Muscle spasm in canine distemper treatment. Convulsions or seizures in a dog: how to help during attacks

Our beloved pets, dogs, like people, are subject to various diseases and pathological conditions. Among many ailments, owners are faced with such a common phenomenon as seizures in dogs. These manifestations can be quite scary in appearance and scare people away at a time when pets, more than ever, need the active actions of their owners. What can seizures in a pet indicate, and most importantly, how not to get confused and help your pet?

Most people in such a situation may become confused and panic. And no wonder, because the animal suddenly falls, shudders convulsively, its paws involuntarily twitch. The spectacle is not for the faint of heart. In such a situation, even an experienced dog walker may react incorrectly. But in this case, panic is not the best solution; only composure and quick reactions will help in an emergency. What needs to be done and what could be the cause of seizures in a dog?

First of all, it is worth clarifying that cramps are paroxysmal muscle contractions that occur involuntarily. They are a symptom of some disease. Among the ailments accompanied by this condition are the following:

• Epilepsy. This is the most common cause of sudden contraction of muscle tissue. Epilepsy is a serious, dangerous illness characterized by disturbances in brain activity. The disease can be congenital (inherited). In addition, it is often a consequence of head injuries, a sign of the development of a tumor in the brain, or signals the presence of an inflammatory process. There are a number of breeds that are more susceptible to epileptic seizures than others, most often these are large animals with long hair. Statistics also indicate that males have convulsive contractions more often than females.
• Hypoglycemia is another disease that can cause seizures. The main symptoms of hypoglycemia in humans and animals include low blood glucose levels. Often during the course of the disease, the body's metabolic processes are disrupted, which leads to disruption of the dog's kidneys and liver. Convulsions caused by hypoglycemia more often occur in representatives of small breeds, as well as in young animals whose fragile bodies are not yet fully formed. Often this disease is hereditary, so when choosing the future parent of the offspring or your own four-legged friend, you must definitely look at a certificate that states the state of health, including hereditary ailments, that the dog has.
• . With this disease, the animal's calcium level sharply decreases. At risk are pets of dwarf breeds, newborn puppies and females during the period of bearing offspring. Calcium is an important element in the body; it affects the formation of the animal’s bone corset, promotes normal blood clotting and more. But in this case, its deficiency provokes regular uncontrolled contraction of muscle tissue.
• Infectious diseases. Seizures can be a sign of infection of various origins, including viral. Among them, it is especially dangerous, which is transmitted to dogs through mucous membranes through contact. If your pet has interacted with an infected animal, then the risk of contracting rabies is very high. Fungal and bacterial infections, having penetrated the dog's body, can also provoke muscle spasms. Among them, peritonitis of infectious etiology and toxiplasmosis are particularly severe.
• Intoxication body and the development of inflammatory processes of an infectious nature can also cause muscle spasms.

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The nature of the seizures directly depends on what causes them. When contacting a veterinary service, it is necessary to describe the nature of muscle contractions as accurately as possible, this will help to quickly determine the cause of their occurrence and prescribe effective therapy. Seizures are divided into several types and there are certain differences between them:

• Convulsions are weak muscle contractions, similar to twitching, that are repeated periodically. This type of seizure is quite common and there are many causes for this condition. During a convulsive state, the pet does not lose consciousness, reacts to the owner’s voice and tries to follow commands.
• Tonic spasms are a not so dangerous type of muscle contraction, signaling a malfunction in the dog’s body. A tonic spasm does not last long, but is constant - the muscles slowly shudder after a certain period of time. The pet remains conscious throughout the spasm and feels muscle pain, as a result of which the dog may be frightened and very nervous.
• Clonic spasms - this muscle contraction alternates with relaxation, the interval between them can last from 30 to 120 seconds. At this time, the pet gets up and tries to move, but as soon as a seizure occurs, the dog falls on its side, as uncontrolled muscle contraction occurs again.
• An epileptic seizure is the most dangerous type of seizure, which has negative consequences. A pet undergoing a seizure loses consciousness, the muscle tissue is constantly in a tense state, relaxation occurs only for a few seconds. Often, during an epileptic seizure, a dog's eyes remain open, which further frightens others and confuses the owners.

Whatever causes muscle contractions, and whatever type they are, owners should know what to do in such cases, because often the life of their beloved friend depends on it.

