Seizures are scary to watch and can be dangerous, but they're also not always a sign of something serious. They occur when your dog's brain is malfunctioning due to an electrical disturbance in the brain, which causes temporary changes in behavior or muscle function. Seizures can be caused by epilepsy, head trauma, or other health problems. If your dog has suffered from seizures before, you might know what to expect next time: uncontrolled movements such as writhing or jerking accompanied by vocalization like barking or whining. If it's your first time dealing with this issue, it can be a nerve-wracking experience! Read on for tips on how to respond if your pup has a seizure—and what happens next at the vet's office after one occurs.
Dogs can suffer from seizures.
Seizures in dogs can be scary and even life-threatening, but they're not always as bad as they seem. If you know what to look for, you can help your dog get through them safely.
First things first: what is a seizure? A seizure is caused when there's an electrical problem in the brain that causes muscles throughout the body to move uncontrollably and erratically. They usually last only seconds or minutes (though some are longer), but it can feel like forever when it's happening!
Seizures can be caused by epilepsy, head trauma, or other health problems.
Seizures can be caused by epilepsy, head trauma, or other health problems. Epilepsy is the most common cause of seizures in dogs. Other causes include head trauma, brain infections, liver disease, and kidney disease. Seizures can also be caused by high fever, low blood sugar, and poisoning. Some causes of seizures are not fully understood.
If you see your dog have a seizure:
- Stay calm! Everything will be okay--this is part of his body's natural process and will end soon on its own (unless he has another one right after). The best thing you can do is stay close until it stops completely; then start helping him recover with water or food once he starts coming around again.
If your dog is seizing, stay calm and try to keep his airway open.
When your dog is having a seizure, it's important to keep him from biting his tongue and falling or hurting himself. Try to keep him from getting into something he could choke on, and do not try to hold his legs--just keep him from biting his tongue. If you're alone with your pet during a seizure, call for help as soon as possible after the seizure ends; if there was any loss of consciousness or if he didn't wake up right away after the seizure ended (more than 30 seconds), take your dog immediately to an emergency veterinarian hospital or clinic. Tell them how long it lasted (start a timer), whether there was any loss of consciousness, or if he didn't wake up right away after being released from restraint (more than 30 seconds).
Once the seizure ends, call your vet right away.
If your dog has a seizure, it's important to call the vet right away. Even if you don't know what caused the seizure, your vet will be able to help figure out what's going on and make sure that your pet gets proper treatment.
- Make sure your dog is breathing normally after a seizure. If not, perform rescue breathing or CPR as needed until he or she is conscious again (see "Responding To Seizures In Dogs: First Aid Tips For Pet Parents" for more information).
- Keep other people and pets away from the dog so they don't get hurt by falling objects or hitting furniture during a seizure. You can also use pillows or blankets as safety barriers around sharp corners where walls meet floors/tables/etcetera.
- Do not try to stop any further seizures from happening; this could cause more harm than good! Instead, wait until they've subsided before taking any action at all--and only then should you call up-to-date emergency veterinary services along with any relevant medical history information regarding past episodes like these ones."
Watch for symptoms of a seizure before it happens, such as unusual behavior or change in behavior.
When you're with your dog, watch for symptoms of a seizure before they happen. Seizures can be caused by many things, including brain tumors or infections. Some dogs have seizures because of their breed (such as bulldogs), while other breeds are more prone to them than others (like Border Collies).
If you think your dog is having a seizure:
- Stay calm! Try to keep his airway open so he doesn't inhale saliva or vomit during the event. If he stops breathing, call 911 immediately and start rescue breathing until help arrives.
- Write down what happened before calling your veterinarian so that both of you remember the same details later on; this will also help ease conversation during phone calls between visits with your vet if there are any questions about possible causes of seizures that need further investigation.
Seizures are scary but not always dangerous
Seizures are scary but not always dangerous. They can be caused by epilepsy, head trauma, or other health problems. If your dog is seizing, stay calm and try to keep his airway open. Once the seizure ends, call your vet right away and watch for symptoms of a seizure before it happens, such as unusual behavior or a change in behavior. If you're worried about seizures in dogs, talk to your vet about what steps you can take to prevent them
Conclusion
What to do if your dog has a seizure?
The first thing you should do when your dog has a seizure is stay calm. This may be easier said than done, but remaining calm will help keep the situation under control and help prevent further harm to your pet. If possible, try not to panic or rush around as this can make matters worse for both of you.
