What happens to a dog when they have a seizure?

It’s unexpected – and often frightening. And it can happen with any breed at any age. One moment you and your dog are going about a typical day – and the next your dog is having a seizure. You may feel like a helpless observer, but you are far from it. Here are three things you can do to help even as your pet is in mid-seizure:

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Seizures in Dogs
What Seizures in Dogs Look Like
Causes of Seizures in Dogs
Dog Breeds With Increased Risk of Seizures
When To Call A Vet
Treatment for Seizures In Dogs
If your pet is experiencing an emergency involving seizures, contact your emergency animal hospital immediately. Any time you cannot reach your primary care veterinarian, our team at Carolina Veterinary Specialists are here to help with 24/7 vet emergency services.

1. Stay safe and try to keep calm – and let your pet handle the seizure. Your pet will likely be completely unaware of surroundings or even his or her behavior during and immediately after a seizure. This also applies to cats having seizures, but dogs, in particular, can be very anxious, agitated, and even blind immediately following a seizure. Please do not try to hold or pet your animal during a seizure. Even the mildest of pets can seriously injure you even as you try to comfort them.

2. Clear space. Make the environment as safe and quiet as possible for your pet. Block nearby stairs or other dangers.
3. Take a video. There is no better way to describe what happened than with video. Other conditions, such as balance problems, pain, weakness, and certain behaviors can look like a seizure. Having the video – even a simple one taken with your cell phone – can help your veterinarian discern the difference. When the seizure subsides, expect questions to surface. The most frequently asked ones are answered below.

Does my pet need to see the vet immediately?

While watching your dog have a seizure is never easy, a seizure doesn’t always mean you need to rush your pet to the emergency clinic, although it’s a good idea to check in with your veterinarian at least by phone if this is a first-ever seizure. There are two seizure situations that warrant immediate emergency action: “Status Epilepticus” (a seizure lasting over 5 minutes) and Cluster Seizures (multiple seizures that occur within 24 hours of one another). In each situation, medical intervention and an overnight hospitalization are often required to stop the seizing and otherwise stabilize your pet.

Why did my dog have a seizure and how do you tell?

By far the most common cause of seizures in dogs is idiopathic epilepsy, which means that no underlying cause can be found for the seizures. Some breeds are actually predisposed to having idiopathic epilepsy due to a genetic cause.
If your pet is diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy, this is actually relative good news since many dogs live an otherwise long and happy life once seizure management programs are in place.
The alternative reasons for seizures are much less common. These include:

There are a number of reasons that your dog may have a seizure ranging from heat exhaustion to epilepsy. Today our Greensboro vets share some of the reasons that dogs have seizures, and what you should do if your dog has a seizure.

Seizures in Dogs

Witnessing your dog having a seizure can be distressing for many pet owners. That said, knowing the causes of the seizure and what to do if your dog does have a seizure may help to make the situation a little less stressful.

What Seizures in Dogs Look Like

A seizure can take many forms, and some are more obvious than others. If your dog is having a seizure you may notice muscle twitching or uncontrolled jerking movements, but a seizure could also include a loss of consciousness, drooling, or unusual eye-rolling movements. If your dog shows signs of having a seizure it's important to contact your vet to let them know.

Causes of Seizures in Dogs

Regardless of the underlying cause, a seizure occurs due to faulty electrical activity in the dog's brain which leads to a loss of control over their body. The main underlying causes of seizures in dogs can include:

Epilepsy
Heat Exhaustion
Nutritional imbalances such as thiamine deficiency
Low blood sugar levels
Liver disease.
Tumors

Ingested poisons such as caffeine, chocolate
An injury to the dog's head (such as a road accident)
Diabetes
Infectious diseases such as canine distemper virus infection (CDV) and rabies
Heartworms

Dog Breeds With Increased Risk of Seizures

While not all dogs within these breeds will experience a seizure in their lifetime, these breeds tend to be more prone to seizures than others:

Bull Terriers can suffer from an inherited form of epilepsy which causes behaviors such as tail chasing, irrational fear, and unprovoked aggression.
Large herding and retriever dogs may be prone to seizures, including German Shepherds, Australian Shepherds, as well as Labrador and Golden Retrievers.
Herding dogs with the MDR1 gene commonly experience seizures. These breeds include: Australian Shepherds, Border Collies, German Shepherds, Longhaired Whippets, as well as Old English and Shetland Sheepdogs.
Breeds with short, flat noses such as Pugs, Boston Terriers, and English Bulldogs can also be more prone to experiencing seizures.

