It鈥檚 easy to panic when you see a dog having a seizure. While not every seizure constitutes an emergency, dogs need prompt veterinary attention to determine the cause and reduce the chance of it happening again. Plus, there are things you can do to help your dog recover safely from a seizure. Read on to learn about seizures in dogs including the types and causes, how they鈥檙e diagnosed and treated, and what you can do if you witness your dog having a seizure.
Types of Seizures in Dogs
Seizures are one of the most common neurological problems in dogs and are caused by excessive electrical activity in the brain. 鈥淎 seizure is a sign, not a disease,鈥� explains Dr. Jerry Klein, DVM, Chief Veterinary Officer for the American Kennel Club. The seizure is called the 鈥渋ctal phase鈥� when a dog loses consciousness and experiences involuntary contractions of the muscles, says Dr. Jeff Grognet, DVM.
The most frequently reported type of seizure is a generalized seizure, previously known as a grand mal seizure. 鈥淭ypically, a seizure causes the patient to lose consciousness and collapse if they鈥檙e standing,鈥� says of New York-based practice City Pets. The dog may seem stiff before beginning to paddle, drool, urinate, or defecate.
A second type of seizure, a focal seizure, occurs in a specific body part like a face tremor. During a focal seizure, a dog will make involuntary movements, but they don鈥檛 always lose consciousness, Dr. Attas says. For example, a chewing gum seizure makes the dog look as though they鈥檙e chewing gum because they can鈥檛 stop opening and closing their mouths.
A third type of seizure is called a psychomotor seizure. 鈥淭he dog may look like they鈥檙e in an altered state of consciousness,鈥� she says. They鈥檒l seem disoriented or display an episode of rage or aggression.
How Seizures Are Diagnosed
It鈥檚 not always clear if your dog is having a seizure, Dr. Klein says. There are other reasons a dog can faint, including what鈥檚 called 鈥渁 syncopal event, which is usually associated with insufficient oxygen,鈥� Dr. Attas says. 鈥淲e see this in dogs with heart disease or pulmonary hypertension.鈥� The dog will faint and seem normal once they regain consciousness.
Conversely, when the ictal phase is over, the dog won鈥檛 seem normal for a period known as the postictal phase, characterized by lethargy and confusion. The postictal phase is 鈥渨hat defines a neurological event as a seizure,鈥� she says. If there is no postictal phase, the veterinarian will explore other potential causes of fainting.
It鈥檚 always best to take your dog to see a veterinarian as soon as possible after they experience their first seizure. Your vet will be able to determine if your dog has a condition where they may not be stable. In diagnosing seizures, it helps to provide your veterinarian with a detailed description of what happened during and after the seizure. If possible, take a short video of your dog seizing. After examining your dog, the vet will perform blood tests to determine if a metabolic disorder is causing the seizures. They may do a bile acid test where the dog is fasted, given food, and has their blood tested two hours later.
Causes of Seizures
The most common cause of seizures in dogs is epilepsy, affecting anywhere between 2% and 5% of dogs, Dr. Attas says. Other causes of seizures include a brain tumor, metabolic disorder, brain abnormality, brain infection, certain toxins, and trauma to the head.
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is characterized by bursts of electrical activity throughout the brain, leading to repeated muscle spasms or contractions, Dr. Grognet says. He explains that epilepsy is a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning it鈥檚 diagnosed after ruling out other causes. If epilepsy is suspected, the vet may go ahead and treat your dog with anti-seizure medication or elect for an MRI which is expensive and requires general anesthesia. Dogs with epilepsy may appear normal between seizures and have normal blood tests.
Brain Tumor
Brain tumors can be cancerous or benign. An example of the latter is , which is fairly common in older dogs and cats, Dr. Attas says. Even if a tumor is benign, it can compress the brain and trigger a seizure. Dogs usually return to normal once the .
Metabolic Disorders
With a metabolic disorder involving the liver or kidneys, the brain itself is normal, but there may be an issue like a 鈥渓iver shunt where the blood vessels in the liver aren鈥檛 connected properly and blood bypasses the liver without getting detoxified,鈥� Dr. Attas explains. This results in a buildup of ammonia in the bloodstream, which can trigger seizures. Liver shunts occur in puppies and older dogs and can be surgically repaired to prevent future seizures. Hypoglycemia is another common metabolic disorder that can lead to seizures in dogs.
Brain Abnormalities
Structural seizures are caused by brain abnormalities like excess fluid in the brain. For example, there could be something wrong with the shape of a puppy鈥檚 brain, or they could have a liver shunt. Another cause of seizures in puppies is an infectious disease like canine distemper or , which is caused by a parasite.
