Dog Seizures: How to Keep Your Pet Safe and Healthy
Dog seizures can be pretty scary and when a pet is suffering from this condition, you may see them disoriented, falling on their side on the floor and thrashing their legs about as though treading water. Canine seizures and convulsions can affect any dog breed, though some breeds are more prone to such disorders than others.
Now let’s take a closer look at dog seizures and convulsions, as well as what to do if your dog gets one unexpectedly.
Table of Contents
- What Do Dogs Look Like When They Have Seizures?
- What Happens in the Course of a Normal Seizure?
- What Are the Causes of Seizures?
- Seizures in Dogs: Symptoms and Signs
- What Can You Do if Your Dog Is Having a Seizure?
- Don’t Panic
- Sit Next to Your Dog
- Seizures in Your Dog Should Be Timed
- Carefully Transport Your Dog to a More Secure Location
- Speak in a Reassuring Tone
- Reduce the Temperature of Your Dog’s Body
- Wrap a Blanket Around Your Dog to Keep Him Warm
- Allow Your Dog to Sleep
- Allow Your Dog to Eat and Drink
- Make an Appointment with Your Veterinarian
- Dog Breeds with a Higher Risk of Seizures
- What Methods Are Used to Treat or Prevent Seizures?
- Natural Dog Seizure Treatments
- The Takeaway
- Nutrition Strength Dog Seizure Support
Check out our Nutrition Strength Dog Seizure Support here.
What Do Dogs Look Like When They Have Seizures?
A seizure can take many different forms. Some of them are more visible than others. During this crisis, your dog’s muscles may spasm or jerk uncontrollably. But this type of disorder can also entail a loss of consciousness, drooling, or odd eye-rolling movements.
“Generalized” seizures are a term used to describe grand mal seizures. Аberrant electrical activity in the brain may be a reason for them. The duration of these episodes might range from a few seconds to many minutes.
Focal seizures are similar to grand mal seizures in that they only impact one side of the brain or one area of the brain, affecting only one side of the dog. A focal seizure that begins as a focal seizure can sometimes progress to a grand mal seizure.
Psychomotor seizures seldom cause a dog to collapse to the ground. Instead, this form may lead the dog to act strangely, such as racing around and biting inanimate things or chasing their tail excessively. When a dog has psychomotor seizures, it’s tough to tell if he’s acting foolish or has a problem. However, he may exhibit the same unusual behavior each time he has a seizure.
Idiopathic epilepsy is a term used to describe seizures with no known cause. These conditions are more common in dogs between six months and six years old. Idiopathic epilepsy is more common in some breeds, including:
- Australian shepherds;
- Beagles;
- Belgian Tervurens;
- Border Collies;
- Collies;
- German Shepherds;
- Labrador Retrievers.
What Happens in the Course of a Normal Seizure?
Dogs seizures include three parts:
- The pre-ictal phase (aura) is a time of altered behavior during which the dog may hide, appear agitated, or seek out the owner. He may appear nervous, twitchy, whine, shake, or salivating. That might last anything from a few seconds to several hours. As though the dog is awaiting something, this gap comes before the seizure activity.
- The ictal phase can last from a few seconds to many minutes and its appearance might vary. It can range from minor alterations in mental health, such as a dazed appearance, moderate shivering, aimless gazing, or licking lips, to a complete loss of consciousness and physical function. All muscles in a dog’s body spastically and sporadically move when your puppy experiences a grand mal seizure or a full-fledged seizure with loss of consciousness. The dog generally collapses on his side and paddles his legs — he becomes paralyzed. Backwards depictions of the head are common. Urination, feces, and salivation are all possible outcomes. If the episode does not stop within five minutes, your puppy is in “status epilepticus”.
- There may be certain specific dog seizure symptoms during the post-ictal period or the time after the seizure has ceased, such as:
- Bewilderment;
- Disorientation;
- Salivation;
- Pacing;
- Restlessness;
- Momentary blindness.
The length of the post-ictal phase has little to do with the severity of the seizure.
What Are the Causes of Seizures?
What causes seizures in dogs is not an easy question. For several causes, this condition can develop. The most prevalent cause of seizures in dogs is idiopathic epilepsy. It is a hereditary condition with no known etiology. One or more of the following can also maintain seizures and convulsions:
- Poisoning;
- Kidney disease;
- Liver diseasе;
- Vascular disease / embolism;
- Brain cancer;
- Head trauma;
- Electrolyte imbalance;
- High or low blood sugar;
- Anemia;
- Encephalitis.
Incorrect electrical activity in the dog’s brain can cause a seizure, which results in a loss of control over their body, regardless of the underlying reason.