How to deal with seizures in your pet

If a dog has a seizure, then the most important thing that is required from the owner is to take the pet to a veterinary clinic as quickly as possible. Only in a clinical setting can you most accurately determine the cause of seizures in a dog and prescribe treatment.

Before this happens, you can help your pet slightly, but still:

• First of all, you need to try to open the dog’s mouth and drip onto the surface of the tongue a substance that helps relax and reduce muscle spasms. This could be Corvalol, Valoserdin, Valocardin.

With strong intense contractions, you should not even try to open the animal’s mouth in order to give medicine. Most likely, the attempt will not be successful, and strong pressure can lead to injury to the pet.

• If possible, you can bring a pet so that upon arrival you do not waste precious time on these manipulations, but immediately inform the veterinarians of the result. However, this should be done when the dog is in a calm state, but if the convulsions are constant, then it is better not to risk it, as you can break the thermometer and injure the dog.
• In case of severe epileptic convulsions, it is necessary to take care of the safety of the sick animal, holding it during convulsions to avoid hitting the floor and surrounding objects. You can move your pet away from sharp corners and hard surfaces.
• When transporting a sick animal that is experiencing a seizure, it should be covered with a warm blanket or blanket and pressed tightly.

The pet owner needs to pay attention to his condition, remembering all the details - the nature and duration of muscle contractions, how long the interval between spasms lasts, how the pet behaves during breaks, etc. All these characteristics will be needed by specialists to diagnose the dog’s condition and select appropriate remedies.

Upon admission to a medical facility, the pet, in most cases, is immediately administered antiallergic drugs, as well as magnesium sulfate. This action helps eliminate spasms and alleviates the condition of the sick animal. Then a comprehensive diagnosis is carried out, including all necessary tests.

From this moment, the pet begins to receive qualified help, and after the attack is relieved, it largely depends on the owner whether the four-legged friend will be able to fully recover. Often you have to continue treating your pet at home, and if the instructions are not followed, the dog’s life may be in danger.

It is necessary to monitor the condition of a sick dog, continue to give the necessary medications, provide rest and adequate nutrition - this is what is required of the dog’s owner upon returning home.

Seeing your beloved pet in convulsions is not an experience for the faint of heart. This is very disturbing and frightening. Removing stimuli from the dog's environment, using a tranquilizer, and caring for the dog after a seizure will greatly help the dog survive the seizure. If you can remain calm and focus on keeping your pet safe, you can help your dog recover as quickly as possible.

Steps

Part 1

Protecting the dog from danger

Keep calm. You are having a seizure and your dog is very scared and disoriented. It is unlikely that you want to add to his worries by hysterics, screaming or other ways of reinforcing his behavior when the dog feels that he has the right to be scared. Excitement only makes the dog more agitated and prolongs the seizures. This is what will greatly harm her speedy recovery.

• During seizures, your dog becomes very sensitive. Noise, light, sometimes even touch can trigger a new flow of electrical impulses into the brain, which fuels an attack. By remaining calm, you can assess the situation for its underlying factors and take steps to make the environment calm and quiet.
• Write down the time. As soon as your dog begins to convulse, record the time. When the attack ends, write it down too. This information is important for the veterinarian to assess how serious (or not) such seizures are.
• In addition, when a pet has seizures, it always seems as if time has stopped. And it is very encouraging to realize that what feels like “a lifetime” is actually just a minute or two.

1. Remove items that could harm your dog. During a seizure, your dog will thrash around on the floor. Look around to spot objects that your dog could hit and injure himself, such as chair legs or electrical lights. Where possible, remove dangerous objects away from your dog. It is better to do this than to move the dog - this will excite him even more.

   • You can also remove items that you don't want to break or move, whether they pose a danger to your dog or not.

2. Use pillows to protect your dog. It’s easy to remove light objects from the room that can be picked up and moved, but a table, for example, is not so easy to move. Place pillows in potentially hazardous areas to provide cushioning. In case of emergency, blankets and towels are also suitable.

   • If your dog is in danger of crashing into a large object, a duvet is a good alternative if you gently cover your dog with it, leaving his head out.
   • If your dog hits his head on the floor, a good option is to place a pillow under him to soften the impact.

