Think your dog might be having seizures? Here’s what you need to know.
Watching your dog have a seizure, especially for the first time, can be a terrifying experience for any pet parent. Seizures are a temporary, involuntary disturbance of normal brain function that can cause collapse, stiffening and paddling of the limbs, shaking, and loss of bladder and bowel control, among other symptoms. There are many possible causes of seizures, and also different types of seizures that dogs can experience. Although observing a seizure is alarming, understanding the condition and partnering with your vet are key to determining underlying causes and best course of treatment. Many dogs with seizure disorders can live long, happy lives.
🚨 Consult your vet if and when your dog has a seizure for the first time. Seek emergency care if the seizure lasts more than five minutes or if your dog is having cluster seizures.
Seizures are classified into two types:
Also known as grand mal seizures, these episodes occur when most of a dog’s brain is affected by abnormal electrical activity. This can cause convulsions and is what people imagine when they think of a typical seizure. Dogs usually experience tonic-clonic seizures; however, other categories may include:
Also known as “focal” seizures or partial motor seizures, these involve abnormal activity in one or a few parts of the brain. Dogs experiencing a partial seizure may exhibit strange movements that focus on one part of the body, like kicking one leg repeatedly, shaking their head to one side, or biting at the air (known as fly biting). Consciousness may or may not be affected—seizures that result in a change in awareness (similar to hallucinations) are known as complex partial seizures or psychomotor seizures. Focal seizures alone may not require treatment; however, in some cases, they can lead to generalized seizures.
There are numerous causes of seizures in dogs, ranging from toxin ingestion to brain tumors to idiopathic epilepsy. Reactive seizures are caused by a metabolic disease or toxicity, while structural seizures result from an identifiable underlying brain lesion. Lastly, primary or idiopathic seizures occur when a dog has no identifiable underlying condition. Now, let’s take a look at some specific causes of seizures in dogs:
Idiopathic epilepsy in dogs is a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures without an identifiable underlying cause or brain lesion. Vets today believe that genetics is the cause of most idiopathic seizures. As such, certain breeds are predisposed to this condition, including the Australian Shepherd, Beagle, Belgian Shepherd, Bernese Mountain Dog, Border Collie, Boxer, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Collie, Dachshund, Dalmatian, English Springer Spaniel, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Irish Setter, Irish Wolfhound, Keeshond, Labrador Retriever, Shetland Sheepdog, Standard Poodle, and Vizsla. (Learn more about each of these dog breeds on betterpet!)
Epileptic dogs usually have their first seizure between the ages of six months and six years of age. They are diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy after other potential causes of seizures have been ruled out. Many of these dogs do well on anti-seizure medications.
Dog seizures are often linked to toxins found in households, such as human medications, foods like xylitol, caffeine, and chocolate, antifreeze, and certain plants, among other things. Although toxins aren’t the most common triggers for seizures, exposure is still dangerous. In 2021, the ASPCA fielded more than 400,000 calls to its Animal Poison Control Center. Most calls were related to household toxins.
👉 Not sure if a product is toxic to your dog? Check out this comprehensive list from the FDA.
Especially in older animals, seizures can be a sign of brain tumors in dogs. Only advanced imaging (CT scan or MRI) of the brain can determine if a brain tumor is present. These tests are ordered by your vet and these advanced images require complete stillness, so your dog will be put under general anesthesia. While cost will vary by location and vet, CT scans can cost $1,500-3,500 and MRI’s may cost anywhere from $2-6,000. Many of these types of visits to veterinarians are covered by pet insurance—find out what is (and isn’t) covered by reading our pet insurance coverage guide.
Viruses that attack the central nervous system, like canine distemper and rabies, have been shown to trigger violent, sometimes fatal seizures, in addition to other symptoms. Additionally, bacteria, fungi, parasites, or immune-mediated conditions (where the body attacks its own brain tissue) can also lead to seizures. Diagnosing these conditions often requires MRI and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis.
Systemic conditions such as diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, and electrolyte imbalance can also result in seizures. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can occur in young puppies or diabetic dogs receiving too much insulin.
Several studies have found links between post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) in dogs with severe head injuries. Brain injuries from fever, toxins, tumors, blood clots, and lack of blood flow can all be contributing factors to seizures. In some cases, potential long-term complications can include ongoing, chronic seizures.
An overheated dog can suffer critical damage to their brain, heart, liver, and nervous system. When a dog goes from experiencing heat exhaustion to heatstroke, their central nervous system goes into overdrive, leading to seizures.
In some cases, puppies may be born with hydrocephalus, an abnormal accumulation of cerebralspinal fluid in the brain. A portosystemic shunt is another possible cause of seizures in young animals, which occurs when abnormal blood vessels bypass the liver, preventing the removal of toxins from the bloodstream.
Because the list of things that can cause seizures is so long, it’s important to see your vet for a full workup if your dog has a seizure. Your dog’s age can provide valuable clues about the potential cause of their seizures as well. For example, puppies under 6 months of age are more likely to have an infection, hypoglycemia, intoxication, or a congenital defect, while brain tumors are the most common cause of seizures in dogs over 5. Dogs between 6 months and 6 years most often have epilepsy. In some cases, other conditions can cause similar symptoms that mimic seizures, such as syncope (collapse) due to heart disease.
