Dog Seizures: Causes, Types, and What To Do If Your Dog Has One

Seizures are involuntary movements, convulsions, or behaviors caused by abrupt changes in how the brain sends messages. During a seizure, your dog may lose consciousness and the seizure cannot be stopped by talking to or touching them. 

Dog seizures can appear in different ways depending on which part of the brain is affected. The most common types include: 

• Generalized (grand mal) seizures: The entire body is involved, often with stiffness and/or convulsions. Dogs are usually not aware of their surroundings and may urinate or defecate. 
• Focal seizures: Repetitive, involuntary movement affects just one part of the body. Dogs may or may not lose consciousness.  
• Psychomotor seizure: These seizures cause unusual behaviors rather than full-body movement. Signs may include aggression, fly biting, or confusion.   

There are many possible causes of dog seizures, but veterinarians typically group them into three main categories: 

• Reactive seizures: These occur when a toxin or disease affects how the brain functions without changing its structure. 
• Secondary seizures: These are caused by a structural abnormality in the brain, such as a tumor, infection, or head trauma.  
• Primary seizures: These occur when you can’t identify the cause. 

Dog seizures do not all look the same, and partial or psychomotor seizures can be harder to recognize. Any involuntary activity could represent a seizure.  

Common signs of a dog seizure include:  

• Sudden collapse or loss of consciousness 
• Stiffening, shaking, or jerking (convulsing) of the limbs 
• Paddling movements or uncontrolled shaking 
• Chomping or jaw movements 
• Drooling or foaming at the mouth 
• Loss of bladder or bowel control  

Generalized seizures are the most common type and often include many of these signs at once. 

Dog seizures typically occur in three phases, although they may not always be easy to recognize: 

1. Pre-ictal phase (aura): Some dogs will show behavior changes before a seizure, ​​such as anxiety, restlessness, excessive drooling, or clinginess. 
2. Ictal phase: This is the active seizure phase, when involuntary movements, convulsions, and loss of consciousness can occur. 
3. Post-ictal phase: After the seizure, dogs may appear disoriented, unsteady, or temporarily blind. If your dog seems to have seizure-like activity without a post-ictal phase, it’s worth discussing with your veterinarian. 

If your dog is having a seizure, follow these steps to help keep them safe: 

1. Prioritize your safety. Do not place your hands near your dog’s mouth, as they may bite unintentionally. 
2. Prevent injury. Move your dog away from stairs, furniture, or ledges to prevent falls and injury.   
3. Stay calm. Speak softly and gently comfort your dog if it’s safe to do so.  
4. Time the seizure. Track how long the ictal phase lasts as accurately as possible. 
5. Do not restrain. Avoid trying to stop the seizure; dogs will not swallow their tongue, and restraint can cause injury.  
6. Call your vet if needed. If the seizure lasts longer than one or two minutes, contact an emergency veterinary clinic and bring your dog in for care.  

Seizure therapy at a veterinary hospital may include the following, depending on severity and suspected cause: 

• IV anti-epileptic medication to stop the seizure quickly 
• IV fluid and hospitalization to decrease pressure in the brain or flush suspected toxins 
• Blood work and urinalysis to rule out or diagnose reactive seizures 
• X-rays, CT, or MRI to rule out or diagnose secondary seizures 

If an underlying cause cannot be corrected, a veterinarian may recommend long-term anti-seizure medication and, in some cases, a therapeutic diet as part of an overall management plan. 

Common medications include: 

• Phenobarbital 
• Levetiracetam (Keppra or Keppra XR) 

• Zonisamide 

• Potassium bromide 

Medication choice, dosing, and monitoring should always be determined by a veterinarian. 

In some cases, your veterinarian may recommend a therapeutic diet as part of your dog’s overall care plan. Purina Pro Plan Neurocare, for example, helps support brain health.  

If your dog is prescribed long-term medication, ask your veterinarian or pharmacist for tips on administering it safely and consistently. Tools like Pill Pockets or pill cutters can make daily dosing easier.  

Potassium bromide levels can be affected by how much salt your dog consumes, so do not change your dog’s diet or treats without your veterinarian’s guidance. 

After a seizure ends, your dog may still need some TLC during the post-ictal phase, which can last multiple hours.   

During this time, your dog may be unsteady, disoriented, or even temporarily blind. Keep them in a quiet, safe space, such as a crate or pen with a comfy bed or mat, to help prevent injury while they recover.  

A veterinarian may diagnose epilepsy in dogs with recurring seizures when no identifiable cause is found. Epilepsy is most commonly diagnosed in dogs younger than 6 years old.  

Some dogs with epilepsy require lifelong medication, especially if seizures are long, occur in clusters, or happen more than once a month.   

While you can’t fully prevent dog seizures, there are steps you can take to reduce your dog’s risk and support their overall health: 

• Stick to a vaccine schedule, especially for diseases like rabies and distemper.  
• Schedule regular veterinary checkups, including blood work and fecal testing, to help detect parasites and other health problems early.  
• Prevent access to household toxins by keeping medications, chemicals, and harmful foods out of reach.  
• Research dog-safe houseplants before adding them to your home. 

Epilepsy and some forms of secondary seizures are not preventable, but education, careful monitoring, and early intervention may help support safer long-term management.  

Why do dogs have seizures? 

Seizures are caused by abnormal electrical activity in a dog’s brain. 

What can trigger dog seizures? 

There are many potential triggers for seizures depending on the cause of the seizure disorder and the location of the brain lesion (if there is one).  

Stress, certain activities, and environmental changes can all lead to seizure activity in some dogs, while others may have no consistent seizure triggers. 

How do you stop seizures in dogs immediately? 

Stopping an active seizure may require fast-acting anti-seizure medication prescribed by a veterinarian. In some cases, vets may provide rescue medication for home use with specific instructions. 

Can a dog have a seizure and be OK? 

Most seizures will not cause long-term harm and will be more frightening to you than your dog.  

If your dog’s seizure lasts longer than two to three minutes, occurs repeatedly, or is accompanied by difficulty breathing or collapse, seek immediate emergency veterinary care. 

Can dogs have seizures while sleeping? 

Seizures can occur while a dog is sleeping; however, short episodes of twitching extremities during sleep are more likely due to REM sleep and dreaming.  

If the tremors are generalized, with rigid muscle tone, and lasting more than 10 seconds, have your dog evaluated by a veterinarian.