3. Do not put your hand in the dog's mouth or near the dog's mouth. It is an old tale that a dog can swallow its own tongue. Never put your hand in the mouth of a dog who is having a seizure. The dog at this moment does not know what he is doing, and he may bite your hand, not letting go until the seizure ends. There is no need to take such risks. Plus, it's not very smart.

   Only move your dog if it is in danger. The only situation in which you should touch your dog (other than giving him a tranquilizer, as described below) is if he is truly in danger and his seizure could cause physical harm. For example, if a dog has a seizure at the top of a flight of steps, then it is better to take a chance and carefully drag the dog to a safe place.

   • The key point is to slowly drag the dog along the floor. You don't want the dog to convulse in your arms, risking knocking you over along with him, which will result in injuries to both. If possible, push or pull the dog, or move him in some other way where you don't have to lift the dog. This way you both will be safe.

4. Record a video. Once you've done everything you can to help your dog's recovery, take a short video of the seizure on your smartphone. This post will be very helpful to your veterinarian because not all seizures that look like seizures actually are. It is extremely helpful for the veterinarian to be able to see the seizures with their own eyes.

   • If you're too nervous to record, ask someone else to do it. Just make sure that this person is at a sufficient distance from your dog so as not to worsen his condition.

Part 2

Keep stimulation to a minimum

1. Turn off the lights and close the curtains. A dimly lit room will stimulate your dog much less, improving his condition and reducing seizures. Look around and think about what you can do to make the room as quiet and dark as possible. At night, on the other hand, leave a night light on to keep an eye on your dog.

   Make the room quiet. This electrical storm in the dog's brain will only be intensified by external noise. To help your dog calm down, turn off the TV and radio. Moreover, ask everyone to leave the room. Your dog doesn't need shocked people staring and talking. So ask everyone to leave to give the dog some peace and quiet.

   • You will have to watch your dog the entire time he is having seizures. Firstly, to detect their duration, and secondly, to make sure that the dog is safe. During the seizure, remain as quiet and still as you can. This will relieve your dog's seizures.

2. Get rid of odors. Stimulation of a dog's sense of smell (smell) can be very powerful. So if you have scented candles burning or something baking in the oven, get rid of the smells. Blow out and remove the candles, open the door for better ventilation.

   • If you have a large dog, it will be difficult to move him during seizures. It will be easier to handle a small dog during an attack, but this is still not the best idea because touch is also stimulation and can increase the dog's delicate state. Getting rid of odors can be much easier than moving your dog.

3. Don't pet the dog. Some dog owners find this statement controversial because they feel obligated to pet their dog to reduce its anxiety. The risk is that touch is a form of stimulation, so the best option is to leave the dog alone. His attack will end faster if you don't interfere.

   • During an attack, the dog does not feel that you are nearby. The worst case scenario is if your presence prolongs the attack. While touching your dog will calm you down, it may not help your dog.

Part 3

We use a tranquilizer

1. If possible, use the same tranquilizer that you used in your previous seizure. If your pet has already had a seizure, your veterinarian has probably prescribed tubes of rectal diazepam to use during or after seizures. Diazepam is a tranquilizer that is good for reducing excessive brain activity, which helps bring dogs completely out of seizures.

2. Use a rectal suppository. To insert rectal diazepam, remove the cap from the dispenser tube and squeeze a little diazepam onto the spout to lubricate the tube. Here's how to safely and gently administer medication to your dog:

   • Gently move the dog's tail away from the anus so you can see the rectal opening.
   • Place the tip of the tube against the rectal opening and, using gentle twisting, press the neck of the tube with the medicine so that it enters the rectum to the depth of the shoulder of the tube.
   • When the suppository sits well in the rectal opening, squeeze the tube to squeeze out its contents, and it gets into the rectum.
   • Pull out the spout and throw away the used candle.

They look very scary - the dog suddenly falls to the ground, shakes in convulsions, and involuntarily twitches its paws. Sometimes even experienced dog owners who have never experienced seizures before become frightened and panic. However, panic is unacceptable here. A dog can only be helped if immediate and adequate measures are taken. Let's look at the reasons why dogs have seizures and what needs to be done if they start.

