Dog Symptoms Guide

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Fits
A fit (also known as a seizure or convulsions) is a fairly dramatic event, but is usually more distressing for the owner than for the dog. It is best described as an ‘electrical storm in the brain’ - all the nerves in the brain fire off in a random and uncontrolled manner.

Most fits follow a similar pattern. They will most often occur when a dog is calm and restful, often just after they wake from sleeping. There may be a change in behaviour beforehand, but the nature of the change varies. Some will be depressed or appear scared, but many will actively seek out their owner.

The fit itself comes on quite rapidly. The eyes will become vacant and the dog will fall over. They will start shaking violently and may salivate (even ‘frothing at the mouth’) and pass urine or faeces. During this time they are not conscious and will not respond to anything. There is very little that can be done for them at this stage. Do not attempt to restrain them or get anything in the mouth; there is no danger of them swallowing their tongue. Just move them into a clear area so they do not injure themselves.

Most fits will last 3-5 minutes, so by the time you call your vet, it will probably all be over. If a fit lasts more than 10 minutes, this is serious and the dog will need medication to stop the fit. A lengthy fit can result in brain damage. In the period immediately following a fit, the dog will be confused. Take care in this phase as a normally calm dog might bite. Even once this confusion passes they will often be quiet or even unsteady on their legs. This period will last a few hours. Fits sometimes come in clusters over a 24 hour period. Definitely seek veterinary attention if this is occurring.

If your dog is having fits, a visit to your vet is a good idea to find out why they are occurring. Dogs can suffer from epilepsy (fits for no apparent reason), particularly German Shepherds, Jack Russell Terriers and Retrievers, and most will start having fits between 3-7 years of age, but fits can be caused by other conditions as well, such as kidney or liver problems and some poisons.

Sometimes a fit will only affect one part of the dog and they remain conscious, but this is unusual for epilepsy. If fits start occurring in an old dog, this is often a poor sign as it will often mean liver or kidney disease, or even a growth on the brain.

Fleas
Fleas are the commonest parasite of dogs. They are small, only 1 or 2 mm long and are a brown/black colour. They live in the hair coat and are well known for their ability to jump - about 1 metre. They favour biting around the back, tail base and the neck.

If you see fleas, then you can be certain your dog has them, but if you do not, this does not necessarily mean none are present. They live deep in the coat and unless large numbers are present they will not be seen readily, especially against a dark coat colour.

Other useful clues to their presence is the presence of their droppings or eggs. The droppings are black specks which can be distinguished from dirt by putting a little water on them as they dissolve a reddish brown. This is best done on a piece of white tissue. The eggs are white, about 0.5mm long and fall off. A number may be found where the dog sleeps. The larvae are maggot like and 2-3 mm long, but these are usually deep in carpet pile, under sofa cushions, etc. and so are rarely seen.

Most fleas stick to their own species except for hopping on for a quick snack. Dogs and cats share their fleas, and although they may bite people (usually around the ankles), they will not infest them, so only the animals need treatment. Dogs will often pick up hedgehog or rabbit fleas around the head, but these are usually brief visitors.

There are a great number of flea treatments available, both from pet shops and vets, including collars, neck drops, sprays, powders, house sprays, house powders and tablets. All of these will kill fleas, but there are differences in how many of the fleas they will kill and for how long. The most potent ones that kill all of the fleas for long periods of time are only available from vets as they are Prescription Only Medicines.

Contact your veterinary surgery for advice as to what is the best flea control for your pet. The nurses will readily be able to give advice on this subject.