Emergency Approach to Acute Seizures in Dogs and Cats.

Vet Sci. May 2024;11(6):.

George G Munguia¹, Aimee C Brooks², Stephanie A Thomovsky³, Elizabeth J Thomovsky⁴, Andrea Rincon⁵, Paula A Johnson⁶

¹ Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, 625 Harrison St., West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.; ² Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, 625 Harrison St., West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.; ³ Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, 625 Harrison St., West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.; ⁴ Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, 625 Harrison St., West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.; ⁵ Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, 625 Harrison St., West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.; ⁶ Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, 625 Harrison St., West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.

Abstract

Seizures are a common presentation seen in small animal practices. Seizures require prompt management including initial interventions for triage, stabilization, and treatment with first-line anticonvulsant (AC) drugs like benzodiazepines. Concurrently, ruling out metabolic or extracranial causes with point-of-care diagnostics can help guide further diagnostics and treatments. Analysis of the history and a physical exam are also necessary to rule out common "look-alikes" that require specific diagnostic workup and treatments. Typically, causes of seizures can be grouped into intracranial and extracranial causes, with the latter being easier to diagnose with commonly available tests. This review presents a systematic approach to the diagnosis and treatment of single seizures, cluster seizures, and status epilepticus in dogs and cats.

Keywords

benzodiazepines; cats; cluster; dogs; levetiracetam; phenobarbital; seizure; status epilepticus; veterinary neurology;

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