Epilepsy
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Seizures are very frightening to dog owners and are also terrifying to the dogs as well, depending on the severity or intensity of the seizure. Epilepsy, a general term for a seizure disorder, can be either idiopathic, which means that the exact cause is not known but is likely an inherited or genetic condition, or secondary, which means the seizures are the result of some other type of medical condition or trauma. Regardless of what type of epileptic seizure the dog is having, it is due to abnormal brain activity that is transmitted through the cerebral cortex to the muscles of the body, resulting in the spasms and behaviors that are seen. Secondary epilepsy may be caused by parasitic infestations, drugs, toxins, diseases, hormonal imbalances, and nutritional deficiencies. [...]
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One of the scariest conditions that Silky Terrier owners, or any dog owner for that matter, have to sometimes deal with is canine epilepsy. This is a neurological disorder in which the dog experiences seizures, ranging in severity from very mild to very severe, while the owner stands by, feeling helpless. It seems like the tendency to develop epilepsy is inherited in the Silky Terrier breed, as well as in other breeds; some dogs only have one or a few seizures throughout their life, while other dogs unfortunately experience seizures regularly.
Essentially, epilepsy involves convulsions that are triggered by brain neurons firing suddenly, excessively and in an uncoordinated manner; this firing cause involuntary contractions of muscles and/or strange behavior. Though the exact cause of the uncoordinated firing is unknown, many experts believe that it may be caused by an imbalance of neurotransmitters, the chemical substances responsible for transmitting messages from one neuron to another. If your dog experiences an epileptic episode, he could present with a variety of behaviors, including a far-away look, twitching, barking, falling, defecating, paddling his limbs or urinating. These seizures can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes and usually appear quite suddenly. [...]
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Most puppies have worms when they are born, that they contracted from their mother. Fleas and worms are another health concern that can cause a variety of problems. New puppy owners have to deal with this as both part of their puppy's care and the duration of their dogs' life. Worms are nasty parasites that usually live in a puppy's digestive system, but some do invade the heart or other organs. Puppies experience problems ranging from anemia and vomiting or, in the case of heartworm, even death if left untreated. After a veterinarian identifies the problem, treatment is normally very effective and straightforward. [...]
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Most herding breeds, the Border Collie included, are naturally healthy dogs that have been bred to be highly athletic and strong. They also have amazingly strong respiratory and circulatory systems, probably due to the intensive screening done by early farmers and shepherds in only continuing to breed the healthiest and best working dogs. [...]
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As with any breed of dog that has a huge surge in popularity there is always the risk that poor breeding practices will occur as everyone tries to get in on breeding the most in demand type of dog. Unfortunately this is what did happen with the Boxer breed, particularly in the United States, in the years immediately after World War ll. During this time the small number of puppies and dogs brought over from Germany were used in almost all American breeding programs, leading to some inherited genetic conditions becoming pronounced. Through selective breeding by responsible breeders most of these issues are now well managed, however backyard breeders and puppy mills are still cashing in on the breed popularity and breeding genetically inferior puppies. [...]
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Epilepsy
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