Cramps in dogs - a formidable symptom requiring attention

Involuntary contractions of the whole body muscles (cramps) in dogs can be caused by various causes and observed in various diseases and conditions. In any case, each such episode should not be left without attention, it is necessary to diagnose and treat the disease-cause. By the way, they are quite numerous.

A common disease, which causes seizures in a dog, is epilepsy. It predisposes predisposing animals of certain breeds, such as the Belgian Shepherd Tervuren, Collie, Beagle, German Shepherd. Violations of the body's mineral balance, such as a drop in calcium content in the blood after delivery, lead to a state of eclampsia. She has convulsions. They are also characteristic for increasing the level of potassium, hypoglycemia (a deficiency of glucose in the blood) and in the case of inadequate functions of internal organs. There are frequent episodes of spasms of involuntary muscular contractions in pathologies such as rabies, tetanus, toxoplasmosis, plague, meningitis, tumors, fungal infections, heart diseases.

What are the cramps in dogs? There are the following varieties: clonic, tonic, epiprip, and convulsions. The latter are short, strong episodes of seizures. Clonic and tonic muscle contractions are regular, only with the first one there is a clear alternation with relaxation in a short time. At the second variant there are long and slow cramps. Epipripadki, in addition to involuntary contractions of the muscles of the body, are characterized by loss of consciousness. They can be local, spreading to the facial and chewing muscles, causing a trembling of the head, and generalized.

It is known that convulsions in dogs have primary causes of occurrence depending on age. For example, involuntary muscle contraction in puppies until half a year is usually attributed to the transferred female during pregnancy infections. Also, such diseases and conditions as plague, craniocerebral trauma, poisoning can serve as the causes. In pets up to 5 years of age, epilepsy, inflammation, and tumors are the main factors causing convulsions. In dogs older than five years, they also often occur with neoplasms and inflammations. In addition, there are kidney and liver failure, as a result of hypoglycemia, with insulinoma (a pancreas tumor).

Sometimes the diseases that can cause involuntary contractions of the muscles, are manifested and other symptoms that are visible even to the inexperienced owner. With this problem, he turns to a vet clinic. However, there are pathologies in which there are no signs, and one day the dog suddenly has seizures. What to do in this situation? Unfortunately, the opportunity to provide assistance to the owner under this condition is minimal. The animal needs to be laid, carefully measure its temperature. If the attack is very difficult, it is dangerous to transport a pet, you need to call a doctor at home. Otherwise, immediately deliver the dog to the clinic, where the necessary studies will be carried out, first aid will be given and therapy will be prescribed.