Can dogs have seizures?

The answer is yes. Dog seizures, the sudden attack, spasm, or convulsion, as in epilepsy or another disorder, can occur for no apparent medical reason. Whether the onset is primarily epilepsy within the first one to five years of age or later on in life, dog seizures can be a reaction to medication, allergies, toxins, diseases, fevers, or anything disturbing brain funcationality.

While the symptoms vary, the first thing to do as a pet owner is to not freak out. Recognize that your dog could possibly have a dog seizure some day. Here are some of the warning signs:

Prior to the dog seizure, your dog may have vast changes in mood or behavior.
Nervousness, whining, trembling, salivation, wandering, restlessness, and apprehension, are all signs that the sudden attack, a dog seizure, is imminent.
Intense physical activity usually lasting 45 seconds to 3 minutes characterizes a typical dog seizure. As a result, your dog may lose consciousness and fall to the ground. You may notice excessive drooling, paddling of feet, uncontrollable body fluids, teeth gnashing or uncontrollable thrashing of limbs.
Post-seizure, the dog may pace endlessly or appear blind and deaf or eat or drink excessively.

So, now that you know the facts, if you notice your dog having a seizure, it’s important to seek help. Call your veterinarian immediately, as medication for dog seizures is available. Also, keep track of the behavior; in other words, maintain a log of dates and symptoms of the dog seizure to better help your veterinarian determine the variety, timing, and intensity of attacks.

In order to prevent another epileptic episode or avoid an initial dog seizure altogether, there are various ways to make your home epileptic proof, dog seizure-proof and overall safe:

Keep your dog in a space where he can have a dog seizure safely. This means ensuring nothing can fall onto your dog or that your dog can’t hurt himself by banging into something. For instance, a kitchen is typically safe but you’ll need to ensure countertops do not have anything near its edge which can easily fall onto your dog.
Keep your dog away from stairs. It’s not uncommon for dogs to take a brutal tumble down stairs during a dog seizure.
It’s also important to ensure your dog isn’t in a location where a flailing leg can get caught between thin rails.
Likewise, if your dog is in the bedroom during a spasm and gets under your bed, that is bad news. A dog seizure under the bed with spasms can result I harm from metal springs.
It’s always best for dogs, if they’re showing signs of epilepsy, to be in a room with carpeting, rugs, or blankets.

Overall, proper precautions as well as treatment is important if your dog experiences dog seizures. At The Dog Bowl, nothing is more important than your pets’ health and well being. For more information about dog seizures please contact your vet. To shop at The Dog Bowl's online storefront click here.