Seizures in Dogs: Symptoms and Signs
Some numerous indications and symptoms can help you detect if your dog is experiencing a seizure or convulsion, in addition to the tell-tale sign of collapse:
- Involuntary defecating or urinating;
- Jerking physical motions;
- Stiffening;
- Muscle twitching;
- Loss of consciousness;
- Drooling;
- Chomping or tongue biting;
- Foaming at the mouth.
A dog may appear bewildered or as though he is looking off into space just before a seizure occurs. He’salso prone to becoming unsteady. After the episode has subsided, the dog will often appear wobbly and perplexed. He might be temporarily blind, in which case he will seek refuge from you.
What Can You Do if Your Dog Is Having a Seizure?
Don’t Panic
Whether it’s the first time your dog has had a seizure, or you’ve seen one before, keep your cool before assisting your dog. If you get in his face and start sobbing or yelling at your puppy, he’ll become even more terrified of the experience.
Sit Next to Your Dog
Sit close to your dog, but avoid stroking him. You can pet his back or other portions of his body that he can’t reach with his tongue on occasion. However, keep in mind that during convulsions, dogs may bite impulsively.
In the same way, when your dog wakes up, he may be confused and attack you out of fear, pain, or bewilderment. Though you’re dealing with a dog seizure for the first time, it’s better to avoid caressing him, even if it’s terrible for you emotionally.
Seizures in Your Dog Should Be Timed
Time your dog’s seizures if you can. Even if you don’t have a stopwatch, keeping an eye on the clock may help decide how long your dog has been seizing. Everything should be OK if it’s less than two minutes; anything between two and five minutes is a red flag, and you should send your dog to the vet as soon as possible.
Any seizure that lasts longer than five minutes should be treated by a veterinarian right once. If your dog experiences numerous episodes in a short period and does not wake up between them, he should visit a veterinarian very soon.
Carefully Transport Your Dog to a More Secure Location
If your dog has a seizure near the stairwell or the edge of the bed, gently push him to a safer spot or lay something in front of him to keep him from falling. Before or after a seizure, dogs may become scared and dash about without thinking or noticing where they’re going. They may also lose control of their movements from time to time, resulting in a seizure and a fall.
Speak in a Reassuring Tone
Speak to your dog in quiet, soothing tones. After a seizure, some owners try playing calm, relaxing music for their pets. That is acceptable as long as you don’t play anything too loudly. However, your dog may enjoy it more if you just let him return to normal without any distractions.
Reduce the Temperature of Your Dog’s Body
When your dog has a seizure, his body temperature swiftly rises. As a result, gently placing cold washcloths over his feet after the episode has ceased might be beneficial. If you don’t wait until your dog has cooled down, he may bite you.
Wrap a Blanket Around Your Dog to Keep Him Warm
After a seizure, some owners wrap their dog in a towel or blanket and cradle him to comfort the puppy. If your dog has become aware and is generally back to normal after the seizure, you may do so.
However, if you aren’t sure, don’t do it. If hugging disturbs your dog in the past, don’t do it in this scenario since he won’t find it reassuring.
Allow Your Dog to Sleep
Your dog may be exhausted once he is attentive and awake again. Allow your puppy to sleep; you may check on him from time to time, but it’s better if you leave him alone.
Allow Your Dog to Eat and Drink
Following a seizure, your dog may become excessively hungry or thirsty. Allow your puppy to eat and drink if he seems alert and can stand up without wobbling or looking shocked.
Make an Appointment with Your Veterinarian
If this is your dog’s first seizure or if it was longer than usual, contact your veterinarian straight away for help. Follow the advice of the veterinarian. If your dog is diagnosed with epilepsy by your veterinarian, he may be prescribed epilepsy medication. If you skip it, your dog may suffer from seizures again.
Dog Breeds with a Higher Risk of Seizures
While not every dog of these breeds will have a seizure at some point in their lives, certain breeds are more prone to this condition than others:
- Bull Terriers can have a hereditary form of epilepsy that causes tail chasing, irrational fear, and spontaneous violence, among other things.
- German Shepherds, Australian Shepherds, Labrador and Golden Retrievers and other large herding and retrieving dogs are susceptible to seizures.
- Seizures are prevalent in herding dogs with the MDR1 gene. Australian and German Shepherds, Longhaired Whippets, Border Collies, and Old English and Shetland Sheepdogs are among these breeds.
- Pugs, Boston Terriers, and English Bulldogs, for example, have small, flat noses and are more prone to seizures.
What Methods Are Used to Treat or Prevent Seizures?
You should initiate the dog seizure treatment if the pet has had:
- More than one seizure per month;
- Seizures that occur in clusters, with one episode followed by another;
- Severe or long-lasting grand mal seizures.
Phenobarbital and potassium bromide are the two most widely used drugs to treat seizures in dogs. Novel anticonvulsants like zonisamide and levetiracetam are also becoming increasingly common. Combination therapy is an option for dogs that don’t react well to standard treatments.