Breed and Age Group Susceptibility
Senior dogs and adolescent dogs may develop age-related seizure disorder, which can be treated with anticonvulsant therapy. Certain dog breeds tend to be more susceptible to seizures including Beagles, German Shepherd Dogs, Golden Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels, Poodles, Boxers, Miniature Schnauzers, and Saint Bernards.
Dog Seizure Treatment Options
For dogs with a seizure disorder due to age or epilepsy, the vet will , such as phenobarbital, , , or (Keppra). 鈥淭hese drugs are given orally to prevent seizures by raising the threshold of electrical activity that needs to happen for dogs to have a seizure,鈥� Dr. Attas says. 鈥淏ut they鈥檙e not a cure and dogs can still get seizures on these medications.鈥� Dr. Grognet adds that these drugs can harm the liver.
Typically, a vet will start with a high dose of one medication and adjust based on how a dog responds. Phenobarbital is a frequent choice because it鈥檚 inexpensive and well-tolerated by dogs. 鈥淲e want to get good seizure control, meaning one seizure every six months,鈥� she says. 鈥淚f one drug is not effective, we add a second drug, and if it鈥檚 not effective, we can add a third or fourth drug.鈥�
The veterinarian may also prescribe a medication like Valium to shorten the length of a seizure. 鈥淭hese medications are only effective if they get into the bloodstream quickly,鈥� she says. Giving Valium by injection is effective but difficult when a dog鈥檚 legs are paddling vigorously. At home, you can administer Valium via nasal drops or a rectal tube.
What To Do if Your Dog Is Having a Seizure
If you witness your dog having a seizure for the first time, try to remain calm. 鈥淵our job is to protect your dog from hurting themselves,鈥� Dr. Attas says. Keep them away from stairs or furniture to avoid falling, hitting their head, or injuring their limbs. Make sure not to touch anywhere near your dog鈥檚 mouth because they may bite under stress. Keep other pets away since it can be stressful for them too.
Sometimes people will try to snap their dog out of a seizure by patting them or spraying them with water. 鈥淎bsolutely don鈥檛 do that because it adds excitement and may prolong the seizure,鈥� she says. There鈥檚 no risk of dogs swallowing their tongues, so avoid getting near their mouth.
She recommends keeping a seizure log of your dog鈥檚 symptoms and their duration. Note which body part first showed signs of seizing. It鈥檚 always a good idea to book an appointment with your regular veterinarian even if a seizure lasts under a minute and your dog is back to normal.
Emergency Seizure Conditions
Dogs who have cluster seizures, meaning more than one seizure in 24 hours, require immediate veterinary attention. 鈥淎 seizure itself is not an emergency unless it鈥檚 going on for three minutes or longer,鈥� Dr. Attas says. The way to measure a seizure is from the time your dog loses consciousness to when they stop paddling and regain consciousness. The postictal phase isn鈥檛 included.
If a seizure lasts longer than five minutes, dogs may experience a neurological condition called Status Epilepticus. 鈥淭his means they鈥檙e having multiple seizures so close together that their body doesn鈥檛 have a chance to return to normal,鈥� she says. 鈥淭his is a true emergency because their body temperatures get so high, they start to get secondary problems which can often lead to death.鈥�
For example, dogs with hyperthermia (overheating) can 鈥渄evelop pulmonary edema, which is fluid in the lungs, or cerebral edema, which is fluid around the brain,鈥� she says. Pulmonary edema can compromise their breathing. Cerebral edema can lead to brain damage and affect vital functions like the heartbeat and breathing.
With a generalized seizure, dogs tend to exert a lot of energy resulting in body temperatures as high as 105 degrees. It鈥檚 critical to help cool these dogs down before taking them to an emergency hospital. She suggests running a under cold water and applying it to areas where your dog doesn鈥檛 have a lot of fur like their stomach, groin, underarms, or neck. Keep monitoring their temperature using an aural or .
Preventing a Seizure
Dog owners may notice certain sounds or lights that trigger a seizure. 鈥淏ut for the most part, there鈥檚 very little you can do to prevent a seizure other than being 100% reliable about giving them anti-seizure medication,鈥� Dr. Attas says. For example, Keppra is given three times a day, so you can鈥檛 miss a dose.
Over time and with medication, dogs can reach a point where they stop having seizures, she says. In that case, your vet will begin removing one drug at a time. For some dogs, being diagnosed with a seizure disorder doesn鈥檛 mean they鈥檒l need to be on medication for the rest of their life.
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