Seizure symptoms can vary depending on the underlying cause, type of seizure, and what phase of the seizure your dog is in. Generalized seizures occur in three phases.
This phase—commonly referred to as an aura—occurs before the actual seizure. It’s when your dog may exhibit unusual symptoms such as:
The ictal phase is when the actual seizure occurs. It can last from a few seconds to several minutes and range from mild behavior changes to complete loss of consciousness and body function. Symptoms for this phase can include:
Following the end of a seizure, dogs will go into the post-ictal phase. This phase can last a few minutes to a few hours or longer, depending on the severity of the seizure. During this phase symptoms can look like:
Seizures can be scary when they’re happening, but it’s important to remember that they’re not painful for dogs. Additionally, isolated seizures associated with epilepsy are generally short-lived and not life-threatening. There are a few ways to help keep your dog comfortable and get through it safely.
Avoid restraining your dog during an episode, keep your hands away from their mouth, and make sure your dog can’t fall or hurt themselves on anything.
You should also keep a journal to log any seizure your dog has. Include the date, what your dog was doing before the seizure, any changes that occurred that day, where the seizure took place, and how long it lasted. If possible, take a video of the seizure-like episode to show your vet.
Status epilepticus is a critical, life-threatening emergency for dogs, characterized by either prolonged seizure activity lasting more than five minutes continuously or by multiple seizures occurring in rapid succession without a chance for recovery in between. Persistent seizing carries significant risks, including permanent brain damage, severe overheating (hyperthermia) due to intense muscle exertion, critical disruptions to body chemistry, and immense stress on the heart and respiratory systems. These dogs require urgent veterinary care and medications to attempt to stop the seizure.
Remember that most seizures are self-limiting and will stop after about 30 seconds to a minute, but if the seizure goes on for five minutes or more, or if your dog has two or more seizures within 24 hours, bring your dog to the nearest emergency vet hospital.
If a dog has a seizure for the first time, it’s important to see your vet to try to determine the underlying cause. Once at the vet, they will take your dog’s complete health history and perform a nose-to-tail physical exam and neurological exam. Depending on their findings, they may follow up with bloodwork, urinalysis, fecal testing, or refer you to a neurologist for advanced diagnostics such as MRI or spinal tap.
First and foremost, a vet will work to treat any underlying illnesses that are causing seizures. If a dog has been diagnosed with epilepsy, they may benefit from anti-seizure medications. Medications should be started if a dog has more than one seizure per month, experiences grand mal seizures that are prolonged or particularly severe, or experiences a cluster of seizures.
Medications like phenobarbital, potassium bromide, zonisamide, levetiracetam, gabapentin, and pregabalin (Lyrica®) are common treatments. Your veterinarian may combine some anti-seizure medications to be more effective. In the case of a severe seizures, vets may also prescribe diazepam or another similar medication for emergencies.
Anticonvulsant medications help minimize the risk of a greater seizure disorder and are often given for the rest of your dog’s life. While they may not prevent all future seizures, the goal of treatment is to reduce the frequency and severity. Be sure to follow your vet’s recommendations regarding medication dosage and recommended monitoring, including bloodwork, once on the medication.
While most dogs with epilepsy will do well long-term on anti-seizure medications, other underlying causes will have different prognoses. In some cases, an underlying condition may be fully cured with appropriate treatment, while other cases, such as brain tumors, are unfortunately often fatal. In the case where seizures are not able to be controlled, humane euthanasia should be considered.
It’s incredibly important to seek veterinary care following your dog’s first suspected seizure or emergency care if indicated, as discussed above. As with any condition or illness, being prepared is the best way to stay calm in an emergency situation. Consider investing in an insurance plan before the first sign of ill health to make treatment more affordable and allow you to put all your energy into helping your pup get better.
Lots of things can trigger seizures in dogs, including idiopathic epilepsy, heatstroke, head trauma, infectious disease, brain tumors, and poisoning.
Dog seizures take on many forms. Grand mal seizures affect a dog’s entire body and usually cause loss of consciousness, stiffness of the legs, full-body tremors, vocalization, and involuntary urination and defecation. Localized seizures may only affect a certain area of the body.
You can’t always prevent a seizure from coming on. More often than not the underlying cause isn’t something you can control. However, you can limit the potential for it by ensuring they regularly take their medicine, avoid head trauma, keep them away from toxic substances, and stay up to date on vaccinations.
First, stay calm. Avoid restraining your dog during a seizure and keep your hands away from their mouth to avoid an accidental bite. Most importantly, make sure your dog can’t fall or hurt themselves on anything in the immediate area. Call your regular vet if it’s your dog’s first time having a seizure, or head to an ER vet clinic if the seizure lasts for more than five minutes or if there are repeated seizures.
Several other health issues can cause episodes in dogs that look very much like seizures but have different underlying causes. For example, syncope (fainting), often linked to heart disease, typically causes a sudden collapse with a relatively quick recovery. Vestibular episodes can affect balance, causing stumbling, a head tilt, and rapid eye movements. Even normal movements associated with dreaming can be mistaken for seizures in sleeping dogs.
