Is your pet having a seizure right now?
- Keep them safeMove furniture and sharp objects away and guide them away from stairs. Don’t hold them down or put anything in their mouth.
- Time itNote when it started. Most seizures last 30 to 90 seconds.
- Stay with themSpeak softly and stay with your pet until they’ve fully recovered.
Seek urgent veterinary advice if this is your pet’s first seizure. Go to the nearest emergency vet now if a seizure continues for several minutes or your pet has more than one seizure in 24 hours.
Signs to look for
What a seizure can look like
Watching your pet have a seizure can be frightening. Knowing what to look for helps you keep your pet safe and describe what happened to your veterinarian.
A seizure happens when there is a burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. It is a sign that something has triggered that activity, not a disease in itself, so your veterinarian will want to find the cause. Seizures can look very different from pet to pet. Some are dramatic and easy to recognize. Others are subtle and easily missed.
Generalized seizures (grand mal)
The most recognizable type. They involve the whole brain and often cause loss of consciousness. They typically last 30 seconds to 2 minutes, followed by a recovery period.
What you may see
- Stiffening and falling
- Paddling or jerking of the legs
- Drooling, urination or defecation
- Loss of awareness
Focal (partial) seizures
These affect only part of the brain, so the signs can be subtle and vary between animals. A focal seizure can sometimes progress to a generalized seizure.
What you may see
- Facial twitching, lip smacking or chewing
- Head turning or staring spells
- Twitching or contraction of a leg
- Drooling or a change in behavior
Before, during and after a seizure
- BeforeSeconds to minutesSome pets become restless, anxious or clingy, hide, pace, vocalize or seek attention.
- DuringUsually 30 seconds to 2 minutesKeep your pet safe and time the seizure. If it’s safe, take a video.
- AfterMinutes to hours, sometimes daysPets may seem disoriented, restless, temporarily blind, hungry, tired or unsteady.
Seizure or something else?
Episodes that can look like seizures
Not every seizure-like episode is a seizure. Fainting (syncope), vestibular disease, severe neck or back pain, movement disorders, myasthenia gravis, narcolepsy, toxin exposure, muscle tremors, heart disease and behavioral events can all look similar. A video is often the best way to help your veterinarian tell them apart.
In the moment
What to do during a seizure
Your calm presence helps protect your pet. These steps keep them safe and give your veterinarian the details they need.
- Make the area safeDim the lights and turn off a loud TV or music. Move furniture and sharp or breakable objects away. If your pet is near stairs or on a couch or bed, gently guide or cushion them away from the edge.
- Time itNote the time it starts. Most seizures last 30 to 90 seconds. If it lasts longer than 5 minutes, go to an emergency vet.
- Record it if it’s safeTake a video on your phone. Note how long it lasted, what the movements looked like, whether your pet responded to you and anything unusual before or after.
- Stay with your pet until they recoverSpeak softly and keep things quiet. It’s normal for pets to be disoriented, restless or tired for minutes to hours afterward.
What not to do
- Don’t hold your pet down or try to stop the movements. Restraining them can injure you both.
- Don’t put anything in their mouth. Pets can’t swallow their tongue during a seizure, and you could be bitten.
- Don’t wrap them in a blanket or towel. It can make them overheat.
- Don’t give food, water or medication until your pet is fully alert.
Emergency signs
When is a seizure an emergency?
Go to an emergency veterinary hospital immediately if any of these apply.
5 minutes
A seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes
This is called status epilepticus and needs immediate veterinary attention.
24 hours
More than one seizure in 24 hours
This includes seizures that come one after another without full recovery in between.
Also go now if
- your pet doesn’t fully recover after a seizure
- your pet has difficulty breathing or was injured during the seizure
- this is your pet’s first seizure
- the seizure may be related to an injury, heatstroke, a toxin or another medical problem
If you’re ever unsure, call your veterinarian or the nearest emergency hospital.
Why seizures happen
What can cause seizures
Many different conditions can trigger seizures. Veterinarians group the causes into three broad categories.
Causes outside the brain
Organ, metabolic and toxic problems, such as low blood sugar, liver or kidney disease, hormonal disease (for example hypothyroidism), electrolyte imbalances (for example low calcium), a portosystemic shunt, or toxins such as snail bait (metaldehyde), organophosphates, chocolate and lead.
Causes inside the brain
Problems within the brain itself, such as brain tumors, inflammation or infection of the brain, head injury, congenital abnormalities, strokes and degenerative disease.
Idiopathic epilepsy
Diagnosed when no underlying cause is found despite a thorough investigation, which may include blood tests, MRI and spinal fluid analysis. It’s the most common cause of recurrent seizures in dogs, is believed to have a genetic basis in many breeds and most often starts between 6 months and 6 years of age. Many dogs with epilepsy live happy, full lives with long-term management and veterinary care.
Because seizures have so many possible causes, some treatable and some more serious, your veterinarian will examine your pet and recommend tests to find the cause and guide treatment.
For pet owners
Working with your veterinarian
Your veterinarian is your pet’s main point of care. Dr. Dillon works collaboratively with veterinarians, providing specialist neurological guidance through online case consultations rather than consulting directly with pet owners. If your veterinarian would benefit from a neurologist’s input, they can arrange a consultation with him to help guide your pet’s diagnosis and treatment.
For each seizure, write down
- the date and time, and how long it lasted
- what happened, ideally with a video
- what your pet was doing just before
- anything unusual before or after, and how your pet recovered
The free My Pet Seizure Diary app keeps these records and creates reports to share with your vet.
Seizure guides
Learn more about seizures
Seizures in dogs
Epilepsy and the other common causes in dogs.
Seizures in cats
How seizures can look different in cats.
Diagnosis and treatment
Tests, medication and living with epilepsy.
Seizure Diary app
Record seizures and share reports with your vet.
Questions owners ask
Common questions
If your question is about your own pet, your veterinarian is the best person to ask.
Should I put something in my pet’s mouth during a seizure?
No. Pets can’t swallow their tongue during a seizure, and you could be bitten by accident. Keep your hands and any objects away from their mouth.
Why should I take a video?
A video shows your veterinarian exactly what happened. It can help tell a seizure apart from episodes that look similar, such as fainting or a movement disorder, and show what type of seizure it was.
Does one seizure mean my pet has epilepsy?
Not necessarily. Seizures have many possible causes, inside and outside the brain. Your veterinarian will examine your pet and recommend tests to find the cause.
Can I book a consultation for my pet?
Dr. Dillon provides specialist neurological case consultations for veterinarians rather than direct consultations with pet owners. Your veterinarian can arrange a consultation with him and share your pet’s medical history, clinical findings, and relevant videos to help guide diagnosis and treatment.