| AED |
Abbreviation
for Anti-Epilepsy Drug; a medication given to reduce the frequency and severity of
seizures. |
| Ascites |
Accumulation
of fluids in the abdominal cavity. |
| Ataxia |
An inability
to coordinate voluntary muscular movements; a common side effect of anti-seizure
medications which can cause weakness and/or loss of control of the hind legs. |
| Aura |
A sensation
or warning that a seizure is about to occur. |
| Autoimmune
Response |
An
inappropriate immune response, directed against the body's own tissues. |
| BID |
Twice a day. |
| cc |
Cubic
centimeter, a unit of measure that is equal to a milliliter (ml). |
| Cluster
Seizures |
Two or more
seizures occurring over a brief period of time (minutes to hours) but with the patient
regaining consciousness between the seizures. |
| Complex
Focal Seizures |
In a complex
focal seizure consciousness is impaired. It may be manifested as bizarre behavior
such as unprovoked aggression or extreme irrational fear. |
| EEG |
Electroencephalography,
examination of the electrical activity of the brain. |
| Focal
Seizures |
A focal
seizure is localized to a particular part of the brain. Any portion of the body may
be involved during a focal seizure depending on the region of the brain affected.
There may be asymmetric motor or sensory signs such as rhythmic contractions of facial
muscles, licking or chewing at a region of the body or fly-biting seizures. |
| Generalized
Absence Seizure |
An abrupt and
brief loss of consciousness. These seizures were formerly called petit mal
seizures. True absence seizures are rare, or at least rarely recognized in
veterinary medicine. |
| Generalized
Seizures |
Both cerebral
hemispheres are involved. Muscle movement occurs on both sides, i.e., both legs move
during the clonic phase. Consciousness may be impaired. |
| Generalized
Tonic-clonic Seizures |
Formerly
called Grand Mal. The first part of the seizure is the tonic phase, during which
there is sustained contraction of all muscles. The second phase is the clonic phase
during which there is rythmic contraction of muscles which is manifested as paddling or
jerking of the limbs and chewing movements. Some animals suffer milder generalized
tonic-clonic seizures in which consciousness is maintained. |
| Grain |
A unit of
measure which is approximately 65 mg. Some pharmaceutical companies distribute
Phenobarbital using Grains instead of milligrams. |
| Grand
Mal Seizure |
A term which
was used in the past to describe a generalized tonic-clonic seizure. |
| Half
Life |
The time it
takes for one half of the original dose of a medication to leave the body. |
| Hepatic |
Of, relating
to, affecting, associated with, supplying or draining the liver. |
| Hepatotoxicity |
A tendency or
capacity to cause damage to the liver. |
| Icteric |
Jaundice. |
| Idiopathic
Epilepsy |
Idiopathic
epilepsy is translated: epilepsy sui generis (by itself), which conforms to the original
Greek meaning of the term idiopathic. This is in contrast to the common misuse of
the term to mean cause unknown. The term idiopathic epilepsy should not be applied
simply to any patient in which the cause of the seizures is unknown. |
| KBr |
Chemical
abbreviation for Potassium Bromide. |
| KG |
Kilogram; a
unit of measure equal to 2.2 pounds. |
| Kindling |
A theory that
repetitive seizures will lower the seizure threshold. |
| ml |
Milliliter; a
unit of measure that is equal to a cubic centimeter (cc). |
| NaBr |
Chemical
abbreviation for Sodium Bromide. |
| Pb |
Commonly used
abbreviation for Phenobarbital but the actual chemical abbreviation for lead. |
| Phb |
Chemical
abbreviation for Phenobarbital. |
| Polydipsia |
Excessive or
abnormal thirst. |
| Polyphagia |
Excessive
appetite. |
| Polyuria |
Excessive
Urination. |
| Postictal
Signs |
Transient
clinical abnormalities in brain function that are caused by seizures and appear when the
seizure has ended. The dog may appear blind or disoriented; he may pace or run about
the house; he may be extremely hungry or show signs of aggression. |
| Refractory |
Resistant to
treatment or cure. |
| Seizure
Threshold |
The level at
which a seizure will occur. Epileptic dogs have a very low seizure threshold. |
| SID |
Once a day. |
| Simple
Focal Seizures |
A focal
seizure in which consciousness is preserved. |
| Status
Epilepticus |
A life
threatening situation that is defined as a seizure lasting 20 to 30 minutes, which is an
estimation of the duration necessary to cause brain damage, however, treatment needs to
begin well before 20 minutes has elapsed. A more practical definition of Status is a
continuous seizure lasting at least 5 minutes, or two or more discrete seizures without
full recovery of consciousness between seizures. |
| TID |
Three times a
day. |
