The attack usually lasts for two or three minutes, then the convulsions gradually lessen in intensity and finally cease, the dog raises his head, opens his eyes, and gazes inquiringly around. Then he gets on his feet shakes himself and may at once resume his customary habits. In other cases the restoration is less sudden. The dog remains for 30 to 60 minutes dull and stupid, or seems to have little power of control over its muscles and staggers as if intoxicated, or as if the muscles were benumbed. It may drop on its knees and then fall with the head on the ground and repeat this several times. In other cases the dog wanders around, or trots off and may snap at any one interfering with him, so that the case is often mistaken for one of rabies. Finally the animal may remain prostrate and fall into a deep sleep marked by stertorous breathing.
Diagnosis. The diagnosis of epilepsy is usually easy. The suddenness of the attack, the loss of consciousness, the muscular spasms, the complete temporary recovery and the tendency to recur, form a toute ensemble, which is pathognomonic. The danger of confounding this with other nervous disorders is on the whole greatest in the slight cases in which the symptoms are less typical.
From Syncope it is easily distinguished by the spasms which are not present in syncope.
From eclampsia it is not so easy to diagnose, but the line between eclampsia and epilepsy has not been accurately drawn, and some have even shown a disposition to drop eclampsia from medical nomenclature. Eclampsia may be defined as general convulsions dependent on some eccentric irritation, and which do not recur after such irritation has been removed. This would remove from the category of epileptic attacks the cases of convulsions in which the attacks were due to intestinal or nasal parasites, dentition irritation, tumors pressing on nerves, canine distemper and other infectious diseases. So far the distinction might be made by the diagnosis of the particular disease on which the convulsions depend. There remains however a class of cases in which the centric nervous disorder on which the epileptic seizure depends is present, and also the peripheral source of irritation (worms, etc.). In such a case the presence of the worms or other eccentric source of irritation, even if added to the fact that this was the immediate exciting cause of the epileptic explosion, could not do away with the fact that the essential conditions of epilepsy are permanently present in the nervous centres. The difficulty therefore of making an accurate differential diagnosis, resides largely in the impossibility of drawing a definite line of pathological separation between eclampsia and epilepsy.
From Vertigo epilepsy is distinguished by the absence in the former of marked spasmodic contractions. It is only in the milder forms of epilepsy those in which the spasmodic action is so slight as to be overlooked, that this disease can be confounded with vertigo.
From Thrombosis or embolism of the iliac or femoral arteries epilepsy is easily distinguished by the absence of exercise as the essential cause in the development of the latter. In thrombosis on the other hand, the loss of control over the hind limbs is developed at will by active motion (walking, trotting). In thrombosis too the absence of pulsation at the fetlocks or at any point below the seat of obstruction is conclusive.
Question of Soundness and Jurisprudence. Manifestly a horse or bull subject to attacks of epilepsy is not sound. It is moreover a disease, the symptoms of which are only shown for a very short period at one time, after a long interval of apparently perfect health. It is, therefore, a disease against which a purchaser cannot be expected to protect himself and he should have the right to annul the sale and return the animal in case the infirmity should appear within a reasonable period after purchase. This is provided for in the laws of different countries of Europe, thus in Wurtenberg, Baden and Hesse, a purchased animal may be returned within 28 days; in France within 30 days, and in Bavaria within 40 days. The greatest difficulty arises from the frequent impossibility of obtaining expert testimony on a seizure which is likely to occur at any moment, without premonition, and in which the testimony of a non-expert may easily be misleading. It seems as if complaint having been made within the specified legal time, an extension of guarantee should be given by the court, the animal to be meanwhile kept under the supervision of a veterinarian.
Another question has arisen as to the position of an animal suffering from reflex epilepsy. If the attacks are caused by intestinal worms or nasal acarina which are easily removed, it is quite evident that this cannot be considered as a permanent unsoundness, and one for which a contract of sale can be justly annulled. But on the other hand, while the eccentric source of irritation which is easily curable may have been the active agent in developing the seizures, it may be none the less true that the central infirmity which determines the abnormal susceptibility, to excessive generation and epileptic explosion of nervous force, may also be present and the animal cannot be considered as sound until a sufficient length of time has elapsed after the removal of the peripheral irritation and no new seizure has taken place.
Treatment of Symptomatic Epilepsy. In cases due to an eccentric irritant the first step must be the removal of such irritant. In case of intestinal worms the various vermicides and tæniacides must be resorted to. (See Intestinal Parasites). For the linguatula tænioides the injection of benzine or tobacco water into the nose, or into the sinuses, with or without trephining may be resorted to. In diseased teeth extraction or filling may be demanded. In dentition irritation, lancing of the gums. In all other cases in which a peripheral nervous irritation can be traced every available means should be taken to remove it.
Treatment of Central Epilepsy. Bearing in mind that peripheral irritation is a frequent exciting cause of a seizure, too much care cannot be given to the conservation of the general health and especially to make the diet wholesome in quantity, quality and time of feeding and watering, and to guard against constipation and indigestion. In dogs a too stimulating meat diet is to be avoided.