Causes of seizures in dogs

Seizures as such are not a disease, but only one of many symptoms indicating that the animal is sick. Depending on the disease that caused the seizures, one or another treatment is chosen. There are several known possible causes of seizures. Convulsions should not be confused with the drunken gait of an animal

Epilepsy

This is the most common cause of the disease. It is epilepsy that often causes unexpected muscle contractions. In general, epilepsy is a very dangerous and serious disease, characterized by significant disorders of the functioning of the brain. Distinguish

congenital epilepsy, which is inherited from one animal to another,
epilepsy resulting from a dog's head injury,
epilepsy due to tumor or inflammation.

Some breeds of animals are more likely than others to suffer from epilepsy, most notably large, long-haired dogs. It should also be noted that it occurs more often in males than in females.

In general, in many cases, seizures are a consequence of epilepsy, which consists of neurological dysfunction of the brain. Primary epilepsy is caused by genetic disorders. In this case, the first seizures occur between the ages of six months and 5 years. Secondary epilepsy is caused by various diseases that affect the functioning of the nervous system:

• Intoxication with poisons and heavy metals.
• Snake and insect bites.
• Electric shock.
• Helminths.
• Traumatic brain injuries.
• Malnutrition.
• Kidney and liver diseases.
• Diabetes.
• Hypovitaminosis, mineral deficiency.
• Metabolic factors - cirrhosis, arrhythmia, brain cancer.
• Eclampsia is convulsions that appear in the postpartum period due to a lack of calcium in the body of a nursing mother.
• Infectious diseases - plague, toxoplasmosis, tetanus.

An epileptic seizure in a dog consists of 3 stages:

1. Aura. At this stage of the seizure, the dog behaves anxiously - wanders, whines, and tries to hide from strangers.
2. Ictal stage with loss of consciousness - the dog falls, its head and paws are convulsed, breathing is heavy, foamy saliva is released in copious amounts.
3. Postictal stage - the epileptic seizure itself has already ended at this stage, but the pet still remains restless and disoriented, wandering.

Typically, the duration of an epileptic seizure reaches 5 minutes. However, sometimes the dog does not return to normal for half an hour, and occasionally longer. In such a situation, it is definitely necessary to immediately take the sick pet to a veterinary clinic. It is best to transport an animal in convulsions by wrapping it in a warm, soft blanket.

Animals at risk must be protected from situations that can cause stress and the dog must not be overexcited. If the attack could not be avoided and convulsions occur, the animal must be given the most comfortable position, its head supported, without trying to put any foreign object in its mouth, and kept away from traumatic objects and sharp corners. After all, firstly, you will never be able to unclench the dog’s cramped jaws, and secondly, when trying to do this, there is a risk of injuring the dog, whereas it is necessary to insure him against injury. Recently, the prevailing opinion in medicine is that epileptics should not be touched, since careless touching can lead to another attack.

Hypoglycemia

This is another reason for unexpected convulsions in dogs. Hypoglycemia is a serious disease, the main symptom of which is a drop in blood glucose levels. Often with hypoglycemia, metabolic disorders occur, leading to liver and kidney diseases. Convulsions due to hypoglycemia are usually observed in dogs of small breeds and in puppies whose bodies have not become stronger and have not fully formed. Sometimes this disease is hereditary, passed down through generations, therefore, in order to avoid such situations, you should carefully familiarize yourself with the pedigree of your pet before purchasing it.

Eclampsia

This disease is characterized by a strong decrease in the calcium content of the animal's blood. Eclampsia predominantly occurs in small breed dogs, but cases are also common in pregnant and newly given birth bitches. Calcium is involved in many processes occurring in the body, it affects the condition of the muscles, so it is not surprising that its deficiency leads to muscle spasms and snoring during sleep.

Infections

Types of seizures

The nature of seizures is determined by their cause - the disease that became the direct cause of their occurrence. If they appear, you should try to describe as accurately as possible to the veterinarian all the details of how they happened. This will allow him to quickly determine the cause and the correct treatment regimen. Convulsions, by their nature, are divided into several types, between which there are certain differences.

Convulsions in a dog are periodic, jerky, weak muscle contractions that resemble twitching. They occur frequently and occur for quite a few reasons. During convulsions, the animal retains consciousness and the ability to respond to the voice of the owner and his commands.

Tonic convulsions do not pose a serious threat. They serve as a sign of certain disorders in the functioning of the body. Tonic cramps are short-lived but persistent muscle contractions. The muscles twitch slowly at certain intervals. During tonic convulsions, an animal remains conscious and experiences pain, due to which it may whine and feel fear.

