Seizure Response
Category: emergency
Seizures are among the most frightening emergencies pet owners witness. A seizure occurs when there is abnormal electrical activity in the brain, causing involuntary movements, altered consciousness, and sometimes loss of bodily functions. While a single, brief seizure may not be immediately life-threatening, prolonged seizures (status epilepticus) and cluster seizures are medical emergencies requiring immediate treatment.
## Types of Seizures
**Generalized (Grand Mal) seizures:** The most common type in pets. The animal loses consciousness, falls on its side, has rigid limbs followed by paddling/jerking movements, may salivate excessively, and may urinate or defecate involuntarily. These typically last 30 seconds to 2 minutes.
**Focal seizures:** Affect only one area of the body — for example, twitching of one leg, facial twitching, or repetitive snapping at the air (fly-biting). The pet may remain conscious. Focal seizures can progress to generalized seizures.
**Psychomotor seizures:** Unusual behavior episodes such as compulsive circling, staring, unprovoked aggression, or imaginary fly-biting. Can be difficult to distinguish from behavioral issues.
## Seizure Phases
**Pre-ictal phase (aura):** Minutes to hours before the seizure. The pet may be anxious, clingy, restless, hiding, or showing unusual behavior. Many owners learn to recognize their pets pre-seizure behavior.
**Ictal phase:** The seizure itself. Duration is important — time it if possible.
**Post-ictal phase:** After the seizure ends. Can last minutes to hours. The pet may be disoriented, blind temporarily, hungry, thirsty, exhausted, pacing, or showing abnormal behavior. This phase is normal and usually resolves on its own.
## Common Causes
**Idiopathic epilepsy:** The most common cause of seizures in dogs aged 1-5 years. Has a genetic component and is more common in certain breeds (German Shepherds, Beagles, Labrador Retrievers, Belgian Tervurens, Border Collies). Diagnosis is made by ruling out other causes.
**Toxin exposure:** Chocolate, xylitol, metaldehyde (slug bait), bromethalin (rat poison), marijuana, caffeine, mushrooms, organophosphates, permethrin (cats), and many human medications.
**Metabolic disorders:** Liver disease (hepatic encephalopathy), hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), hypocalcemia (low calcium), kidney failure (uremia), and electrolyte imbalances.
**Structural brain disease:** Brain tumors (common in dogs over 5 years), encephalitis (inflammatory brain disease), stroke, head trauma, and hydrocephalus.
**Infectious:** Canine distemper, rabies, fungal infections, toxoplasmosis, neosporosis, and tick-borne diseases.
## What to Do During a Seizure
STAY CALM. Clear the area of objects that could injure the pet. Do NOT put your hands near the pets mouth — they cannot swallow their tongue, and you risk a serious bite. Do NOT try to hold the pet down. Place something soft under the pets head if possible. Time the seizure — duration is critical information. Dim lights and reduce noise. Keep other pets away. Record a video if possible for your veterinarian.
## When Seizures Are an Emergency
Seek immediate emergency care if a seizure lasts longer than 3-5 minutes (status epilepticus — can cause brain damage), multiple seizures occur within 24 hours without full recovery between them (cluster seizures), it is the first seizure your pet has ever had, the pet does not regain consciousness between seizures, the pet has difficulty breathing during or after the seizure, or a toxin ingestion is suspected.
## Diagnosis
Your veterinarian may recommend blood work (CBC, chemistry, liver function, blood sugar), urinalysis, bile acids test, thyroid testing, tick-borne disease testing, toxicology screening, brain MRI (gold standard for structural brain disease), cerebrospinal fluid analysis, and electroencephalography (EEG) in specialized centers.
## Treatment
Idiopathic epilepsy is managed with anti-seizure medications. Common options include phenobarbital (most commonly used first-line drug), potassium bromide, levetiracetam (Keppra), and zonisamide. Most epileptic dogs require lifelong medication. Regular blood level monitoring ensures therapeutic levels. Emergency seizures are treated with IV diazepam (Valium) or midazolam. At-home emergency protocols (rectal diazepam) may be prescribed for dogs with frequent seizures.
