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Convulsions
Convulsions in their most typical
form are characterized by champing of
the jaws, foaming at the mouth, falling on the side, involuntary
passage of urine and stool, violent shaking movements over the whole
body, then moaning, barking, and wild running about, and finally
complete collapse or depression. They may occur in varying degrees of
severity and any or all of the symptoms stated may present themselves
in any one attack. Often, in spite of mild or severe attacks, many
animals may appear quite normal between attacks. None the less, a
convulsion is a very significant and often ultimately fatal symptom,
and no effort at any extensive home treatment should be attempted. A
mild sedative such as an aspirin will never do any harm, but it is
rather unlikely that it will do any good. A convulsion is a veterinary
problem.
Convulsions can come about for a great variety of reasons. They might
be due to injury, poisoning from certain chemicals, nervous disorders,
brain inflammations due to an infectious disease, certain urinary
disturbances, eclampsia, diabetes, foreign bodies in the stomach, or
worms.
The treatment of convulsions obviously depends on the cause. Whether or
not the treatment can be successful depends upon how readily the cause
can be eliminated. As a general rule, in the ordinary case where
convulsions appear with increasing frequency, the likelihood of a cure
is rather remote. That is why the animal who has convulsions should be
brought to a veterinarian at the earliest possible moment. Often the
application of quick emergency measures has been able to save many an
animal's life when, on the other hand, even a few
moments' delay would have so changed the situation that the animal
would have had only a limited chance for survival.
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