If your dog has been diagnosed with epilepsy, it is an upsetting time. This article is designed to bring simplicity and clarity to natural treatment for epilepsy in dogs and to provide you with safe and effective practical suggestions to natural treatment of epilepsy in dogs.
They can greatly improve your dog’s condition and in some cases, make your dog’s problem go away completely.
What is epilepsy?
In simple terms, epilepsy is an abnormality in the function of the brain. If we compare this complex organ to a computer, epilepsy is a state where the “body” computer malfunctions. The conduction of brain impulses becomes chaotic, disorganized and out of control which brings on an epileptic state – tremors and loss of control and consciousness.
The purpose of this article is not to cite anatomy, biochemistry and physiology books. The goal is to help you understand what factors influence the brain’s function and what you can do to help your dog.
Brain – the greatest supercomputer
I find nature fascinating. It has completely automated the process of design innovation through evolution and manufacturing through procreation and growth. It is ironic that the human species spends so much time trying to emulate and copy the processes that already exist in nature effortlessly.
This also applies to medicine where drugs and other invasive treatments are the first line of defense. In my opinion eighty percent of all medical problems could be prevented if we followed natural principles of healing. This also applies to epilepsy.
Most common causes of epilepsy in dogs
1. Trauma to the head
2. Excessive chewing
3. Neck and collar Injuries
4. Nutrient deficiency
5. Metabolic (biochemical) imbalance (known or unknown)
6. Toxic substances and heavy metals
7. Infectious agents
9. Flea medication
10. Brain tumour
Logically, most people immediately worry about the last possible case scenario. However, the majority of dogs with epilepsy do not have brain tumours. The best way of addressing epilepsy is to eliminate the other possible causes before a tumour is considered.
Determining the cause of your dog’s epilepsy is not always easy. While diagnosis can be extremely helpful in establishing prognosis, often no one can say for sure what the true cause of a seizure is. However, all epileptic dogs should have an initial evaluation consisting of the following:
• Physical and neurological exam
• Complete blood count and chemistry plus urinalysis
• Tests for infectious agents such as toxoplasmosis and tick-borne diseases
• Thyroid panel
• Evaluation by a chiropractor, physical therapist or an osteopath
• Diet evaluation and change
• HairQ test – to check for electrolyte and mineral deficiencies, and toxic elements such as mercury, arsenic and lead
If seizures reoccur despite the treatment a CT scan or an MRI needs to be done to rule out a brain tumour. This is in addition to X-rays of the chest and an ultrasound of the abdominal and thoracic regions to help to detect chest or abdominal tumours.
Continue here for Part 2