Up to 5% of dogs experience seizures, and pet owners who witness one for the first time are often surprised, scared, and unsure how to proceed. Not all seizures require immediate medical attention, but seizures that last too long or happen back-to-back can threaten your pet’s life and require emergency care. So, how do you know whether your pet needs medical attention, or can be monitored safely at home? Commonwealth Animal Care veterinarians are experienced in treating all seizure types, and we can provide guidance on next steps after your pet’s seizure. You won’t always have time to call us during an active event, so we present our guide to help you remain calm, assess the situation, and keep your pet safe.
What causes seizures in pets?
In dogs, the most common seizure cause is idiopathic epilepsy, which most often affects dogs between 6 months and 5 years old, and continues throughout their lifetime. By definition, idiopathic epilepsy has no discernable underlying cause, aside from potential genetic or breed-related factors. Young cats can develop epilepsy, too, but much less commonly than dogs. Dogs with epilepsy may have seizures for no obvious reason, or episodes may be triggered by stress, veterinary visits, excitement, or activity. Seizures can also develop secondary to other illness or disease, such as:
- Liver disease that causes toxin buildup in the body
- Toxin or poison exposure
- Brain disease (i.e., tumor, inflammation)
- Infection
- Low blood sugar
- Electrolyte or hormonal imbalance
Is your pet actually having a seizure?
Many disease processes can cause collapse that looks similar to a seizure. Pets having a generalized seizure may behave oddly right before they fall down, followed by drooling, paddling, urinating/defecating, chomping their jaws, and vocalizing. Recovery can take from a few minutes up to 24 hours, when your pet may be confused, lethargic, hungry, thirsty, uncoordinated, or temporarily blind. Partial seizures affect only a small part of the brain and cause localized twitching or abnormal, repetitive behaviors in pets. Pets going through a generalized seizure are unconscious and won’t respond to their name, while those having a partial seizure can still function and process information.
Events that may mimic a seizure include:
- Heart arrhythmias
- Narcolepsy-cataplexy or REM sleep disorder
- Exercise-induced collapse
- Musculoskeletal disorders
- Vestibular disease
What to do if your pet has a seizure
If you think your pet may be having a seizure, first and foremost—remain calm. A single seizure is rarely life-threatening, but can be unsettling for you and your pet, so take a few deep breaths and follow these steps:
#1: Ensure your pet’s safety — If your seizing pet is near a stairwell, curb, or sharp object, gently slide them away from danger. Place a blanket or towel under their head, avoiding your pet’s mouth, as involuntary jaw movements could inadvertently result in a bite. Don’t worry—seizing pets do not swallow their tongue.
#2: Time or videotape the event — If you have a digital watch or phone nearby, use the stopwatch function to time the event or take a video to show your veterinarian. Take note of and write down the time of day, as well. Most seizures last less than 90 seconds, but they can feel like forever.
#3: Support your pet’s recovery — When your pet regains consciousness, they may take a few moments to recognize you, so try not to startle them. Keep your pet cool and let them rest on comfy bedding for the next few hours. If your pet isn’t back to their normal self 24 hours after their seizure, call your veterinarian.
#4: Seek veterinary attention — For single seizures lasting less than 90 seconds, call your veterinarian and schedule a visit in the next day or two to check your pet’s neurologic function and determine any underlying causes. If your veterinarian can’t find a cause, they may start medications, or ask you to monitor for future seizures. If your pet’s seizure lasts more than two to three minutes, they have another seizure in the next 24 hours, have continuous seizure activity, or if other illness signs, such as vomiting or diarrhea, are noted, head to the local ER. Seizure activity can elevate your pet’s body temperature and cause brain changes that make future seizures more likely. Continuous seizure activity, called status epilepticus, can be life-threatening and requires immediate treatment.
#5: Keep a pet seizure diary — Keep track of future seizures, so you can update your veterinarian at each follow-up visit. Record time, characteristics, behavior changes before and after the seizure, and whether/when you gave any medication. You may find that logging these details helps you predict an impending seizure. Remember, seizures that occur less than 24 hours apart require urgent medical care.
Whether your pet has a single, isolated event, or needs long-term management for ongoing epilepsy, we can help. Most pets who have more than one seizure over a few weeks or months can start anti-seizure medications, which we closely monitor. If medications aren’t working well enough, we may refer your pet to a veterinary neurologist for further care. If your pet has a seizure for the first time, or if you notice changes in seizure type, frequency, or length, call us to schedule an appointment with our Commonwealth Animal Care team.
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