What do I do if My Dog Has a Seizure?
Dog seizures can be an unsettling occurrence the first time you experience one. There isn’t much time to think before it’s come and gone. The best thing to do is educate yourself on the origin of seizures and learn what to do if your dog has a seizure.
What Does a Seizure Look Like?
Seizures in dogs look much like they do in humans. This neurological condition causes convulsions that are often temporary and short in duration.
Generally, while seizures look violent and scary, they are not painful. Your dog may come out of the event confused or a little panicked, but they shouldn’t be in pain. To dispel a common myth, dogs can’t swallow their tongues during a seizure, so, don’t worry about trying to prevent that. You’ll probably just end up getting hurt. Instead, as we’ll cover in more detail later, focus your attention on keeping your dog from hurting themselves by knocking things over or running into something.
Now, those dogs who have cluster seizures (more than one) within a short period of time, it could cause them to have fever. This high temperature rise is called hyperthermia. That could do harm to your dog, and you should call your vet immediately if your dog begins to have cluster seizures.
If your dog has a seizure that lasts more than 5 minutes, take your dog to the emergency vet.
What Causes Seizures?
According to VCA Hospitals, “There are many causes of seizures. Idiopathic epilepsy, the most common cause of seizures in the dog, is an inherited disorder, but its exact cause is unknown.” Indeed, there are many reasons a dog may have a seizure. Here are some of the common causes of this scary but common symptom:
- Kidney failure
- Brain trauma
- Brain tumors
- Liver disease
- Toxins
- Inflammatory diseases
- Infections
- Stroke
- Metabolic issues
- Excitement
- Before falling asleep
The last two points above may seem common enough triggers for any dog, but for those with a predisposition to seizures, those slight changes in brain activity can be enough to cause one. Unfortunately, for most dogs that suffer from one seizure, there is often no way to know why except through blood work, spinal tap or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).
What to Do If Your Dog Has a Seizure
If your dog has a seizure, here’s what you should do:
Keep Calm
You need to keep a calm demeanor because your dog is likely to come out of their seizure confused and possibly agitated or temporarily blind. They need your strength during this stressful time.
Create Safe Space
If there are things that can fall down on your dog or furniture that you can protect them from, do so. Clear a space for them to have a seizure as safely as possible.
If Possible, Take Video
If your phone is handy, take a video of the episode and what happens afterward. Then, you can show your vet.
Call Your Vet
One seizure that ended without injury warrants a call to your dog’s vet. However, if your dog has more than one seizure in a day or one that lasts longer than 5 minutes, head to the vet or emergency vet.
How to Prevent Future Seizures
The first thing to do is assume your dog may suffer from another seizure. So, keep baby gates along stairs where falls could be deadly during an episode. Keep your pet away from any place where they could become seriously injured if a seizure was to occur.
Your dog’s vet may put them on medication. Watch for the side effects and track dosages. Consistency is vital when medicating your dog for seizures. Even when life gets busy, it’s not a task you can forget. Side effects will need to be reported to your vet. Negative side effects like lethargy, behavior changes, or difficulty walking should be reported immediately.