When To Call A Vet

Contact your vet immediately if there is a chance that your dog is having a seizure due to poisoning, if your dog's seizure lasts longer than 3 minutes, or if your dog has more than one seizure in a row.

When it comes to the question of whether a seizure can kill a dog, most seizures are short, lasting less than 3 minutes and with proper treatment, the pet can lead a normal life. However, seizures can be a serious health concern and even short seizures could cause brain damage. If your dog suffers a seizure that continues for more than 30 minutes serious permanent brain damage could occur.

If your dog has a brief seizure then quickly recovers be sure to call your vet to let them know. Your vet may suggest that you bring your dog in for an examination or they may simply make a note in your dog's records and ask you to bring your dog in for an examination if it happens again. Some dogs will have an unexplained ‘one off’ seizure, while other dogs continue to have seizures throughout their life due to epilepsy or illness.

Treatment for Seizures In Dogs

If your dog is experiencing seizures, treatment will depend upon the underlying cause. Your vet will run a number of tests to determine the cause of your dog's seizures, if no cause can be found the disease will be diagnosed as idiopathic epilepsy. Once your dog's seizures have been diagnosed your vet will work with you to determine the best treatment for your dog's seizures which may include medications or keeping a seizure diary.

If your pet is experiencing an emergency involving seizures, contact your emergency animal hospital immediately. Any time you cannot reach your primary care veterinarian, our team at Carolina Veterinary Specialists are here to help with 24/7 vet emergency services.

Seizures are one of the most common neurological problems in dogs. They occur when the cerebral cortex of the brain functions abnormally, but there are many diseases that can cause seizures in dogs. Sometimes, such as in the case of idiopathic epilepsy, the cause of seizure activity is unknown or may be inherited. No matter what the cause is, though, it's important for you to know how to identify a seizure in your dog and understand your treatment options.

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A seizure is also referred to as a convulsion or fit, which is a temporary involuntary disturbance of normal brain function that, in most cases, is accompanied by uncontrolled muscle activity.

The most common reason for seizures in dogs is idiopathic epilepsy, an inherited condition, whose exact cause is unknown. Other causes include brain tumors, brain trauma, infections, liver disease, liver failure, or a reaction to something toxic such as xylitol. Xylitol, a popular artificial sweetener, can cause dangerous drops in blood sugar and this can cause seizures.

Seizures can occur at any time of day or night, but they are most frequent at times of changing brain activity. This could include when a dog is excited, eating, falling asleep, or just waking up. Between seizures, most dogs appear to be completely normal.

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Most seizures occur in three distinct phases. The seizure will typically move through all three phases, but there is no exact amount of time that each phase will last. Understand that each phase is different and once phase three is reached, the seizure is over.

Pre-ictal (or aura) phase: A period of altered behavior in which your dog may seem nervous or try to hide or find its owner. The dog may appear restless and may whine or shake. This phase could last a few seconds or a few hours, as the dog likely senses that something is about to occur.
Ictal phase: This is the seizure itself. It may last from a few seconds to about five minutes. During this phase, the dog may lose consciousness or just appear to be absent. If the dog is experiencing a full-blown seizure, known as grand mal, it may lose consciousness, fall over, and possibly move its body and legs erratically. It's possible the dog will also urinate, defecate, vomit, or salivate. If the seizure continues beyond five minutes, it's known as a prolonged seizure. This is considered to be an emergency, and you should seek the assistance of a medical professional immediately.
Post-ictal phase: The time immediately following a seizure is usually accompanied by confusion, disorientation, restlessness, pacing, or even blindness. This is the phase when the brain recovers from what just happened.

