Symptoms of spasm in dogs

Falling down, the mouth is chewing, the body is stiff, and the limbs are making paddling movements (swimming movements). Spontaneous convulsions usually last half a minute. The dog was conscious but unresponsive. It is often accompanied by urinary incontinence. When the attack is mild, the whole body will be stiff for a short period of time, but confusion will not occur. In addition, urinary incontinence and drooling often occur.

Treatment method: Don't touch the dog's body first, and move the objects around it as soon as possible to prevent the dog from accidentally bumping into other things during the cramping process.

Secondly, confirm whether the dog's breathing is normal. When the dog calms down, quickly take off the dog's neck chain and collar, and rush to the animal hospital. Describe the process and phenomenon of the dog's convulsions to the veterinarian in detail. .

Causes of convulsions

1. Epilepsy. Convulsions due to epilepsy are the most common. If it is caused by epilepsy, we need to give the dog some anti-epileptic drugs. Drugs, use small doses of phenytoin for treatment. Epilepsy is caused by damage to the central nervous system, which causes rhythmic and regular vibrations of the masseter muscles, triggering bursts of spasms. In severe cases, the person may lose consciousness, foam at the mouth, twitch violently, and be unable to control the discharge of urine and feces.

2. Nervous diseases
Diseases that generally cause cramps in dogs may include canine distemper, concussion, epilepsy, poisoning, uremia, puerperal fever, etc. Or canine congenital brain development abnormalities and canine epilepsy and other neurological diseases can cause canine cramps.
Epislepsy is a hereditary disease, and its onset time is not limited to any age. It is an incurable disease.
3. Congenital brain damage and acquired brain damage, meningitis, hydrocephalus, cerebrovascular disorders, craniocerebral injury, and hypoxic blood can all cause epilepsy.

4. Lack of Calcium
Malnutrition, many people who raise dogs do not pay special attention to supplementing calcium and vitamins for dogs, and lack awareness of this problem. Calcium is used by the body to inhibit excessive excitement of the nervous system. , especially during pregnancy, a lack of calcium in dogs can lead to convulsions. At the same time, malnutrition and lack of vitamin B in dogs can also lead to dehydration, not liking to eat, heart dysfunction, leading to whole-body convulsions and death. This disease is related to dogs. The symptoms of distemper are similar, but it is not canine distemper.

5. Being frightened
When some dogs are suddenly frightened, their bodies will twitch, become extremely sensitive, and become agitated. This kind of situation requires medication and the owner’s mental comfort and companionship. .
6. Sudden tense movements
Especially when performing strenuous exercise or sudden tense and forceful movements under local muscle fatigue, it is more likely to cause muscle spasm. When a cramp occurs, simply pulling the spasmed muscle in the opposite direction can usually relieve it.

7. Excessive loss of electrolytes
A large amount of sweat occurs during exercise, especially after long-term strenuous exercise or during high-temperature seasons. A large amount of electrolytes are lost with sweat. Excessive loss of electrolytes will increase muscle excitability, which may lead to muscle cramps.

Things to note when dogs have cramps

(1) Do not touch the dog with your hands during the cramping process and for 15 minutes after the cramp ends.

(2) Unless the dog’s tongue is drawn deep into the mouth, never pull the tongue.

(3) Do not give your dog food or water during a spasm attack.

(4) Unless it occurs repeatedly, it is generally not life-threatening.

(5) However, regardless of whether the cramps occur repeatedly or for how long, you must report cramps to your veterinarian.

(6) If the attack occurs again within 2 hours, you should see a veterinarian at any time.