What to Do When a Dog Has a Seizure

Dog Seizures: Symptoms and What You Tin Do

by Brooke Butler, DVM

If you've e'er seen a dog having a seizure, you lot were probably very alarmed. When a dog has a seizure, he commonly falls down on the floor and may concord his legs stretched straight out from his body. He might also paddle his legs, depending on the situation, and he could run effectually in a panicked circle for a few minutes before falling over.

Pet suffering from dog seizures

Whichever style your dog experiences seizures, seeing it happen isn't fun, and you may be wondering what you tin can practice to help your frightened furry friend when these occur.

Remember: If your dog is having or has only had a seizure for the first time, write downwards all the details you lot tin can remember well-nigh it and schedule an appointment with your vet. And if y'all remember your dog may accept ingested something toxic that could take caused the seizure, become to an emergency vet right abroad. Otherwise, chances are good your dog may have epilepsy, which is mutual in canines.

Read on to acquire more about symptoms of seizures and how to progress when your dog has ane.

Symptoms of Dog Seizures

Running in circles
Falling to the floor immediately, instead of laying down as usual
Twitching
Strong muscles
Going completely unconscious
Existence unable to look at yous or anything else
Drooling
Biting
Urinating or defecating uncontrollably
Staring blankly, merely remaining standing

How to Assistance if Your Dog is Having a Seizure

Continue Yourself At-home

Whether this is the first fourth dimension your canis familiaris has e'er had a seizure or you've seen it happen before, attempt to go along yourself calm first before you attend to your dog. If you go in his face, crying or yelling at him, he'south going to exist even more than frightened by the whole situation.

Sit Near Your Canis familiaris

Sit near your dog, merely be conscientious near petting him. Y'all can sometimes, very carefully, pet his dorsum or parts of his torso that he can't easily reach with his oral fissure. However, go along in mind that dogs may uncontrollably seize with teeth during seizures. Similarly, your domestic dog may be confused when he comes to and could bite you out of fear, pain, or confusion.

If you're dealing with a dog seizure for the first time, it may be best to avoid petting him, even though that can be emotionally painful for you.

Time Your Domestic dog's Seizures

If yous are able to practise and so, fourth dimension your dog's seizures. A stopwatch is platonic, just even just keeping an eye on the clock can let yous know how long your dog has been seizing.

If it's less than 2 minutes, everything should be okay; two to 5 minutes is a alert zone, and your dog should be taken to the vet as presently as possible.

Any seizure lasting over five minutes needs to be treated immediately by a vet.

If your dog has several seizures in the span of a few minutes and does not wake up between each one, he needs to see a vet immediately.

Carefully Move Your Canis familiaris to a Safer Location

If your dog has a seizure about stairs or the border of the bed, carefully push him to a safer location or place something in front of him that will prevent him from falling without pain him. Dogs may become panicked before or subsequently a seizure and may run around without thinking or looking at where they're going. They as well may not always be able to control their movements and could potentially seize so hard they fall.

Speak in Comforting Tones

Speak in low, comforting tones to your dog. Some owners even endeavor putting on soft, gentle music for their dogs after a seizure. As long equally yous don't play anything too loudly, this is fine. However, your dog may appreciate information technology more if you just let him come back to normal without adding distractions around him, too.

Lower Your Dog's Body Temperature

Seizures crusade your domestic dog's trunk temperature to climb speedily. Because of this, information technology tin be helpful to gently place cool washcloths over his anxiety after the seizure has concluded. Wait until your dog has come up to earlier you exercise this, equally he may bite you if you don't.

Wrap and Comfort Your Domestic dog

Some owners wrap their dog in a towel or coating and hold him to comfort him after a seizure. It is fine to practise this if your dog has become alert and is otherwise back to normal following the seizure. If not, however, don't practise this.

Avoid doing this if hugging usually bothers your dog, as he will not find it comforting in this situation, either.

Let Your Dog Sleep

Later your dog is warning and awake again, he may be very tired. Permit him sleep; you may cheque up on him periodically, but information technology'due south best to let him rest.

Allow Your Dog Swallow or Drink

Your dog may too be extremely hungry or thirsty after a seizure. Don't strength him to swallow or drink, but let him do so if he seems warning and is able to stand on his anxiety without wobbling or seeming confused.

Call Your Vet

If this is the first time your dog has had a seizure or if the seizure lasted longer than usual, call your vet right abroad and ask their communication. Follow what the vet suggests.

If your vet diagnosis your canis familiaris with epilepsy, he may exist given epilepsy medication. You will need to speak with your vet for more data almost how to administer this medication and what to wait in terms of side effects when you lot give it to your dog.

Take care not to skip it, as your domestic dog may endure from seizures again if yous exercise.

Are Domestic dog Seizures Treatable?

Seizures are not uncommon in dogs. Some breeds are much more prone to having them than others, only all breeds can endure from seizures at some point in their lives. Seizures in dogs may be caused by a variety of factors, including diet, age, hereditary problems, underlying disease, and more. They may also be caused past epilepsy.

Only your vet can tell y'all for sure what causes your dog's seizures too as how to treat them. However, the adjacent time your canis familiaris goes through a seizure, you'll exist prepared to assist him through it every step of the way when you lot go on the above tips in mind.

Contact your nearest VEG location if you have any questions. You will always speak direct to a qualified veterinary.

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Source: https://veterinaryemergencygroup.com/blog/dog-seizures/