title: Metabolic and toxic causes of canine seizure disorders: A retrospective study of 96 cases.
abstract: A wide variety of intoxications and abnormal metabolic conditions can lead to reactive seizures in dogs. Patient records of dogs suffering from seizure disorders (n=877) were reviewed, and 96 cases were associated with an underlying metabolic or toxic aetiology. These included intoxications by various agents, hypoglycaemia, electrolyte disorders, hepatic encephalopathy, hypothyroidism, uraemic encephalopathy, hypoxia and hyperglycaemia. The incidence of the underlying diseases was determined. The most common causes of reactive seizures were intoxications (39%, 37 dogs) and hypoglycaemia (32%, 31 dogs). Hypocalcaemia was the most frequent electrolyte disorder causing reactive seizures (5%) and all five of these dogs had ionised calcium concentrations ≤0.69 mmol/L. Eleven per cent of dogs with seizures had metabolic or toxic disorders and this relatively high frequency emphasises the importance of a careful clinical work-up of cases presented with seizures in order to reach a correct diagnosis and select appropriate treatment options.
authors: Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bischofsholer Damm 15, D-30173 Hannover, Germany. christina.brauer@tiho-hannover.de
authors: Christina
authors: C
authors: Brauer
authors: Melanie
authors: M
authors: Jambroszyk
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Tipold
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D004285:Dogs; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006996:Hypocalcemia / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D011041:Poisoning / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium