How to treat seizures in dogs

Seeing your beloved dog experience a seizure can be upsetting. One minute, your pup is playing with a toy. The next, your pooch becomes confused, limp, or flops on the floor. 

“Seizures are the most common neurological reason a dog is taken to the veterinarian,” says Sheila Carrera-Justiz, DVM, a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and a clinical associate professor and service chief of neurology at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine.

Causes of seizures in dogs 

Although seizures are common, their causes can be as individual as the dog breeds themselves, according to Christine Toedebusch, DVM, Ph.D., a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and an assistant professor in the department of surgical and radiological sciences at the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California, Davis. Causes of seizures in dogs include: 

• Epilepsy (idiopathic or primary), an inherited condition in dogs
• Low blood sugar
• Severe anemia
• Liver disease
• Kidney failure
• Ingesting poisons or toxins
• Diabetes
• Brain tumors

These causes are grouped into three main categories: 

1. Primary
2. Secondary 
3. Reactive

Dogs with primary seizures may begin showing symptoms between six months and three years of age. Primary causes include epilepsy. Secondary seizures are the result of a tumor or stroke. Reactive seizures are caused by a metabolic problem such as low blood sugar or a toxic substance that your dog has ingested. Older dogs that develop their first seizure later in life may be experiencing a reactive or secondary seizure. 

Some dog breeds are genetically predisposed to having seizures, Dr. Toedebusch says. Although any dog breed might have a seizure at some point in their life, the following dog breeds are genetically prone to seizures:

• Beagles
• Labrador retrievers
• Bernese mountain dogs
• Vizslas
• German Shepherds
• Rhodesian Ridgebacks

What seizures look like in dogs

What your dog experiences during a seizure depends on the type of seizure: generalized (also known as grand mal or tonic clonic seizures) or focal seizures.

Generalized seizures

Dr. Carrera-Justiz says the classic symptoms of a generalized seizure are:

• Collapsing
• Becoming rigid in all four legs
• Paddling or moving their legs like they are running
• Excessive drooling
• Urination
• Defecation. 

Despite having their eyes open, these dogs are generally not conscious.

Focal seizures

Focal seizures only affect one part of your dog’s brain, and usually show up in only one part of the body. Symptoms can be:

• Motor movements, like facial twitches
• Chewing motions
• Paddling of a foot
• Change in behavior
• Pupil dilation
• Vomiting
• Drooling

Your dog may be awake and aware during a focal seizure.

Although seizures generally last 30 seconds to two minutes, Dr. Carrera-Justiz says that dogs may have a period of minutes to hours afterward where they are not quite themselves as the brain recovers. 

When to see a vet about seizures

“One of the best things to do if your dog is having a weird episode is to record it on your phone so that you can show the video to your veterinarian,” Dr. Carerra-Justiz says.

Although a single seizure episode in your dog is not generally life-threatening, Dr. Carrera-Justiz says multiple seizures close together, known as a cluster, or a very prolonged seizure, known as status epilepticus, can definitely be life-threatening.

“Cases of cluster seizures and status epilepticus are considered emergencies and we do treat those dogs differently,” she explains. “If a dog is known to have cluster seizures, we can sometimes send owners home with certain medications to use short term to help reduce the number of seizures in a cluster.” 

Dr. Toedebusch agrees noting that if a dog has two or more seizures within a 24-hour period, they should be taken to an emergency vet clinic for treatment.

“A grand mal seizure, that lasts two minutes or more, where a dog loses consciousness and has violent muscle contractions, definitely warrants a visit to the emergency vet,” Dr. Toedebusch says.

Treating seizures in dogs 

At the veterinarian’s office, your dog will be given a physical exam and the vet will ask about the frequency of seizure activity,  number and duration of seizures, and whether anything seemed to trigger them. This may be followed by a blood test that might indicate an infection, signs of a toxin ingestion, or a metabolic abnormality. Based on these results your vet may recommend further imaging like an MRI, a consultation with a neurologist or hospitalization to treat an underlying cause. 

“Certain drugs (including ibuprofen and amphetamines) and toxins (xylitol, caffeine, dark chocolate) can trigger a seizure in a healthy dog,” Dr. Careera-Justiz says. “If a dog has a seizure disorder, it is possible that certain things can be a trigger such as extreme stress (an owner leaving on a trip) or particular sounds like a doorbell.”

If your dog is actively having a seizure at presentation to the vet visit, he may be given a short acting injection of Diazepam or Midazolam to stop the seizure activity. If this is not his first seizure, your vet may then discuss long-term anticonvulsant medications with you.

While there are many different anti-seizure drugs available for use in dogs, Dr. Carerra-Justiz says that each drug has different pros and cons and there is no one medication that is best. Your dog’s veterinarian can discuss which one would be recommended for your dog based on his medical conditions, lifestyle, and seizure history. 

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Caring for your dog at home

If your dog has a seizure, Dr. Toedebusch recommends not trying to pet or hold your dog.

“Your dog is unaware of their surroundings when they’re having a seizure,” she says. “It’s important to keep your hands away from their mouth, as they may unintentionally bite you when they’re unconscious.”

 You can clear your dog’s space and make sure the environment is as safe and quiet as possible. 

Although many home remedies have been purported to help with seizures, Dr. Carerra-Justiz says none have been shown to be effective.

“There are currently ongoing studies at multiple universities evaluating the safety and efficacy of cannabidiol (CBD) and hemp-based neutraceuticals in the management of seizures,” she says. 

To date, there is no information on whether CBD can effectively manage seizures in dogs or what the proper dosage would be.

Prognosis of seizures in dogs 

Depending on the cause of your dog’s seizures, Dr. Toedebusch says that many cases, including anemia, low blood sugar, and electrolyte imbalances are treatable. Even dogs that ingest toxic substances can be treated with a prompt call to your vet or the Pet Poison Hotline (1-855-213-6680).

In cases of primary epilepsy, previously known as idiopathic epilepsy, dogs are otherwise healthy and can resume normal activities between seizures.

“Depending on how frequently these dogs have seizures, we treat them with one or a combination of anti-seizure medications.  The vast majority of primary epileptic dogs live a normal lifespan with a great quality of life,” Dr. Carerra-Justiz says.