Seizures in Dogs

UPDATED: Nov 17, 2020Fact Checked

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Melanie Musson is the fourth generation in her family to work in the insurance industry. She grew up with insurance talk as part of her everyday conversation and has studied to gain an in-depth knowledge of state-specific car insurance laws and dynamics as well as a broad understanding of how insurance fits into every person’s life, from budgets to coverage levels. She also specializes in automa...

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Written by Melanie Musson
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Dr Pippa Elliott BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years experience in companion animal practice. In 1987 she graduated from the University of Glasgow, with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. A love of the sea meant accepting her first job in the port town of Portsmouth, England. A After working in private practice for two years, her next position was as a vet at the People�...

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Reviewed by Dr. Pippa Elliott BVMS, MRCVS
Veterinarian

UPDATED: Nov 17, 2020

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UPDATED: Nov 17, 2020

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What are Seizures in Dogs?

Canine seizures are a neurological disorder that has several possible causes. In some cases, seizures have been correlated with exposure to toxins, traumatic events, brain tumors, and infectious diseases.

Sometimes it is not possible to identify the exact causes of seizures in dogs, in which case, the condition is known as “idiopathic”.

Seizures are the result of an abnormal level of neuronal activity in the brain, which results in brief episodes of uncontrolled movements and a short period of unconsciousness.

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Which Dog Breeds Are Most Commonly Affected by Seizures?

Seizures can occur in all dog breeds, but the following breeds present seizures with a higher frequency:

Beagles
Belgian Tervurens
Golden Retrievers
Keeshonds
Labrador Retrievers
Standard Poodles

Symptoms of Seizures in Dogs

Three stages can be identified during a seizure in dogs; the prodrome and aura stages (before the actual seizure) and the ictal stage (the actual seizure)

Signs observed during the prodrome and aura stages of a seizure:

Confusion
Startled or panic behavior
Hiding
Clinging to owner

Signs observed during the ictal stage of a seizure:

Collapse
Drooling/foaming saliva
Kicking/paddling limbs
Shivering movements
Stiffness
Teeth grinding
Urination and defecation
Vocalization

Treatment of Seizures in Dogs

Your veterinarian will determine the appropriate treatment once the cause is identified.

If this is your pet’s first seizure, and no cause of the seizure was identified, the veterinarian will likely ask you to continue to monitor your pet for future seizures and report back if one occurs.

To help pay for the cost of treatments, you should consider buying a dog pet insurance policy. These are like a normal health insurance plan, but to help cover vet bills.