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. The abnormal electrical discharges cause no problem as long as they do not reach a specified level of activity. Treatment is aimed at making the threshold harder to reach or limiting the spread of the abnormal electrical activity. Due to the many possible causes of seizures, your family veterinarian may recommend a full seizure workup.