Canine seizures are always unsettling. But for pet owners who have never experienced them before, they can be downright terrifying.
“People simply don’t know what to do,” says Dr. Laura Weis, DVM, CVH, of Doylestown Veterinary Hospital. Desperate to help, so many first-timers rush to their dog’s side, attempting to restrain or intervene in some way. Misinformation and misconceptions can make a bad experience even worse.
As always, knowledge is power. Understanding the cause of seizures, how they are diagnosed, and how concerned owners can best aid their pets goes a long way toward a more positive outcome.
What Causes Seizures?
According to Dr. Weis, the veterinary community separates seizures into four distinct categories.
The most common diagnosis – idiopathic epilepsy – occurs when no structural abnormalities or metabolic causes can be found. Often first seen in young adult dogs, the diagnosis is more common in some breeds, with some Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, beagles, and labradors being predisposed. However, idiopathic epilepsy can be diagnosed in any breed.
Structural issues—things happening within a dog’s brain or head—are also a leading cause of seizures. Tumors are prevalent in this group, says Dr. Weis, and are seen more frequently in older dogs above the age of 7. “But we also see the same sorts of things that would cause seizures in a person,” she adds. “Like strokes or bleeding episodes or trauma.” Being hit by a car, or suffering a similar traumatic event, can lead to intracranial or structurally related seizures.
Rarer infectious or inflammatory causes—like canine distemper virus, parasites, or fungal infections—are also possible within the brain, says Dr. Weis, though these are fewer and far between.
Blood tests help to rule out metabolic causes of seizures, like advanced kidney disease. Hypoglycemia can occur in toy breeds—particularly puppies—when their blood sugar plummets, triggering seizures. Similarly, severe liver disease (which Dr. Weis says pet owners would likely be aware of ahead of time), or a portosystemic shunt (PSS) can be the culprit. Here, the metabolites that a dog’s liver is supposed to handle are not being processed properly. Their presence in the bloodstream can also lead to seizures.
The fourth cause is perhaps the top worry on every pet owner’s mind: ‘Oh no, did my dog get into something?’ Did they eat xylitol in toothpaste or sugar-free gum—all of which can cause blood sugar to drop significantly? Did they eat chocolate or sample human antidepressants or amphetamines? Wild mushrooms in the backyard are occasional suspects, and rodenticides are also bad news if a dog ingests them accidentally. Only your veterinarian will be able to deduce the cause.
Are There Different Kinds of Seizures?
Seizure activity does take on different magnitudes, unrelated to cause.
Grand mal seizures, or tonic-clonic seizures, are perhaps what most people think of when they hear the word.
“This is the classic seizure in which a loss of consciousness is involved,” says Dr. Weis. “The body stiffens. There are often jerking or paddling motions. Your dog is not making eye contact with you. They may be chomping, have excessive salivation, or be foaming at the mouth. They will often lose bladder and sometimes bowel control.”
Grand mal seizures in dogs can be particularly disturbing because, even though dogs are unaware of what is happening, they can vocalize or whine.
Seizures can also be far more subtle, Dr. Weis says. Known as petit mal seizures, or focal seizures, they involve only one part of the brain, and may be caused by congenital abnormalities, structural issues, or even vascular causes.
“One of the classic descriptions we see in dogs is something we call a ‘fly biting seizure,’ where it looks like they’re chomping at something in the air, but there’s nothing there,” Dr. Weis says. “It could involve facial twitching or twitching an ear repeatedly or any type of repetitive focal motion. Sometimes, dogs appear as though they are simply not connecting. You’ll call their name and they’re spacey, they don’t make eye contact.”
More complex (and less common) kinds of seizures may involve abnormal behavior like unprovoked aggression or anxiety, growling at nothing, or sudden confusion.
“Many people have said, ‘My dog looked possessed!” Dr. Weis says. Luckily, these episodes are short-lived, lasting a minute or less.
What Should I Do If My Dog Has a Seizure?
Staying calm during a canine seizure is not easy – but it’s critical for your pet’s safety, says Dr. Weis.
“Providing some space is crucial,” she says. “Everyone wants to come and see what’s happening. But it’s so important to get other pets away, move the children, try to move furniture out of the way if possible—especially if it’s a grand mal seizure that involves thrashing.”
If readily available, a towel or a blanket can be gently placed around the seizing dog’s head—but with a strict caveat: “Don’t get bitten.”
“Many times, dogs who are having a seizure will be chomping,” Dr. Weis explains, noting that the broad misconception regarding seizures is the fear that a dog might swallow its tongue. Dr. Weis puts this fear to rest. “It won’t happen. Don’t reach in that mouth.”
Timing is also key. Admittedly, it’s a challenge, but veterinarians will need to know how long the seizure lasts.
“Grab your watch or smartphone,” says Dr. Weis. “The rule of thumb is that if a seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, you need to get your pet into an emergency facility. That often involves putting them on a towel or a blanket and transporting them.”
A continuous seizure lasting more than 5 minutes is categorized as status epilepticus, Dr. Weis says. “The concern is that your dog’s temperature can increase and cause damage to the brain. Medical intervention is required.”
For seizures lasting only a few seconds or a minute or two, the important thing is to be present and reassuring.
“As the dog comes out of the seizure, there are various ways that they may react. We call this the postictal phase,” Dr. Weis says. “Some dogs may be very disoriented. They wake up, they don’t know what happened, everyone’s worried – maybe they’ve hurt themselves… You want to create a calm, soothing environment. Lowering the lights can help. Make sure there aren’t a lot of people around. Keep your voice low. Allow them to remain in this safe space until they’re fully recovered.”
Some dogs, Dr. Weis notes, become very clingy after a seizure and require close contact with their person to calm themselves.
“Once that phase passes—which can be anywhere from a few minutes to a half hour—you need to get them seen by the vet,” she says.
The Next Steps
If your dog has never had a seizure before, your vet will do a full exam—including a neurological check and bloodwork at minimum—to rule out common causes.
According to Dr. Weis, a new routine typically accompanies a diagnosis.
“Pet owners will need to keep a seizure diary. Seizures should be timed, and the date should be noted,” she says. “Veterinarians look for periodicity. We look for triggers.”
While some seizures pose more challenges than others, your veterinarian can offer the best course of action depending on the cause. Various medications are often prescribed, sometimes in combination, and blood tests ensure your pet is receiving the appropriate therapeutic levels of those medications. Management tools, such as special diets including ketogenic formulations, may also be discussed.
Fortunately, in the case of epilepsy—the most common cause of seizures in dogs—the outlook is often positive.
“With proper management, most dogs can have a good quality of life,” Dr. Weis says.