Clonic convulsions are a type of convulsions with periodic relaxations and muscle contractions, between which there can be an interval of half a minute to 2 minutes. In the interval, the dog can get up and even try to go somewhere, but another seizure forces it to fall again, as the muscles again make uncontrolled contractions.

The last type of seizure is an epileptic seizure. This is the most dangerous option, which is fraught with negative consequences. During an epileptic seizure, the pet loses consciousness, its muscles are tense all the time and relax only for a few seconds. Such a seizure can occur with both the dog’s eyes closed and open, as a result of which it looks frightening.

What to do if your dog has seizures

If your dog has seizures, you should immediately take him to the veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment. Anticonvulsant medications for dogs can help ease your pet's suffering. Before this, you can only help your pet a little on your own. First of all, you need to try putting a few drops of Corvalol or Valocordin on the dog’s tongue, which can ease muscle spasms through some relaxation. Then you should measure the dog’s temperature so that you can inform the veterinarian immediately after arriving at the clinic.

Temperature measurements should be taken between spasms, when the dog is calm, otherwise there is a risk of injuring the animal and/or breaking the thermometer. During epileptic seizures, the dog must be held to avoid hitting the floor and furniture. It is advisable to move the pet to an extremely safe place, in which there are no sharp corners or hard objects.

If muscle spasms are very strong, you should not try to open the dog’s mouth in an attempt to drip the drug into it. This is unlikely to be done, and such actions can cause injury to the dog. For transport, a dog that has been observed to have seizures should be wrapped in a blanket and held down.

It is necessary to note the nature of the seizures and their duration; the veterinarian will definitely ask about this and, based on your answers, will choose the appropriate medicine. Often, a dog that is suffering from seizures is first given anti-seizure medications for dogs and magnesium sulfate to help eliminate the spasms and reduce the animal's suffering. Tests and examinations should then be performed to make a diagnosis. It is important to strictly follow all the recommendations of the veterinarian, otherwise the attacks may recur and the dog’s life will be in danger.

Since seizures in a dog can be caused by a variety of illnesses, the specific illness needs to be identified and treated. For example, meningoencephalitis, in which, in addition to seizures, some other symptoms are noted - stiffness of the neck muscles, dilated pupils and increased body temperature, are treated with various veterinary drugs that relieve seizures, prevent brain swelling and maintain water and electrolyte balance.

If convulsions occur very often (more often than twice a day) or begin immediately after a series of convulsions that have already passed, this is an extremely serious reason to consult a veterinarian. It is important to remain calm and also pay attention to the duration of the seizures. The duration of the seizures is an important factor; the doctor who is consulted for help for the dog is always asked about it. Timely treatment increases the pet's chances of recovery and the owner's chances of having a healthy and cheerful dog, which he is used to seeing as his pet.

Determining the cause of seizures in a dog in veterinary medicine

Lack of minerals and hypovitaminosis are one of the possible causes of seizures. For example, cramps in the hind legs sometimes appear due to a lack of calcium. Convulsive spasms of the paws occur in lactating or estrous bitches and those dogs that have suffered from various diseases. Excessive, unbearable physical activity can also lead to cramps in the dog’s limbs. If the cause of seizures is a lack of calcium, the veterinarian will prescribe intramuscular injections of calcium gluconate.

If a dog has seizures, only a veterinarian can diagnose the cause after a proper examination, which may be accompanied by various studies, in particular:

• X-ray;
• Magnetic resonance imaging;
• Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity;
• blood, urine, stool tests;
• examination by a veterinarian-neurologist.

It is very scary to see when your beloved pet begins to experience involuntary muscle contractions, in other words, seizures. All breeds of animals are susceptible to this disease. What are seizures in a dog, and what can cause them? To begin with, we will tell you what it is and then you will learn how to behave, what to do, and how to help your beloved animal in such a terrible moment.

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What are seizures and their symptoms

A cramp is a muscle contraction that is uncontrollable by an animal. It is associated with disturbances in the animal’s brain activity and is a symptom of a serious disease.

