Symptom · Dogs and cats
Seizures in dogs and cats: what it means and when to call the vet
A seizure lasting more than five minutes, or several close together, is an emergency. After a single short seizure, keep your pet safe, note how long it lasted and call your vet the same day.
By Maya HartCommon causes
- Epilepsy (often starts between one and five years old in dogs)
- Poisoning — for example metaldehyde slug pellets, xylitol, some medicines
- Low blood sugar
- Liver or kidney disease
- Head injury or brain disease
What you can do at home
- Move furniture away; don’t put your hand near the mouth
- Keep the room dark and quiet
- Time the seizure and film it if you can
- Keep your pet warm and calm afterwards
What the vet may do
- Medicines to stop an ongoing seizure
- Blood tests to look for causes
- Long-term anti-seizure medicine for epilepsy
Prevention
- Keep toxins out of reach
- Give anti-seizure medicine exactly as prescribed
The details
Seizures look frightening but most are short, and pets do not swallow their tongues. After a seizure many pets are confused, wobbly or blind for a while; this can last from minutes to hours. A video helps your vet tell a seizure from fainting or other episodes.
Questions owners ask
Is seizures in dogs and cats an emergency?
Yes — treat it as an emergency and go to a vet now. Go now if you see: a seizure lasting more than five minutes; two or more seizures without full recovery in between; a first-ever seizure; seizure after a possible poisoning.
What causes seizures in dogs and cats?
Epilepsy (often starts between one and five years old in dogs); Poisoning — for example metaldehyde slug pellets, xylitol, some medicines; Low blood sugar; Liver or kidney disease; Head injury or brain disease.
What can I do at home?
Move furniture away; don’t put your hand near the mouth. Keep the room dark and quiet. Time the seizure and film it if you can. Keep your pet warm and calm afterwards.
Sources
Tailwise is for general information and is reviewed by veterinary professionals, but it is not a substitute for advice from your own vet, who knows your pet. How we check facts