• Enfermedades infecciosas: la rabia, la pseudorrabia o el moquillo son algunas de las enfermedades que pueden contar con las convulsiones entre sus síntomas, o bien aparecer como una secuela posterior. Por eso, es muy importante que siempre vacunes a tu mascota.
• Problemas y enfermedades congénitas: como la hidrocefalia y otras malformaciones. Hay algunas razas más predispuestas a sufrir esta enfermedad, como: caniche enano, Yorkshire terrier, chihuahua. Otra enfermedad que da convulsiones es la lisencefalia, que suele afectar a la raza Lhasa Apso.
• Intoxicación: provocadas por fármacos, alimentos inapropiados para perros, algunos parásitos… La intoxicación en los perros, presente convulsiones o no, debe ser tratada de urgencia, ya que podría causar la muerte en pocas horas.

What to do if someone is having a convulsion

• try to cushion their head with something soft
• tilt them to one side to ease breathing
• move anything hard or sharp out of the way so they don’t hurt themselves
• loosen any clothing around the neck and remove eyeglasses
• check for a medical ID
• call for medical assistance
• stay with them until the convulsion is over and they’re fully aware