Seizures Flashcards
How do you treat an active epilepticus episode?
Rectal diazepam
Occurs in 1-5yo animals and causes generalized tonic-clonic seizures w/o interictal abnormalities
Idiopathic epilepsy
Where do seizures originate?
Prosencephalon
What is a seizure?
Hyper-syncrhonous firing from a group of neurons
What types of focal/partial seizures are there?
Simple and complex
Abnormal electrical activity in one area that can spread to other areas
Jacksonian seizure
Tonic-clonic seizures are classified as _____ seizures
Generalized
Abson seizures are classified as _____ seizures
Generalized
With which category of seizures is consciousness lost?
Generalized
Which type of focal seizure can have some loss of consciousness?
Complex
Period of abnormal behavior leading up to a seizure
Pre-ictal
Phase of the seizure itself
Ictal
How long do most seizures last?
2min
Period of abnormal behavior after a seizure
Post-ictal
How long does a post-ictal phase usually last?
Less than 1h but can last a couple of days
What do you call two or more seizures within 24h period?
Cluster seizures
Why are cluster seizures serious?
One seizure makes the brain more likely to have another seizure (can lead to status epilepticus)
What is status epilepticus?
One seizure lasting >5min or repeated seizure w/o recovery between events
What are metabolic (extracranial) causes for seizures?
Toxins, hepatic encephalopathy, hypoglycemia
What are structural (intracranial) causes of seizures?
Neoplasia, infectious dz, inflammation
How do you dx a structural cause of a seizure?
MRI, CSF analysis, infectious dz testing
What is the most common cause of seizures in dogs?
Idiopathic epilepsy
When do seizures usually start in dogs?
Between 1-5yo
How many seizure dogs can be well controlled with medication?
75%
What emergency drugs do you give to a seizure that is happening now?
Benzodiazepines, barbiturates (enhance GABA which is an inhibitory receptor)
What are side effects of benzos and barbiturates?
Sedation and resp depression
What are maintenance seizure medications?
Phenobarbitol, potassium bromide, oral benzodiazepines
This dug works at GABA, is metabolized in the liver, and causes PU/PD/PP and induces cytochrome p450 system (can change metabolism of other drugs)
Phenobarbitol
Which liver enzyme will be increased with phenobarbitol?
ALP
Which drug works at GABA, is excreted in the kidney, causes PU/PD/PP, and causes reactive pneumonitis in cats
Potassium bromide
What are issues with oral benzodiazepines?
Tolerance develops in dogs, hepatic failure in cats
