Hello and thanks for researching this very important question!
Some seizure disorders have a cause, such as previous illness (diabetes, kidney or liver failure, hypoglycemia), toxins, tumors, or physical injury (like being hit by a car) that have damaged the brain. Some seizure disorders are what we call "Idiopathic" (sickness without a known cause). Sometimes a dog will have one seizure, and never another. Most dogs with simple epilepsy can be well treated with drugs.Seizures can be brief (sometimes there is not even loss of consciousness), or prolonged. They can be mild in their appearance or physically violent. The more vigorous and the more prolonged a seizure is, the more dangerous it is to the brain.
An older pet experiencing a violent seizure, or repeated seizures, is more likely to be harboring a serious health problem such as cancer, brain hemorrhage, or organ failure. ***Diagnosis can be as simple as running some blood tests, or as complicated as undergoing an MRI to find a tumor or other brain-threatening condition. Deciding what tests to run, or whether to seek the opinion of a Veterinary Neurologist are very individual decisions that depend partly on your pet's ability to undergo the testing and partly on your family's finances.*** Here are some links to other articles about seizures in pet dogs: http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/CanineEpil.htm
http://www.nhahonline.com/k9seizures.htm
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Retired Veterinary Technician
Kitten, Adult, Geriatric Cat Care Specialist/ B.A. Neurophysiology & Animal Behavior/ Plain English!