How Do I Know If My Dog Had A Seizure?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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  1. Become unsteady and have trouble walking or balancing.
  2. Chomp or make biting motions.
  3. Collapse, fall to the side, or stiffen.
  4. Foam at the mouth or drool.
  5. Look confused or dazed and then drop to the floor.
  6. Lose consciousness.
  7. Lose control of body functions and urinate or defecate.

What does a silent seizure look like in a dog?

A seizure can have several manifestations, from

a far-away look or twitching in one part of the face

to a dog falling on its side barking, clenching and unclenching its teeth, urinating, defecating and paddling all four limbs.

How do you know if your dog is having a mini seizure?

  1. Running in circles.
  2. Falling to the floor immediately, instead of laying down as usual.
  3. Twitching.
  4. Stiff muscles.
  5. Going completely unconscious.
  6. Being unable to look at you or anything else.
  7. Drooling.
  8. Biting.

What triggers dog seizures?

  • Epilepsy.
  • Heat Exhaustion.
  • Nutritional imbalances such as thiamine deficiency.
  • Low blood sugar levels.
  • Liver disease.
  • Tumors.

How does a dog act after a seizure?

Postictal phase: After the seizure, many dogs exhibit a postictal phase characterized by disorientation. This may last minutes to hours. The most commonly reported signs are

behavior changes, prolonged sleepiness, confusion, transient blindness, and eating voraciously

.

What do seizures look like?


Puckering (jerking) of the lips, twitching of the corners of the mouth, or jaw jerking can also be seen. Sometimes rhythmic jerks of the head and legs may occur

. Seizures last 10-60 seconds and typically occur daily. The level of awareness varies from complete loss of awareness to retained awareness.

What does a focal seizure look like in a dog?

Signs of a Simple Focal Seizure


Hallucinations (Your dog may bark, growl or moan at nothing, bite at the air or behave fearfully for no apparent reason)

Signs of vision or hearing changes. Fur standing up. Dilated pupils.

Can a dog be awake during a seizure?

While

many dogs remain conscious during a simple focal seizure, consciousness is often impaired during a complex focal seizure

.

Can a dog have a seizure while awake?


Most dogs have a seizure while awake or shortly after waking up

. Some dogs, however, can have a seizure while asleep. There are many reasons a dog can have a seizure: epilepsy, metabolic disorders, neoplastic growths, etc. This will be up to your veterinarian to diagnose.

Is a dog seizure an emergency?


If a seizure lasts more than three to five minutes, this is an emergency

and you should bring your dog to a veterinarian. Their body temperature can rise quickly and can be a problem. Especially as pets age, seizures that last that long can cause problems with their brain and cause brain damage.

What do I do if my dog is having a seizure and Im not home?

Your pet may have a seizure when you are not at home.

Look for dangers – and mitigate them

. For example, if you have stairs in your home, use a baby gate to keep your pet away from them. Your pet can be seriously injured when taking the stairs if disoriented after a seizure.

How long are dogs confused after a seizure?

Once the seizure has ended, dogs will have a prolonged post-ictal recovery period. This period may last

up to 24 hours

, depending on the individual dog. During the post-ictal period, dogs are typically confused and disoriented.

What to do after a dog has a seizure?

  1. Don’t panic. Even though it is really scary, understand that your dog is unconscious and not in pain. …
  2. Be safe. …
  3. Remove kids and pets. …
  4. Time the seizure. …
  5. Protect your pet. …
  6. Observe the seizure. …
  7. Comfort your pet. …
  8. Be ready to go.

Can dehydration cause seizures in dogs?


The brain swells, causing seizures

, lack of blood supply to the GI tract causes ulcers. Dehydration leads to irreversible kidney damage. All these catastrophic events take place within a matter of minutes. Especially susceptible are brachycephalic breeds such as Bulldogs, Pugs or Pekingese.

What dog breeds are more prone to seizures?

Your dog is most likely to suffer from seizures if he or she is a

Belgian Tervuren, Shetland sheepdog, beagle, Labrador retriever, golden retriever, keeshond, or vizsla

. Other breeds more prone to seizures include the Finnish spitz, Bernese mountain dog, Irish wolfhound, and English springer spaniel.

What can mimic seizures in dogs?


Tremors, syncope, narcolepsy, vertigo, and painful muscle spasms

can mimic seizures.

Are seizures painful for dogs?

Is a pet seizure painful?

Pets have no awareness of pain while seizing

because of the enormous amount of electrochemical activity occurring in the brain, and because they’re unconscious or semiconscious. Although your pet may whine, meow, or bark during a seizure, this has nothing to do with feeling pain.

What happens when a dog has a mini stroke?

In the case of a stroke,

your pet’s brain sends incorrect signals to their body

. For example, your pet may not be able to respond to your spoken directions. Instead, he may move in a directionless fashion and seem to be walking in circles. He may appear as though he is drunk and be unable to walk in a straight line.

What does a petit mal seizure look like?


It may look like he or she is staring off into space or just has a blank look

. The eyes may turn upwards and eyelids flutter. The seizures usually last less than 10 seconds.

What does a mini seizure look like?

Absence seizures involve brief, sudden lapses of consciousness. They’re more common in children than in adults. Someone having an absence seizure may look like

he or she is staring blankly into space for a few seconds

. Then, there is a quick return to a normal level of alertness.

What can look like a seizure but is not?

What exactly are PNES?

PNES are attacks that may look like epileptic seizures but are not caused by abnormal brain electrical discharges

. Instead, they are a manifestation of psychological distress.

What are the 3 types of seizures?

  • Tonic: Muscles in the body become stiff.
  • Atonic: Muscles in the body relax.
  • Myoclonic: Short jerking in parts of the body.
  • Clonic: Periods of shaking or jerking parts on the body.

What do tremors look like in a dog?

Affected dogs typically develop tremors during early adulthood, at one to two years of age. Tremors are

rhythmic, repetitive, and involuntary muscle movements, that look like ‘shaking’

. Tremors may be localized to one area of the body (for example, the head) or may involve the entire body.

Carlos Perez
Author
Carlos Perez
Carlos Perez is an education expert and teacher with over 20 years of experience working with youth. He holds a degree in education and has taught in both public and private schools, as well as in community-based organizations. Carlos is passionate about empowering young people and helping them reach their full potential through education and mentorship.