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Your assessment results for:

Seizures

Urgency level: Possible emergency

Contact an emergency veterinary hospital

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What to do next

Contact an emergency hospital ASAP and be careful handling your dog

  • Contact the vet before travelling to ensure they are able to see your pet. They may also need to give you specific instructions. Some regular hospitals may be able to treat your pet.
  • Be careful while your dog is having a seizure: allow them to come out of it before handling or soothing them, as a seizing dog may bite.
  • If your dog vomits while having a seizure, carefully pick up their hind end and tilt them forward so they don’t accidentally aspirate the vomit.

 

Why it’s an emergency

Status epilepticus is time sensitive and can cause lasting consequences

  • Seizures in dogs always require veterinary attention. Based on the symptoms you’ve selected, your dog could have a severe underlying condition that requires immediate veterinary attention to prevent permanent neurological damage.
  • If a seizure lasts more than 5 minutes or there are multiple in the same day, your dog has status epilepticus, which is an emergency no matter the underlying cause. This is time sensitive and requires ER veterinarians with specialized equipment (though some regular clinics may be able to treat your pet).
  • If your dog’s eyes are abnormal (ex. uneven pupils or unresponsive to light), this suggests an abnormality with the part of the brain that controls the eye, and likely requires a consultation with a neurologist.

 

First aid tips

Remain calm, keep your dog calm and quiet, and restrict exercise

  • Keep your dog and the environment quiet and calm – bright lights and loud sounds may be stimulants that cause your dog to have another seizure.
  • In case your dog collapses again or is weak, have some cushions, blankets or other padding nearby to catch their fall.
  • Restrict exercise (only short leashed potty breaks) until you have seen a veterinarian.
  • Take a video of your dog seizing if you can, as this will be helpful for your vet in determining the underlying cause.
  • Learn more about seizures in dogs

 

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Disclaimer

Please note that our Symptoms Assessments and Results are intended for informational purposes only, and not a medical diagnosis. Our goal is to help pet owners make an informed decision about if, when and how urgently they need to seek veterinary care. Using our site should not and does not replace a consultation with a veterinarian.