## Types of Seizures
**Generalized (Grand Mal) seizures:** The most common type in pets. The animal loses consciousness, falls on its side, has rigid limbs followed by paddling/jerking movements, may salivate excessively, and may urinate or defecate involuntarily. These typically last 30 seconds to 2 minutes.
**Focal seizures:** Affect only one area of the body — for example, twitching of one leg, facial twitching, or repetitive snapping at the air (fly-biting). The pet may remain conscious. Focal seizures can progress to generalized seizures.
**Psychomotor seizures:** Unusual behavior episodes such as compulsive circling, staring, unprovoked aggression, or imaginary fly-biting. Can be difficult to distinguish from behavioral issues.
## Seizure Phases
**Pre-ictal phase (aura):** Minutes to hours before the seizure. The pet may be anxious, clingy, restless, hiding, or showing unusual behavior. Many owners learn to recognize their pets pre-seizure behavior.
**Ictal phase:** The seizure itself. Duration is important — time it if possible.
**Post-ictal phase:** After the seizure ends. Can last minutes to hours. The pet may be disoriented, blind temporarily, hungry, thirsty, exhausted, pacing, or showing abnormal behavior. This phase is normal and usually resolves on its own.
## Common Causes
**Idiopathic epilepsy:** The most common cause of seizures in dogs aged 1-5 years. Has a genetic component and is more common in certain breeds (German Shepherds, Beagles, Labrador Retrievers, Belgian Tervurens, Border Collies). Diagnosis is made by ruling out other causes.
**Toxin exposure:** Chocolate, xylitol, metaldehyde (slug bait), bromethalin (rat poison), marijuana, caffeine, mushrooms, organophosphates, permethrin (cats), and many human medications.
**Metabolic disorders:** Liver disease (hepatic encephalopathy), hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), hypocalcemia (low calcium), kidney failure (uremia), and electrolyte imbalances.
**Structural brain disease:** Brain tumors (common in dogs over 5 years), encephalitis (inflammatory brain disease), stroke, head trauma, and hydrocephalus.
**Infectious:** Canine distemper, rabies, fungal infections, toxoplasmosis, neosporosis, and tick-borne diseases.
## What to Do During a Seizure
STAY CALM. Clear the area of objects that could injure the pet. Do NOT put your hands near the pets mouth — they cannot swallow their tongue, and you risk a serious bite. Do NOT try to hold the pet down. Place something soft under the pets head if possible. Time the seizure — duration is critical information. Dim lights and reduce noise. Keep other pets away. Record a video if possible for your veterinarian.
## When Seizures Are an Emergency
Seek immediate emergency care if a seizure lasts longer than 3-5 minutes (status epilepticus — can cause brain damage), multiple seizures occur within 24 hours without full recovery between them (cluster seizures), it is the first seizure your pet has ever had, the pet does not regain consciousness between seizures, the pet has difficulty breathing during or after the seizure, or a toxin ingestion is suspected.
## Diagnosis
Your veterinarian may recommend blood work (CBC, chemistry, liver function, blood sugar), urinalysis, bile acids test, thyroid testing, tick-borne disease testing, toxicology screening, brain MRI (gold standard for structural brain disease), cerebrospinal fluid analysis, and electroencephalography (EEG) in specialized centers.
## Treatment
Idiopathic epilepsy is managed with anti-seizure medications. Common options include phenobarbital (most commonly used first-line drug), potassium bromide, levetiracetam (Keppra), and zonisamide. Most epileptic dogs require lifelong medication. Regular blood level monitoring ensures therapeutic levels. Emergency seizures are treated with IV diazepam (Valium) or midazolam. At-home emergency protocols (rectal diazepam) may be prescribed for dogs with frequent seizures.
Source: Canine Epilepsy Resources