Is there anything more agonizing than witnessing your dog having a seizure? The overwhelming sense of helplessness you experience may weigh heavily on your heart, but the best thing you can do is keep yourself calm and your pup safe while you wait for it to end. Though it can seem like an eternity, most dog seizures will be over within 30 seconds to a minute.
Once it has stopped, your pet should be taken to your veterinarian or the nearest emergency facility for evaluation. That said, understanding a little more about seizures in dogs can help you be a little more prepared.
Dog seizures are unusually strong bursts of electrical activity in the brain that result in loss of consciousness and convulsions of the body and limbs. However, in cases of partial or focal seizures, the dog will typically remain conscious and may have abnormal movements of just a single body part, such as an ear or limb.
There are many reasons why dogs have seizures. Different types of dog seizures include:
While toxicity may not be the number one dog seizure trigger, the ASPCA reports over 200,000 cases of pet poisoning every year in the United States. Toxins that cause dog seizures can range from smoke inhalation and salt ingestion to sago palms and killer bees.
Household alcohols considered toxins that cause dogs to have seizures:
Common animal compounds known as toxins that cause dog seizures:
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, due to smoke inhalation, is another toxin that can cause dogs to have seizures.
Household foods known to be potential toxins that cause dog seizures:
Toxic metals that have the possibility of causing dogs to have seizures:
Illicit drugs that can bring on toxic seizures in dogs:
Common human medications that are potential toxins that cause dog seizures:
Everyday pesticide toxins that can cause seizures in dogs:
Another common group of toxins that can bring on seizures in dogs is plants, including:
A seizures is not a disease, but rather a symptom of another problem. Signs of seizures are the same, regardless of the cause. A dog seizure caused by a toxin will look the same as any other seizure.
The most frequent symptoms of dog seizures are:
Despite the frightening display, dog seizures are not painful. As difficult as it may be, avoid touching or holding your pup during an episode. It will not help, and you run a high risk of being bitten accidentally.
However, here are some things you can do if your dog is having a seizure:
If your dog has more than two seizures in a 24-hour period or a seizure that lasts more than three minutes, it is considered an emergency. Take your dog to a veterinarian immediately. If a seizure is sustained for more than three minutes, do NOT wait for it to end. The longer the seizure goes on, the higher the risk of serious and potentially fatal complications.
If you think your dog has come into contact with a toxin that causes dog seizures, this is also considered an emergency situation. Stay calm, but act quickly:
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC)
(888) 426-4435
24 hours a day, every day of the year
A consultation fee may apply
Pet Poison Helpline
(855) 764-7661
24 hours a day, every day of the year
$59 fee including follow-up calls
If you have any questions about dog seizures caused by toxins or any other trigger, our veterinary neurologists at Southeast Veterinary Neurology are here for you and your best friend 365 days a year. We have locations in Miami, Boynton Beach, Jupiter, and Virginia Beach, with teams of expert and compassionate professionals at each one. Contact any of our locations today!