Nearly all breeds, including mixed breeds, have been affected. Treatment for epilepsy does not cure the disease. Instead, treatment controls the condition by decreasing the frequency, duration, and severity of seizures. Characteristics of Seizures Epileptic seizures seldom last more than 5 minutes, but to the unprepared observer they are extremely alarming and seem to last much longer. Handling the mouth of an animal should be avoided because you may be accidentally bitten.
Most seizures occur in three distinct phases.
The first phase is called the aura and is the period before a seizure during which the affected animal seems overly anxious. It may scramble from behind a piece of furniture or jump down from a chair, with its eyes widely dilated. This phase generally lasts less than 1 minute. The second phase is the actual seizure. Each attack may be different and can range from a mild muscle spasm to a severe convulsion, with defecation and urination.