Canine Epilepsy There are many reasons why a dog may have seizures or ‘fits’. They may be caused by trauma, exposure to toxins, or as a result of another, underlying disease. If a vet rules out these reasons for the fits, the dog may be classified as having idiopathic epilepsy (IE), which is considered to be genetic.As a general rule, dogs with IE will have their first seizure between one and five years of age. Treatment is usually with anti-convulsant drugs, however these are not a cure and the aims are to reduce the frequency and severity of the fits, improving the quality of life for the dog and its owner.Phenobarbital is one of the most common drugs used, sometimes in combination with potassium bromide. Epileptic dogs or dogs producing epileptic progeny (especially from different and unrelated mates) should not be used for breeding. Currently no DNA test is available to determine if a dog carries genetic epilepsy.