Dog Seizures: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments & Our Personal Experience

Your dog seems confused or agitated, falls over on his side, and his limbs go stiff or start to make paddling motions. He could likely be having a seizure. Dog seizures are scary and disorienting for both dogs and owners. If you suspect your dog has had a seizure or just want to arm yourself with the knowledge in case it happens to your dog one day, we’re here to help.

What Causes Seizures In Dogs?

There are a variety of causes for dog seizures. If your dog has them often, he may have idiopathic epilepsy, a disorder in which unusual, uncontrolled bursts of electrical activity in your dog’s brain cause periodic seizures. While epilepsy is inherited, veterinarians aren’t entirely sure what causes it. Other causes of seizures include:

• Eating something poisonous (see which foods and plants are toxic for dogs)
• Electrolyte imbalances
• Anemia
• Low or high blood sugar
• Liver disease
• Kidney disease
• Head injury
• Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain)
• Stroke
• Heat stroke
• Brain cancer (learn more about cancer in dogs)

Types Of Seizures In Dogs

Experts generally classify dog seizures into three main types.

1. Focal Seizures – A focal, or partial, seizure in dogs occurs in a small part of the brain affecting one limb, one side of the body, or just the face. Focal seizures in dogs typically progress to grand mal seizures over the dog’s lifetime.
2. Grand Mal Seizures – Grand mal seizures in dogs affect both sides of the brain and the entire body. These types of seizures typically look like involuntary jerking or twitching in all four of the dog’s limbs and include dilated pupils and the loss of consciousness.
3. Focal Seizures With Secondary Generalization – This type of seizure starts as a focal (partial) seizure and then has a second phase of a grand mal seizure that affects the whole body.

Is My Dog Having A Seizure?

Dog seizures can be mild to severe and anything in between those two extremes. They can last anywhere from less than a minute to several minutes. Sometimes they can occur in clusters, during which your pet will experience several seizures within 24 hours.

Classic seizures typically happen in three phases or stages. There are many manifestations of these stages, and not all dogs will act the same, but here are some of the common symptoms of each phase.

Stage 1: Pre-Seizure (Preictal) Phase

• Hiding
• Trembling
• Anxiousness
• Weakness
• Staring off into space
• Attention-seeking behavior

Stage 2: Seizure (Ictal) Phase

If the seizure is mild, your dog may not lose consciousness, and there may be little to no limb stiffening or paddling.

• Muscle twitching
• Uncontrollable shaking
• Collapsing
• Stiffening
• Loss of consciousness
• Drooling
• Chomping
• Tongue chewing
• Foaming at the mouth
• Falling to the side and making paddling motions with their legs
• Involuntary defecating or urinating

Stage 3:Post-Seizure (Postictal) Phase

• Disorientation
• Loss of balance
• Fatigue or lethargy

What Does A Seizure Look Like?

See what all stages of a grand mal seizure look like with this Bernese Mountain Dog and what the pet parents do to comfort their pup.

How Serious Are Dog Seizures?

A single, isolated seizure is rarely dangerous. However, if your dog has cluster seizures (multiple seizures within a short period of time), or if a seizure continues for longer than a few minutes, it causes their body temperature to rise, and hyperthermia (elevated body temperature) can develop, so it’s crucial to take your dog to your vet immediately.

Can A Dog Die From A Seizure?

Status epilepticus is a serious and life-threatening situation that requires immediate veterinary treatment. This condition is characterized by epileptic seizures that continue for more than five minutes, or by the occurrence of more than one seizure within a five-minute period in which the dog doesn’t return to “normal” in between seizures. Unless intravenous anticonvulsants are given immediately to stop the seizure activity, the dog may die or suffer irreversible brain damage, according to Today’s Veterinary  Practice.

What To Do When A Dog Has A Seizure

Seizures are scary for dogs and owners alike, so it’s important for you to remain as calm as possible to care for your pup and remember these important tips from the American Kennel Club.