Seizures are unexpected and in most cases can't be prevented, however some dogs will only seizure at times of extreme stress, and in these cases, the triggers can sometimes be avoided. Although they look traumatic, seizures aren't painful to the dog. The most harm to your dog may result from injuries it sustains during falls or flailing against objects in its vicinity during the seizure.

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Leave your dog alone during a seizure unless it's in a location where it could be injured. If you end up having to move the dog, gently move your dog to a safer location by pulling them by the hind legs or from around their chest. Although it will be easier to move them, avoid grabbing them at the front of their chest or shoulders to avoid accidental injury to you. It's OK to pet or comfort your dog during a seizure, but keep your hands away from its mouth—the seizure could cause the dog's jaws to clamp down on your hand.

It's vitally important not to put anything in your dog's mouth to brace against their teeth. Your dog won't choke on their own tongue during a grand mal seizure and trying to put something in their mouth to prevent them from doing so may cause even more harm.

It might be the last thing on your mind when your dog is having a seizure, but keep track of how long your dog's seizure lasts. Make note of any strange behavior they exhibited just prior to the seizure, such as strange vocalizations or activity. Similarly, keep track of your dog's behavior post-ictal and how long they remain in this post-ictal phase before returning to normal.

Although it's tempting to run straight to the vet, emergency veterinary care is only necessary if the dog's seizure lasts for more than five minutes or if two or more seizures happen in a 24-hour period. Prolonged seizures, or those lasting more than 5 minutes, can cause hyperthermia and sustained brain damage. More than 1 seizure in a 24 hour period is termed "cluster seizures" and can be indicative of an emergent disorder, such as a toxin ingestion or decompensation of a tumor within the body.

That being said, your veterinarian should be notified if your previously healthy dog has had a grand mal seizure. If your dog has a single, short seizure, make an appointment to have your dog checked out by your vet as soon as there's availability.

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Because seizures in dogs may be caused by many different factors, your veterinarian will need to perform some diagnostic tests before she can determine the proper course of treatment. She'll start with your dog's complete medical history and may focus on any events involving head trauma and/or exposure to poisons or hallucinogenic substances.

Next, the vet will conduct a thorough physical exam, which often includes blood and urine tests and an electrocardiogram or ECG. The vet uses these tests to rule out medical issues with the dog's liver, kidneys, heart, electrolyte, and blood sugar levels. If your dog isn't taking a monthly heartworm preventive, she'll likely test your dog for heartworm as well.

If all test results are normal and don't indicate exposure to poison or trauma, your vet may conduct further tests such as a spinal fluid analysis or a CT (computed tomography) scan or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). CT scans and MRIs are non-invasive diagnostic tools that produce images of the brain and other internal tissues.

If the seizures are occasional and occur less than once every four to six weeks, your vet might not be as concerned and may not recommend the more invasive or costly tests unless the seizures become more frequent, more severe, or both.

To best treat your dog's seizures, your vet will want to know about any seizure history. Keep track of your dog's seizure history. Write down the information, date it, and store it with your pet's medical records. Most vets will only begin treatment if your dog has had:

Seizures more often than once every four to six weeks.
Cluster seizures (multiple seizures in a 24 hour period).
Grand mal seizures that are prolonged

The vet will likely treat your dog with an anticonvulsant medication such as phenobarbital or leviteracitam (Keppra). Once you start your dog on an anticonvulsant med, you must continue it for the rest of the dog's life. If it's discontinued, the dog is at greater risk for seizures. Speak with your vet about all your options and be clear on all instructions if you find you need to switch to another medication.

How Are Seizures Treated in Old Dogs?

If you suspect your pet is sick, call your vet immediately. For health-related questions, always consult your veterinarian, as they have examined your pet, know the pet's health history, and can make the best recommendations for your pet.