You see your very energetic pooch lying down drooling, all steady without movement or shaking uncontrollably, which is very unusual of your pet, and you wonder what’s wrong, well that is known as a seizure or epilepsy.
This condition is susceptible to Chihuahuas because they have very low body weight. Seizures usually last from seconds to a few minutes and it can be considered a sign about an underlying disease.
Symptoms to assure that your pet has a seizure are:
- Collapsing
- Jerking
- Muscle Twitching
- Loss of Consciousness
- Drooling or foam in the mouth
It is also said that after they have a seizure which probably went unnoticed, they tend to walk bumping into things wobbling without a steady movement by losing balance.
What causes seizures:
- Low sugar levels
- Tumors
- Inherited disorder
- Eating poison
- Kidney Disease
Things to do if you observe your dog having a seizure
- Remain Calm
- Check if it’s in pain
- Remember not to touch your dog cause it might bite due to the panic
- Call your vet after the seizure
- Observe for more seizures
Contact emergency veterinary care is you notice
- That the seizure continues longer than few minutes
- Multiple seizures occurring during a short period of time
After you have taken your pet to the vet, the vet might do a physical exam and run some test lab reports and sometimes an ECG in order to find the cause for the seizure. And the vet also might prescribe some meds in order to prevent more seizures.
Facts to remember
Seizures are not painful although they seem to be, but it can cause a lot of panic and confusion to your pet. Tongue biting rarely happens during a seizure but if you put your fingers or any object there is a high chance of being bitten or injuring your dog’s mouth. If your dog is walking or trembling the best idea is to lay it down on the ground to prevent it from injuring itself.
As you know Chihuahuas are prone to seizures due to their body weight so to minimize the risk feed your Chihuahua in constant small meals rather than a large one at once, try to reduce your dog’s stress as stress can increase the risk. Be sure to stay close to them whenever you can and provide them comfort
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