1. Keep notes documenting your dog’s seizures, keeping track of the date, time, length, frequency, and symptoms. This will help your vet determine if there’s a pattern to your dog’s seizures and give them important information about your dog’s symptoms.
2. Video the seizure so you can show it to your vet later.
3. Know that seizures in dogs are not painful. Your dog may look and sound like he’s in pain, but rest assured that he is not.
4. Do not try to grab his tongue or touch his mouth, as dogs tend to chew during seizures, and you could get bitten.
5. Keep your dog away from stairs to prevent him from falling and hurting himself.
6. Cushion his head and gently hold and comfort your dog until he begins to regain consciousness.
7. A dog whose seizures last more than two to three minutes may overheat and develop hyperthermia. If your dog’s seizures are lasting for at least several minutes, do your best to cool your dog by placing cold items, such as cold water or wet towels, on certain locations on his body, such as the neck and head. Even with your attempts to cool down your dog, you must get your dog immediate veterinary care.

Our Personal Experience With Dog Seizures

My dog, Bear, a black Labrador retriever, was diagnosed with epilepsy when he was about three years old. He was an extremely sweet, athletic, healthy dog, and it came as a big shock when he started to have seizures. At first, we did not realize he was having seizures. He had a few incidents we attributed to being clumsy or just over-eager.

One of the very first notable times happened in the middle of the night. He was pacing by the door, so I let him out. As he ran out to the yard, he stumbled and bumped into the fence, which was unusual, but nothing that alarmed me. A few days later, when he was outside, I found him shaking and drooling, his eyes wide open. He was trying to walk but could not keep his balance.

We got him to the vet as soon as possible, and he was not well the entire ride. However, by the time he was examined, he was back to normal, which was very odd as he had just seemed to be in great distress. Once we saw our vet, he did a few tests, including a CBC, urinalysis, and physical exam. He diagnosed Bear with epilepsy and put him on medication.

After his diagnosis, he had seizures periodically. It was a concern to keep him safe when he had them, especially if they occurred when we were not home. Because of this, Bear had his own room, with no sharp corners, shelving, or objects that could fall on him or injure him if he had a seizure. This was a necessary requirement because he often lost his bowels and bladder when a seizure occurred.

We used a few different methods along with his medication to keep him comfortable. These included CBD, a high-quality diet, and learning his triggers. He did best in a calm environment, with our home kept at a moderate, cool temperature. We noticed that often, not always, but often, he would start to pace by the door and drool a little when a seizure was about to come on. While this did not happen every time, there were many times when he would whine or paw to the door and then be outside when the seizure hit.  

-Danielle D., Canine Journal

What To Do After Your Dog Has A Seizure

Always call your veterinarian or an emergency vet after your dog has a seizure, even if your dog seems to be acting normally. It’s of the utmost importance to try to find out what may be the underlying cause of your dog’s seizure. Questions your vet may have include:

• When did the seizure symptoms start?
• Have the symptoms changed?
• How many times have you seen the seizures?
• What is the frequency of seizures within a week or a month?
• Are you aware of any consistent predisposing factors when seizures occur, like after eating, after exercise, when sleeping, etc.?

Your veterinarian will most likely do bloodwork, urinalysis, and possibly X-rays or other advanced imaging tests, such as an MRI or CT scan. If your dog needs an MRI or CT scan, your vet will refer you to a specialty vet hospital.

The results of the diagnostic testing will help your veterinarian diagnose the underlying cause of the seizures and come up with a treatment plan to control the seizures with medications.

Dog Seizures Infographic

Here’s a summary of types, symptoms, and what to do if your dog is having a seizure.

Treatments

Dog seizure treatment will vary depending on your vet’s diagnosis, and if there’s an underlying illness, like liver or kidney disease, that’s causing the seizures. But if your dog has epilepsy, your vet typically will prescribe a seizure medication to help control seizures.

Unfortunately, many vet-prescribed medications used to treat epilepsy and seizures, such as phenobarbital, potassium bromide, primidone, and diazepam, cause serious side effects in some dogs. And even with medication, American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation estimated 30% of dogs with epilepsy continue to have seizures.

