What to do during a Pet seizure

Stay Calm: Avoid panicking. Staying calm helps you better assist your pet.
Monitor the Duration: Check the time. If the seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes, seek immediate veterinary assistance.
Safety First: Avoid placing your hands near their mouth to prevent accidental bites.
Move Them Safely: If necessary, gently move your pet away from hazards like sharp corners or stairs by carefully pulling their legs.
Keep the Area Clear: Ensure other pets and children are kept at a safe distance.
Administer Medication if Prescribed: If your pet has been prescribed seizure medication, administer it as directed.
Provide Comfort: Stay with your pet, offering comfort and reassurance until they regain consciousness.

What to do after a Pet seizure

Record the Seizure: Log the event in your seizure diary. Keeping track helps in monitoring your pet's condition.
Assess the Urgency: If your pet has experienced three or more seizures within the last 24 hours, or if a single seizure lasted five minutes or more, seek urgent veterinary care.
Monitor Changes: Observe any increase in the severity or frequency of seizures and contact your veterinarian for guidance.
Understand Post-Seizure Behavior: It’s common for pets to exhibit disorientation or abnormal behavior for several hours after a seizure.
Avoid Home Remedies: Do not use ice packs or water baths, as these can dangerously lower your pet’s body temperature. If you suspect overheating, visit the vet immediately.

Understanding the Causes of Seizures in Pets

Seizures in pets are not a disease in themselves but a symptom indicating that something has disrupted normal brain function. There are numerous conditions that can lead to seizures, which we broadly categorize into three main groups: metabolic diseases, structural brain diseases, and idiopathic epilepsy.

Metabolic disease

Metabolic diseases involve problems elsewhere in the body that impact the brain, resulting in seizures. Common causes include low blood sugar, exposure to toxins, or liver failure. To diagnose metabolic diseases, your veterinarian may inquire about your pet's possible exposure to harmful substances, conduct blood tests, and utilize diagnostic tools like ultrasounds.

Structural brain disease

When the issue originates within the brain itself, it can lead to seizures. Structural brain diseases in pets include a variety of conditions such as brain tumors, congenital malformations, strokes, autoimmune diseases, and infections. Diagnosing these conditions often requires advanced testing methods, including MRI scans, spinal taps, and specific tests for infectious diseases. The presence of other neurological symptoms, like incoordination, confusion, or blindness, can indicate that structural brain disease is the likely cause of your pet's seizures.

Idiopathic Epilepsy in Pets

Idiopathic epilepsy is a frequent cause of seizures, particularly in dogs between 1 and 6 years old. While it can also occur in younger or older dogs and cats, it's less common compared to other seizure causes in these animals. Advanced diagnostic procedures are typically recommended for pets who don't match the usual age range for idiopathic epilepsy.

Interestingly, there is no direct test to confirm idiopathic epilepsy. In such cases, diagnostic tests like MRIs usually return normal results. If extensive testing reveals no other cause for a pet's seizures, we diagnose it as epilepsy — a "diagnosis of exclusion."

In cases where a dog experiences mild seizures, falls within the typical age range for idiopathic epilepsy, and behaves normally between episodes, we may give a "presumptive diagnosis" of idiopathic epilepsy. This diagnosis is based on the veterinarian's informed judgment without extensive testing. However, if the seizures intensify or change in nature, it's crucial to reassess the need for further diagnostics.

The exact cause of epilepsy remains unknown, but a genetic link is often suspected. If you acquired your pet from a breeder, it's important to inform them of the diagnosis. For more information on your pet's epilepsy, refer to the resources linked below:

Symptoms of Structural Brain Disease

Change in personality
Loss of training
Difficulty staying awake
Difficulty sleeping
Difficulty walking
Dizziness or vertigo
Circling
Blindness
Difficulty eating, drinking, or swallowing

Feline Epilepsy

Canine Epilepsy

Seizure Medication for pets

It's important to note that not every pet experiencing seizures will require seizure medication. The decision to use medication depends on various factors, such as the frequency and severity of the seizures. If your pet's seizures are deemed too frequent or severe, discussing medication options with your veterinarian becomes an essential step in managing your pet's health.

Learn more about seizure medication

Maintaining a Seizure Log

Keeping a detailed seizure log for your pet is crucial. This log should accurately record each seizure incident, including its frequency and duration. Additionally, it's beneficial to note veterinary appointments, blood test results, and any other relevant medical information in this log. A well-organized seizure log greatly assists your veterinarian in effectively managing your pet's condition.

There are various methods for maintaining a seizure log, ranging from a traditional notebook to digital options like an online calendar. Choose a method that is convenient for you to update regularly and keep organized, ensuring all critical information is easily accessible.

Regular Checkups and Labwork

Your veterinarian is an important partner in controlling your pet’s seizures. This means going in for regular check ups. It also means blood work to check for blood levels of medications as well as any side effects. Generally blood work is recommended after any change in medication dose, and twice a year on a routine basis.

Keys to a successful appointment:

Bring your pet’s seizure log
Bring all medications with you
Ask when you make the appointment if your pet should be fasted and if the timing of the appointment relative to medications matter. Some blood test require the pet have no food for up to eight hours before the appointment, other test require your pet to have taken their medication at certain times before the appointment.
Ask when you make the appointment how long the appointment will take. Some blood test can take several hours to perform.

General information on Seizures