What to do if your dog has a seizure
Talk to your dog softly to reassure them. Avoid touching them - they may unknowingly bite. Call your vet when the seizure ends. If dogs have a seizure that lasts more than 5 minutes or have several in a row while they are unconscious, take them to a vet as soon as possible.
Whole-body seizures, called Grand Mal seizures, cause your dog's entire body to convulse. While these are easier to spot, some seizures may be localized, such as a facial tremor, or present as a sudden onset of rhythmic movements or actions, like unusual barking.
Dogs experiencing a seizure cannot be easily woken, while dreaming dogs can. Dogs having a seizure often are disoriented afterwards and may drool and pant. Seizing dogs may urinate or defecate on themselves, while dreaming dogs usually do not.
“This demonstrates for the first time that there is indeed a seizure-specific odor across individuals and types of seizures.” “Such results make an important contribution to the field of epileptic research with the potential of a specific odor signature that could be detected prior to a seizure.”
Idiopathic epilepsy, the most common cause of seizures in the dog, is an inherited disorder, but its exact cause is unknown. Other causes include liver disease, kidney failure, brain tumors, brain trauma, or toxins. "Idiopathic epilepsy is the most common cause of seizures in the dog."
Bloat Can Be A Deadly Disease. On the other hand, excessive burping could be a sign of something serious. If your dog burps a lot (think: not just after quickly consuming dinner) you should contact your vet. Your dog could be suffering from one of these digestive disorders: Excessive bacteria fermentation.
When a dog has a seizure, he usually falls down on the floor and may hold his legs stretched straight out from his body. He might also paddle his legs, depending on the situation, and he could run around in a panicked circle for a few minutes before falling over.
General symptoms or warning signs of a seizure can include: Staring. Jerking movements of the arms and legs. Stiffening of the body.
Always call your veterinarian or emergency veterinarian after your dog has a seizure, even if your dog seems to be acting normally. Start a journal or keep a note on your phone documenting your dog's seizures, keeping track of the date, time, and length.
The odd lick of the wall, couch, or floor might just part of being a dog. Constant licking of any of these surfaces should be taken seriously. Excessive licking of surfaces (ELS) warrants a trip to your veterinarian as it is often indicative of an underlying medical condition or behavioral disorder.
If your dog is having a seizure you may notice muscle twitching or uncontrolled jerking movements, but a seizure could also include a loss of consciousness, drooling, or unusual eye-rolling movements. If your dog shows signs of having a seizure it's important to contact your vet to let them know.
If your pet goes limp, it is more likely a seizure. Sometimes patients that try to get up after a syncopal episode have so much trouble that their legs flop around in an uncoordinated fashion. Seizures also create movement of the legs, but typically these movement s include rhythmic paddling or stiffness and tremoring.
Low blood sugar, ingestion of poisonous substances, and blood pressure issues are common causes as well. These causes can take time to reveal themselves – often during sleep. Smaller dogs are prone to seizures that happen due to blood sugar and blood pressure.