Anticonvulsant medication is necessary for the remainder of one’s life. There is evidence that giving anticonvulsant medicine to a dog and then stopping it increases the dog’s chances of having more severe seizures in the future.
Even healthy dogs with no history of seizures or epilepsy can have similar episodes if they take anticonvulsant medicine and then discontinue it quickly. Your veterinarian will provide you with precise advice if anticonvulsant medication needs to be stopped or modified for any reason.
Natural Dog Seizure Treatments
Although a veterinarian can prescribe drugs, some dog owners dread the side effects that come with them. As a result, natural or homoeopathic medicines may be a viable alternative for many pet owners. Any technique or procedure is “natural” if it uses just a tactic or source found in nature.
You can use natural remedies for dog seizures in the privacy of your own home. It’s crucial to remember, though, that even “natural” products can have general adverse effects.
You can avoid seizures in your puppy by using a variety of natural medicines and procedures.
Essential Fatty Acids
Veterinary doctors recommend adding fatty acids, especially omega-3 supplements, to our dog’s food regularly. The dose varies depending on the dog’s weight. It’s common to use one tablespoon per fifty pounds.
Several studies have found that fatty acids do not lessen seizures in humans or dogs, while they may help to increase a patient’s seizure threshold.
Changes in Nutrition
Food dyes, notably a color called red dye 40, have been linked to seizures in dogs. Before trusting dog meals and treats, pet owners should conduct their research. Other foods, such as onion, garlic, bell peppers, chocolate, or grapes, are hazardous and poisonous to dogs and probably cause seizures.
Homoeopathic Oils
Oils are a popular alternative since they allow a pet owner to give their pets medicine during a seizure. Attempting to give a dog seizure medication in the middle of an episode is difficult or impossible because convulsions force the jaw and teeth to clench.
Natural oils can be applied to the skin or even on the gums of a seizing animal, but be cautious not to get bit. Belladonna, Aconite, and Choline or Cholidin are examples of homoeopathic drugs that can help with seizures.
Acupressure
Probably acupressure might help a seizure-prone animal relax. For instance, the pressure point at the base of a dog’s snout, just above his top lip, may be squeezed for up to a minute with moderate pressure.
Melatonin
Administering melatonin (a naturally occurring hormone secreted by the brain to promote sleep) to animals who have nocturnal seizures can assist.
Honey
For dogs with diabetes or hypoglycemia, a teaspoon of honey once or twice a day is helpful. It depends on the frequency or severity of seizures. To control the diabetes, you should also seek veterinarian assistance.
Veterinarians do not recommend natural treatments as the most effective therapy for seizures in dogs. But we can use them as prophylactic measures. Finally, a dog who eats a regular, nutritious diet devoid of chemicals or foods to which he may be allergic and is not exposed to severe temperatures is less likely to suffer severe seizures.
The Takeaway
Seizures in dogs are common. They are usually seen in some breeds than others, although all dogs might have them at some time in their lives. Diet, age, inherited disorders, underlying disease, and other variables can all contribute to seizures in dogs. They might also be the result of epilepsy.
Only your veterinarian can tell you what is exactly causing your dog’s seizures and what dog seizure support you can use. When you keep the above guidelines in mind, the next time your dog has a similar condition, you’ll be ready to support him every step of the way.
Nutrition Strength Dog Seizure Support
Check out our Nutrition Strength Dog Seizure Support here.
Nutrition Strength’s Dog Seizure Support, Supplement for Epilepsy in Dogs, with Organic Valerian Root, Chamomile and Blue Vervain, Plus L-Tryptophan Dog Stress and Anxiety Aid is specially made to help rebalance and strengthen your pet’s immune and nervous systems.
A natural way to protect against dog seizures and epilepsy, our premium supplement helps your furry friends by:
- Strengthening your dog’s defensive systems to make it less likely that they suffer from epileptic attacks.
- Helping to control and manage epileptic seizures when they do occur.
- Promoting a healthy recovery from epileptic fits and helping to limit the damage from them.
- Supporting a strong immune system to ensure that your dog is properly equipped to cope with their condition.
- Supplying l-tryptophan and organic passion flower to promote balanced behavior in your pet and to limit nervous outbursts.
A sudden and uncontrolled electrical disturbance in the brain, a fit of epileptic seizure can manifest itself in a number of ways ranging from uncontrolled jerking movements to a momentary loss of awareness.
Our safe, effective herbal supplement helps to soothe your pet’s nerves, while promoting a balanced nervous system, healthy brain functioning and stability to help them deal with dog seizures and stress-related issues, such as separation anxiety, thunderstorms, fireworks and other loud noises, trips to the vet, car rides, changes in routine, dog parks and crowded public spaces.
Image source: Wikimedia / liz west.
