Epilepsy is the most frequent diagnosis. Encephalitis is also common. Canine distemper, for example, can manifest itself in numerous forms and can be seen in young or old dogs. Blood and cerebral spinal fluid tests are invaluable in determining the definitive diagnosis. Bacterial encephalitis can result from an infection in the blood stream or infections extending from the eye, ear or nose.
Clinical signs vary from depression, rigidity, and fever, to seizures.
It can be managed medically, if diagnosed prior to extensive cortical damage, or surgically in advanced cases. These seizures may not arise for weeks or even years after the initiating event occurs, making the diagnostic workup far more important than the recent history. Inherited conditions center around epilepsy . They may be difficult to control with single anticonvulsants and often require safe levels of a combination of anticonvulsants. Epilepsy originates from a cluster of physically normal, but electrically malfunctioning nerve cells.