Seizures can manifest in different ways. From seemingly completely innocent twitching of the facial muscles and imperceptible twitching of one paw, to very frightening seizures in which the pet falls, convulses and has absolutely no control over its body. During moments of convulsive seizures, the owner can be very frightened, because seeing how a beloved pet suffers is unbearable.

Causes of seizures

Why do seizures occur? A cramp is only a symptom of a more serious illness. There may be several reasons that cause spasm:

1. Epilepsy. This is the most common disease in dogs, associated with impaired brain activity and causing seizures.
2. Metabolic dysfunction. These may include: hypoglycemia, eclampsia, hyperkalemia.
3. Infection. Various infectious agents can cause spasms: fungus, bacteria, toxoplasmosis, infectious peritonitis.
4. Neoplasms. Tumors that affect brain activity.
5. Intoxication.
6. Heart disorders.

Types of seizures

After the reasons that cause cramps, it is also worth mentioning the types of cramps. First of all, convulsions can occur in the hind and forelimbs, as well as the whole body.

Veterinarians distinguish several types of uncontrolled muscle contractions:

1. Convulsions. During convulsions, the animal remains conscious and often does not experience pain.
2. Tonic. Periodic, slow contractions during which the animal experiences pain.
3. Clonic. Muscle spasms, the attack of which lasts from 30 seconds to 3 minutes.
4. Epileptic seizures. The dog loses consciousness and his whole body goes into a seizure. Accompanied by copious amounts of foam at the mouth (saliva).

Hind leg cramp

It is worthwhile to dwell in more detail on limb cramps and the reasons for their occurrence, because their origin and symptoms may be a consequence of the development of more serious diseases. You cannot start them, as this can greatly complicate the treatment. If your pet's hind legs twitch, this may be a sign of both neurological and physical disorders. With spasms of the hind limbs, the animal may jump up, howl, the paws may be uncontrollable, and may twitch without causing pain. In any of the manifestations, the animal does not control its actions.

Important! If your dog's seizures are not an epileptic seizure, but spasms of the limbs or facial muscles, then immediately take your pet to the veterinarian. In case of seizures at intervals, with long intervals, you should wrap your pet loosely in a blanket and also take him to the doctor as soon as possible.

Seizures in small dog breeds

All breeds of dogs are susceptible to various spasms, since spasms are not a disease, they are only a symptom of the disease. Small breed dogs are in a unique risk group, susceptible to the manifestations of spasms. Many dwarf dogs develop chronic diseases from birth. They also have problems with the spine, congenital hypoglycemia, arthritis, underdeveloped paws, problems with the cardiovascular system, atrophy of the muscular corset and many other ailments.

This is why small breeds are at risk. These problems lead to spasms to varying degrees. Small dogs may experience seizures more often than their larger dogs. Remember that when you adopt a small dog, you should be prepared for frequent seizures, writhing limbs and frequent visits to the veterinarian. It is also worth noting that owners of large breeds should also pay attention to the muscular condition of the pet.

Video "An epileptic attack in a dog"

The video shows a spasmodic attack in an animal of the husky breed. The owners are trying in every possible way to help their pet, as this is described in first aid for seizures. The main thing is to calm the animal and yourself!

When an owner sees a dog having seizures, what to do is the first question that comes to mind. Convulsive twitching, foam at the mouth, loss of consciousness - this is very scary. Unfortunately, it is impossible to help your pet on your own. Seizures are an alarming and serious symptom, the presence of which requires contacting a clinic without delay.

The basis of seizures is the hyperactivity of neurons responsible for the motor control system. Depending on the area, nature and degree of damage to the nervous system, symptoms can be very different, from muscle tremors, twitching of one paw or facial muscles to a seizure, which terribly frightens the owners: the dog suddenly falls, begins to twitch with his whole body, foam or saliva flows from the mouth . The pet can wet itself, because... control over the body is lost, and the muscles contract arbitrarily. This condition is often called an epileptic seizure, although epilepsy is not always the cause.

As a rule, a seizure lasts from a few seconds to five minutes, and stops as suddenly as it began: the dog gets up, looks around in bewilderment, shakes its head, moves stiffly. Many pets, immediately after an attack, drink or eat greedily, react inhibitedly to the owner’s voice, sit or lie, staring at one point. If the attack occurs for the first time, the danger to the pet’s life is minimal, but the cause of the condition must be identified and eliminated (or brought under control).