All-Natural Remedies

Fortunately, there are some all-natural ways you can help ease your dog’s seizures. However, you should always consult with your vet before giving your dog any supplement or attempting to treat any condition on your own.

CBD For Dogs

CBD (cannabidiol) is derived from the hemp plant but contains no THC, the compound that’s associated with the high you get from marijuana. Studies in humans have shown CBD to be quite effective in managing seizures in people with epilepsy. Studies in dogs have also demonstrated CBD’s effectiveness in controlling seizures.

Many dog owners report that all-natural CBD oil for dogs or CBD treats helps ease seizure symptoms. We want to emphasize, though, that these reports are anecdotal. More studies need to be done to evaluate how CBD works in dogs to control seizures.

Essential Fatty Acids

Some veterinarians recommend introducing fatty acids into a dog’s diet to help reduce the frequency of seizures. Omega-3 fish oil for dogs has many other health benefits, including supporting heart health, joints, and the immune system.

Change Your Dog’s Diet

Sometimes diet changes can be effective in treating seizures. Several studies have shown a correlation between epilepsy and food allergies. Consider switching your dog to a hypoallergenic diet. Or you can transition from low-quality commercial dog food to high-quality fresh meals you can have delivered to your home or even home-prepared meals — these diet changes can benefit your dog’s overall health.

Sample Pet Insurance Claim

• Dog: Walter, 2-year-old male Great Dane
• Diagnosis: Epilepsy, Nasal infection
• Total Vet Cost: $1,950
• Total Reimbursed By Trupanion: $1,490

“Walter was diagnosed with epilepsy at 10 months old. There were no warning signs; it’s not common with his breed, and there’s no known history of it in his lines. One Saturday evening we were all hanging out at home, and he had a seizure out of the blue. Over the next few months, he had several more. We visited a neurologist, who advised we would potentially need an MRI and spinal tap to rule out neurologic issues. We tried antibiotics to rule out bacterial infections, and of course, did blood work to be sure he hadn’t accidentally eaten something poisonous. As a last step before the MRI (which was going to cost $2100 and had already been pre-approved for coverage by Trupanion), we tried an anti-seizure medication called Zonisamide. That was a year ago this month, and he now is mostly seizure-free and has been officially diagnosed with epilepsy.”

Breeds With A Higher Incidence

Epilepsy can occur in all dog breeds, including mixed breeds. An estimated 2% to 5% of all dogs have epilepsy.

Breeds with a known or highly suspected genetic factor:

• Alsatians
• Beagles
• Belgian Tervurens
• Dachshunds
• German Shepherds
• Keeshonds

In one large study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, researchers analyzed medical records of more than 27,000 dogs from the UC Davis veterinary clinic to compare the incidence of 24 genetic disorders in mixed versus purebred dogs. They found that the risk of epilepsy was significantly higher in purebreds. The breeds with the highest rates of epilepsy in this study were Catahoula Leopard Dogs, Beagles, Schipperkes, Papillons, and Standard Poodles.

Breeds with a high incidence of other seizure disorders:

• Boxers
• Cocker Spaniels
• Collies
• Golden Retrievers
• Irish Setters
• Labrador Retrievers
• Miniature Schnauzers
• Poodles
• Saint Bernards
• Siberian Huskies
• Wire-Haired Terriers

Improving Your Dog’s Health & Immune System

Whether your dog has epilepsy or not, your dog’s diet and intestinal health affect his whole body’s health. As we mentioned earlier, switching to a healthier diet can go a long way in improving your dog’s well-being. Learn more about some healthy dog food delivery services to have all-natural dog food delivered right to your door.

You may also want to consider adding a daily dog probiotic to your dog’s diet. These all-natural supplements can do wonders to boost your dog’s immune system, as well as to improve his gut health.

Consider Pet Insurance

Some of the causes of dog seizures are quite serious. Things like brain tumors are expensive to treat. Pet insurance can help defray the costs of treatment and could provide the financial resources to save your dog’s life. But you will need to sign up as soon as possible since it will not cover pre-existing conditions. Use our free form below to get multiple quotes instantly.